Winter tires for tractor snow removal

[870wing]

Local Kubota dealership sells their snow removal tractors with Nokian winter tires. Dealership says the tires perform better in cold weather conditions because of the rubber compound used for the tire.Any one have any experience with them? Any other companies make winter tires for tractors?

Happy holidays,

870Wing

 

[RoyJackson]

Any turf tire works great...I've used turfs (Titans) with no chains in 10-12 inches of snow. Ice, of course, is a different matter.

 

[nybirdman]

Nokian's are the winter go tire in Europe for all vehicles.I would think they would be awesome on a tractor.Look at some of the videos on You-Tube of snow removal in Europe;they use tractors not trucks.

 

[s219]

The tires are awesome on a car, and I'd expect the same on a tractor. They have a different rubber compound that stays soft and grippy in cold weather, when ordinary tires want to turn into a hard slippery "cue ball".

 

[motownbrowne]

Sounds expensive to me, but having a set of summer tires and winter tires (both mounted on rims of course) would seem to be pretty ideal.

My ag tires work great in deep snow for skidding logs, but on packed snow and ice, turfs, snow tires, or something with chains would be much better.

 

[oosik]

I've always used R-1's and never found the need for anything "exotic". I get very little ice on any of the surfaces I clear - mile long gravel driveway, mail box area, yard.

 

[arrow]

European tractors for road snow removal seem to use radial ags. If the Nokians are regular car tires, I doubt you'd gain much of an advantage. Car tires have softer compounds but they are also trying to stick on ice and hard packed snow with a car driving at speed. To push snow at slower speeds normally associated with a tractor and someone's driveway, the best advantage is with turfs with chains. This is a tried and true combo that will keep you rolling right along where "grip dig in" traction is needed as opposed to "stability traction" of a car tire.

 

[Rustyiron]

I'm thinking of trying these for the factory replacement (fronts) when it comes time. They are not cheap but if there service life is a little longer without a terrible loss in traction in the dirt and better in the snow?.

 

[arrow]

I'm thinking of trying these for the factory replacement (fronts) when it comes time. They are not cheap but if there service life is a little longer without a terrible loss in traction in the dirt and better in the snow?.

I wonder if this is the tire coming with the tractors the op is talking about? These tires are made for snow and sandy terrain. I think Rusty that if you did not want to run front chains and relying on these tires as a compromise, nothing is going to give you better traction than the chains you currently have for snow work. Ironically, it's the snow that sticks between the lugs that provides the traction but chains are like talons. Snow meeting snow is kind of grippy and is why turfs do well in snow. There is a tire company called "Alliance" that produces a very similar tread as the Nokians. Do not know if they would be cheaper however.

 

[nybirdman]

If you watch some of the videos of tractors plowing in Europe;they move at very good speed,chains would not let them perform as well.Chains also tear up asphalt and concrete.No doubt chains are superior in over-all traction but not when speed is thrown in the equation.