Studs for snow plowing

chuck172 · Jan 10, 2022

Has anyone here made the decision to install studs rather than chains on the rear tractor tires for snowplowing? I have about 800' of a shale driveway.
Good choice or regret it.? Studs would cost aprox. $400.00

PBinWA · Jan 10, 2022

Studs and chains will both cause some damage. I put studs in my tractor and buried them pretty deep. They seem to do well in all but the iciest conditions.

I also studded my skidsteer tires but left the studs out a bit. They tore the crap out of my ashpalt but worked well in the thick ice. Not sure it was worth it ... ok it wasn't.

Chains have left some nice scars in my ashpalt over the years.

I'm not sure about a shale driveway - sounds fancy and expensive. If salt doesn't hurt shale then just salt the crap out of it.

chuck172 · Jan 10, 2022

I'm not worried about hurting my shale driveway. I have my own shale pit. The other work I do is in the woods.

Rustyiron · Jan 10, 2022

For raw traction, chains - particularly "ice" chains euro style can't be beat. On your shale drive (and no "finished" surface) that would be my suggestion.
Now I plow about 15 properties and drive the pavement in between jobs and use the studs and that gets the job done for me without the miserable ride of ladder or modified ladder style chains while moving between jobs. The euro style ice chains ride much better but wearing out a set per season makes it "cost prohibitive" @ around $800/pr. the last I checked.

bdhsfz6 · Jan 10, 2022

I used studs on my old Kubota L3010 and they worked fairly well. I have a shale road up to the house so I wasn't worried about surface damage but the studs tore the heck out of my shop floor. I use chains now on my newer tractors. I plank the shop floor to prevent damage during the winter and remove them when I take the chains off.

I also could have used planks with the studs but they would have to remain on the floor year round. They're a pain in the a** since they get in the way when I'm working.

Although they take some effort to put on, I find I get quite a bit more traction with the chains.

chuck172 · Jan 10, 2022

Don't the europeon chains go for over 1500?
I have 13.6 x 24 ag. tires.

gstrom99 · Jan 10, 2022

Interesting. I installed 1,000's of studs in car/truck snow tires back in the 70's, when I worked at a tire store. The tires had small holes that the studs went into. No longer street legal anywhere around here, I think. I didn't know they were still available...

Do tractor tires still have these small holes? If not, where are they punched in?

seville009 · Jan 10, 2022

gstrom99 said:
Interesting. I installed 1,000's of studs in car/truck snow tires back in the 70's, when I worked at a tire store. The tires had small holes that the studs went into. No longer street legal anywhere around here, I think. I didn't know they were still available...

Do tractor tires still have these small holes? If not, where are they punched in?

no first hand knowledge, but I've seen other posts where people ask about them - they apparently just screw into the tread. I can't imagine that they stay in very long.

MAX-24-Dean · Jan 10, 2022

I used to use chains, but I haven't put chains on since grooving my tires.

The thread link below convinced me to try grooving my tires. One of the best threads I have put to use.

Snow Equipment Owning/Operating - Cutting / Groving / Siping R-4 for snow

I know R-4's in snow has been discussed to death but after a quick search I couldn't find anything about cutting them for better performance. I recently picked up an Ideal Heated Knife, also known as a tire groover. With a little help from a forced air heater to really get the tires warm, it...

www.tractorbynet.com

LouNY · Jan 10, 2022

Many car and pickup snow tires are still pinned for studs and they are still legal in many areas.
My vehicles always run studded snows during the winter.
The tractor studs are designed to screw into the tread most have a very large diameter thread.