My truck is in the ditch!

[orezok]

It's not anywhere close to 100% related

So what percent do you think it is?

 

[LD1]

So what percent do you think it is?

Don't know and don't care. Not worth arguing about

 

[holeycow]

no point in my comment. sorry

 

[4570Man]

I like a wide tire better. I can't do a fair comparison for traction, but they are much better on soft ground.

 

[Rustyiron]

I was always told big fat flotation tires for mud and tall skinny tires for snow.


So what's the consensus from those that plow snow for a living?

Around here, yes on the tall skinny for the snow, and they run studded tires.

 

[3930dave]

I like a wide tire better. I can't do a fair comparison for traction, but they are much better on soft ground.

On dirt and sand, more flotation :thumbsup:.

For snow with a road under it, ideally you want the narrowest snow rated tire that will carry the GVWR load, as you want the contact pressure up. Not fashionable today, but I like a tall sidewall for a work truck.

Given a choice, nobody plows snow here with duals until you get into Dump Truck sized vehicles, and even those are always loaded with sand.

Chains help, but are not routinely used for road vehicles around this part of Ontario.

Rgds, D.

 

[dragoneggs]

It's not a simple math problem and I am arguing duelies vs. not. But me thinks grip is important... ground pressure of course is good. But also one must look at the 'slipperiness' of the contact area. The ground 'condition' can vary from spot to spot... some spots you may have better traction than others... so a larger footprint could be a good thing. :stirthepot:

 

[crazyal]

My advice would be to get a set of v-bar tire chains. On my dump truck I have dualy chains for both rear tires. I've never needed any on the front.

 

[airbiscuit]

I was always told big fat flotation tires for mud and tall skinny tires for snow.

I'm not offering an opinion on duallys vs singles. When I was a young buck, I had a Jeep CJ5 with big/wide Desert Dog tires on it. We got a good snow, and I tore across the fields with snow 18" deep, and promptly got stuck. I also had a 1954 Jeep Wagon, with tall skinny Plain Jane snow tires. I drove the old Jeep out as nice as can be and pulled the new Jeep with its fancy tires back home. Never came close to getting stuck.

So, if I'm traveling across deep snow, I would prefer tall and skinny. That said, those duallys are probably traveling behind the plow in snow that is not deep at all. In that case, maybe having more surface area gives you more traction for pushing - I don't know. I just wish I still had that 54 Jeep wagon.

 

[holeycow]

I don't know what the heck you guys are talking about, but it works like this: on any surface capable of supporting high ground pressure the more weight you can put on the smallest contact patch results in the most traction (that's why corks are put on tracked equipment- to reduce contact patch area). Duallys are used to carry more load, not to get more traction. Duallys are inferior in mud and snow, not only because of contact patch, but also because of the wider track in the back having to re-clear the trail created by the front. They also turn into big slicks in sticky mud, becoming completely useless. There is no reason to have a dually unless you are hauling heavy loads. They are a pita unless used as intended, IMO. When used for hauling near rated capacity, duallys are superior to singles. When used for pushing, duallys are inferior more often than not. They also ride rough and drive like crap unless heavily loaded. But they look tough.

wide tires on off-road vehicles are usefull only for flotation, not traction.


flotation is an entirely different subject. And so is side loading. And I don't know the math. I just know the facts.

that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.