Tire grooving with my chainsaw

[4get gto]

I remember using a chain saw on pulling tires. Used to be the way to do it.

 

[sixdogs]

I remember using a chain saw on pulling tires. Used to be the way to do it.

I wonder who did that the first time and can imagine the comments. Must have been one of those "hold my beer and watch this" moments.

 

[4get gto]

No joking "and no beer" aside. Used to cut tires on modified pulling tractors all the time.

 

[motownbrowne]

Yeah, I don't expect them to compare to R1s. Luckily I have a bigger tractor with a loader that I use for skidding logs in the winter. The ag tires on my Kubota do a great job for that application.

Because I have the little New Holland, i can leave it set up with the back blade and that way I don't have to swap implements on the Kubota pretty much all winter long. If we got a ton of snow overnight, I'd definitely resort to the Kubota, but for under 6", the New Holland is great. I'm hoping that the grooves will give increased traction when plowing fresh snow on top of packed snow and ice. From what I understand, that's their best application, and that's exactly what i want to do with these tires.

I'll be sure to report my findings.

 

[TomSeller]

I would have to make some improvement. If groves didn't help traction, tractor tires would be slicks.

 

[riptides]

Glad it worked out for you.

I am however not an advocate for a chainsaw as a fine cutting tool ON a tractor.

Keep us posted on tire wear and life.

 

[Garandman]

This was done with a heated tire iron. You did a great job, can't imagine how I'd have been able to accomplish it with a chain saw. To make bear sculptures in your spare time?

The grooves help with plowing the driveway, don't help so much in the woods.

 

[ovrszd]

I think whether they are successful or not is dependent on expectations.

 

[motownbrowne]

I think whether they are successful or not is dependent on expectations.

Well in that case, I'm golden.

In all seriousness, I'm sure that the placebo effect plays into it. Furthermore, I don't claim any immunity from it. That's a big part of why I didn't want to spend $100 on a grooving iron. I'm not expecting a dramatic traction increase. But hey, I've got less than a half an hour into this project. I don't think it'll make anything worse, and might make things a little better. Even if it's only in my mind.

 

[ovrszd]

Well in that case, I'm golden.

In all seriousness, I'm sure that the placebo effect plays into it. Furthermore, I don't claim any immunity from it. That's a big part of why I didn't want to spend $100 on a grooving iron. I'm not expecting a dramatic traction increase. But hey, I've got less than a half an hour into this project. I don't think it'll make anything worse, and might make things a little better. Even if it's only in my mind.

And that's what's important!!!

 

[Deadman]

They look real nice! I can't believe you could control the saw that good! I'm impressed!
You won't believe the difference it makes. The R4's are nearly useless in snow and ice before being cut and after being cut they do really good! I cut the fronts across the lugs, so I had side traction, because it always slid sideways before they were cut.

 

[Deadman]

Are you one of those guys that carves the bears out of a large tree stump? lol

 

[Deadman]

Well in that case, I'm golden.

In all seriousness, I'm sure that the placebo effect plays into it. Furthermore, I don't claim any immunity from it. That's a big part of why I didn't want to spend $100 on a grooving iron. I'm not expecting a dramatic traction increase. But hey, I've got less than a half an hour into this project. I don't think it'll make anything worse, and might make things a little better. Even if it's only in my mind.

They'll have 3x the traction, on hard packed snow. Its amazing we suffered thru them with no grooves as long as we did!

 

[Garandman]

I think whether they are successful or not is dependent on expectations.

Definately an improvement over stock R4: whether that's good enough, YMMV.

I have no trouble plowing [675' gravel driveway] but they don't help in the woods.

 

[ovrszd]

Quantifying the results would be hard to do. Soooooo many variables involved.

 

[bcp]

I don't think it'll make anything worse, and might make things a little better. Even if it's only in my mind.

If you THINK you went through that drift and up that hill, you DID go through that drift and up that hill.



Bruce

 

[motownbrowne]

If you THINK you went through that drift and up that hill, you DID go through that drift and up that hill.



Bruce

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!!!

 

[motownbrowne]

Quantifying the results would be hard to do. Soooooo many variables involved.

You're absolutely right. I have a hill behind the shop that my New Holland can't make it up, even just pulling itself. Since the chainsaw method was so fast, I should have done a before and after video. The half hour would have limited the amount of change in conditions. I, however, didn't think of it at the time.

 

[Deadman]

You won't need to qualify them. They're so much better you will want to forget the old slicks slip-sliding non stop.
I rarely use 4x4 in the snow now, and before I couldn't move in just 2wd. Thats with 1,000lbs ballast on the back and FEL on front.

 

[ovrszd]

You won't need to qualify them. They're so much better you will want to forget the old slicks slip-sliding non stop.
I rarely use 4x4 in the snow now, and before I couldn't move in just 2wd. Thats with 1,000lbs ballast on the back and FEL on front.

If proof of improvement to you is conditions where you don't even need 4wd now I believe your standards definitely need quantified.