Snow Am I ready for the Snow?? or get chains??

[gauthier]

I bet on same size tractor,same size and weight,etc,,that industrial tires would give you a little more traction than ag's ,,this is both without chains and on ice.??

 

[beenthere]

gauthier
That isn't what I have found out, having had both R-1's and R-4's.
But I prefer the R-4's for being tougher (more ply's), wider footprint (less tracking up lawn), and staying cleaner (less mud/snow between the lugs).

But the R-4's have less traction that need weight and for some conditions...chains.

 

[RoyJackson]

But the R-4's have less traction that need weight and for some conditions...chains.

Yepper....just got to determine when it's better to back out before you're really stuck! The loader does a pretty good job in pushing you out of trouble...at least in snow.
Also, substantial (>500 lbs) rear ballast helps a heck of a lot with R-4's.

This will be my first winter season with turfs (previous tractors had R-4's or bar-turf...both of which got stuck on occasion). This will also be my first use of chains in over 30 years...going to be interesting!

 

[Jay4200]

Your tractor should push twelve inches of snow easily. My ATV with a 54" blade will push twelve inches of snow.

Not a chance. An ATV is WAY better in the snow than a tractor - I've plowed with my ATV for 10 years, and it can run rings around my (stuck) tractor. The OP has R4s - which are pretty much the worst thing you have on your tractor for snow. I recently got chains for my tractor all the way around from tirechain.com. The 2-link 41x14-20 ladders for the back were just over $300 + shipping. 2-link V-bars for the front were $100.

JayC

 

[devildog1]

I to have a B3200 with FEL and Land Pride 6" back Blade. My driveway is about 250' and paved, i have no problems moving the snow from one end to the other. Have loaded tires all the way around. In upstate N.Y. we do get our fair share of snow. However Chains will mark blacktop is you spin your tires. Another option would be a front or rear snow blower, slower going but no banks and almost no stoping it.
DevilDog

 

[beenthere]

....... An ATV is WAY better in the snow than a tractor - I've plowed with my ATV for 10 years, and it can run rings around my (stuck) tractor. ..........JayC

Must be why my neighbor calls me on the big snows to come down and help him move what his ATV won't move.
But then, I enjoy helping him out and on the light snows of a couple inches, he will come up and clean up my drive as he can move it with no problem. I only have to push it on back from there.

And I will admit that my tractor was stuck once last winter in a wet 12" snow that became very slippery underneath, and he could get through with his ATV to come back up to my shed for my chains to put on the stuck tractor. A lot of spinning to get back up the slippery drive, but made it and it was a great help to me.

 

[easygo]

I pushed snow with R4 and turf tires and with or without chains. I can safely say that either will push snow but ANY tire with chains will be much better than any other tire without chains. You could chain up some 4th of July balloons and even that will work better in snow then a tire without.

 

[gauthier]

Thats true,any tire with chains will have more traction than any with out,in snow,ice,mud etc,,,:laughing:

But I decided after heavy snows last winter,I didn't need any,,if you have a really deep wet snow,,a dozer is what you need,[or a very big tractor],,


Yeah,my neighbor was snowed in last winter with 2 ft of heavy snow,,and his atv didn't get him unsnowed either,my ck30 without chains,did.

 

[RADIUM]

The only thing I can offer, a larger tractor 4060 , calcium chloride loaded tires, but here's my experience with R4 1400 foot driveway in the picture you can see that slight hill. Well after two years of not having a problem, she went right off to the right side of the picture into the ditch last year, How it didn't overturn I'll never know Scared the **** out of me change my shorts and called my brother with his bulldozer to come pull me back on the road, no damage done to the tractor thank God, Just my pride as my brother was laughing at me ;-). Went right out and bought chains. The next two snowstorms made the world of difference didn't even need four-wheel drive anymore. the only downside when I take care of my neighbors roads the chains rattle you a little bit on the highway I can live with that rather than being upside down in the ditch. my vote is chains you can always take them off if you think you don't need them, But you'll be cursing yourself if you're stuck or slide off your driveway Take care

 

[RoyJackson]

The only thing I can offer, a larger tractor 4060 , calcium chloride loaded tires, but here's my experience with R4 1400 foot driveway in the picture you can see that slight hill...

Is that a snowblower on your 3PH, RADIUM?