Are tractors evolving to more equally sized tires?

[redman135]

Hello slackdaddy, you have described a jcb 2cx and 4cx. 4x4, equal sized wheels and 4 wheel steering. Swop the back hoe for 3ph and off you go

 

[LD1]

I agree with alot of the posts, but one thing I didnt see mentioned.....larger front tires = smoother ride.

Thats one thing about my kubota I notice when mowing....16" fronts make a rough ride. My next tractor in the ~50hp range will have 20" fronts

 

[DAD1220]

I agree that older tractors were designed to pull and most of the load was on the rear...thus independent brakes!

When's the last time you used a single brake to turn?

I started with an 8N and did it all the time. Now with 4wd, I rarely think of unlocking the pedal unless I'm stuck.

 

[boggen]

still waiting for the "future tractor" all electric... independent steering per tire, and independent rotation of each tire.

i wouldn't mind smaller rear tires, and larger front tires, so they are for most part equal size. more like a truck setup.

 

[sd455dan]

Shouldn't be too hard for Kubota to make an AG version of this, and a smaller one, too.

Compact Wheel Loaders | R420S | Kubota Tractor Corporation

View attachment 443019

Bruce

Or a downsized Versatile, and FEL loader visibility is about as good as it gets.

versatile


just think they are cool and versatile

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Tractors are designed to PULL. Larger rear tires provide considerable mechanical advantage when pulling implements.

Downside? Less 'top end' speed on the road.

HUH? Larger rears will give you MORE road speed!

Anyway, when buying my last new tractor, one of the reasons I chose the model I did, was because of the larger front wheels/tires. I wanted the better traction/flotation they provide.

As for the pict in the OP's post: High HP tractors NEED the bigger front tires to handle the extra weight AND to put that hp to the ground!

SR

 

[sixdogs]

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As for the pict in the OP's post: High HP tractors NEED the bigger front tires to handle the extra weight AND to put that hp to the ground!

SR

Yes, true. But bigger tractors of a few years ago had smallish front ties. Now all of a sudden front tires/wheels are getting bigger. I don't think it's just the tires but gearing has being changed. Is this a part of stability since tractor road speeds are increasing? Could be flotation but that concern was there years ago.

It's probably part of getting to power to the ground and what happens in larger tractors seems to trickle down to the smaller sizes. Just my two cents.

 

[farmer2009]

Yes, true. But bigger tractors of a few years ago had smallish front ties. Now all of a sudden front tires/wheels are getting bigger. I don't think it's just the tires but gearing has being changed. Is this a part of stability since tractor road speeds are increasing? Could be flotation but that concern was there years ago. It's probably part of getting to power to the ground and what happens in larger tractors seems to trickle down to the smaller sizes. Just my two cents.

You gain traction faster by going taller over wider. When you start talking row crop tractors you don't want to pull a planter through the tire track. Uneven planting results. The largest tire that will fit comfortably between the planter units is an 18.4. So to gain traction once you hit 18.4 you have to add height. Now in a perfect world the math works for 20.8 but in reality they just don't fit.

Farmers are finding that compaction is now one of their largest yield robbers.(been known for years, but always been gains elsewhere to off set it). And most compaction happens on the first pass. There are farmers that have everything (sprayer, combine, planter, tillage tools) matched to where they all use the same tire tracks. With GPS. Some are even so adamant about drive in the same place for everything that a grain cart driver that cuts across the field to the truck instead of using the driving paths will be fired on the spot.