Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Rule

Knight9 · Apr 4, 2001

Re: Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Ru

...And I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you Pete ! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I had turfs on my Cub Cadet 7195 which is a pretty small machine. I had absolutely no spin at all scraping my snowy driveway with a 5' blade. I even, for a little fun for the kids, tied a sled about 15' behind the tractor and just hauled around the field pulling the kids. Basically just pushing through about 6-8" of snow....no slip and no spin.

Might revise my opinion when I get my B2410 and cycle through a winter with it /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif...but I was happy enough with the turfs to order them again.

Kevin

scruffy · Apr 4, 2001

Re: Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Ru

Y'all can disagree about traction in the snow all you want, but let me add, not ALL snow is created equal. You have dry powder snow,(anything will get traction), and then you have wet snow, which when frozen ain't bad, unless you have an ice layer, then forget it....all I am saying is, differant degrees of moisture in the snow will create varying degrees of traction.

Knight9 · Apr 4, 2001

Re: Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Ru

Scruffy, good point on the snow type. Would definitely make a difference...along with tractor weight and many other factors. Guess that means maybe we can't say for sure which tire is the best?/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Kevin

Anonymous Poster · Apr 4, 2001

Re: Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Ru

I think Pete could use Dually AG's with chains with the amount of his "beautiful countryside" Vermont snow {Gulp!... 10 Feet High & rising Mama...}/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif...but definitely not Turfs /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

MarkV · Apr 5, 2001

Re: Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Ru

Shoot Pete, you can't fool me, you must have a Snow Cat in the back shed just to take the dogs out./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkV

cowboydoc · Apr 5, 2001

Re: Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Ru

Pete,
I'd have to agree with you but MY experience with turfs is mowing the lawn. On the last lawn tractor I had turf's and I would always spin going up the hills with it. With the new one I got the ag type tires and it has never spun and is fine on the lawn. Again though this is just one incident.

Boondox · Apr 5, 2001

Re: Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Ru

I think maybe the answer here depends on your definition of snow. Here in Vermont we have everything from the absolutely dry flakes you get at minus 30 degrees to the wet, sloppy slush you get in the mid-30s above zero. We also get anything from a dusting to three feet at a time, so from my point of view I need traction in all conditions. I've done repairs and changed tires at sub-zero temps when it takes an hour just to chip the ice off the lugnuts, and am not inclined to repeat the experience if at all avoidable.

Turfs worked for me under certain conditions, but were not a winter-long solution. Maybe in areas of calmer weather, but not here. It's no fun plowing down the road and having to walk back to get the Pathfinder and tow chain to bring the tractor home.

On relatively level ground in an area of light snowfall I might try turfs again. Sounds like you're there. But I live in the heart of the Green Mountains. My neighbor is a ski resort. Here, turfs simply do not cut it.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

Knight9 · Apr 5, 2001

Re: Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Ru

Hi Pete,

Certainly do have a difference between your area and mine. Your neighbor is a ski resort...mine is a cow pasture! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I've never been to Vermont or area, but from the many posts I've read from you and others in the area it sounds like you end up with a fair bit of the wet heavy snow that results in ice. Our sort of average winter here is in the -20 to -25 degree Celsius area (about -4 to -13 F) but our snow is generally the lighter flakes. We don't tend the get the wet sticky snow except for when it snows in the Fall or Spring.

Undoubtably part of the reason why there are different types of tires is that there is a need for different characteristics and performance based on use, climate, etc. In a world where $$$ was no object, I would love to have a set of Ags or Industrials to swap on. As needs change....so would the tires/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

Kevin

PS...we actually had so little snow this year they already have a complete fire ban for our area. It might not be a good summer around here/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

scruffy · Apr 5, 2001

Re: Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Ru

Pete, it sounds like a Snow Cat complete with a snow blower might be more fitting! When you get the road done, THEN you can bring the tractor out for touch up.

You might even consider having a blade on the other end of the Snow Cat!
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by scruffy on 04/05/01 10:01 AM (server time).</FONT></P>

JeffInDaUP · Apr 5, 2001

Re: Choosing the Right Tire--The Ag Elimination Ru

Great discussion!
Just ordered and paid for my new L4610, with... R1's! I am fortunate enough to live here in Michigans Upper Peninsula, where we receive an average of 200 inches of snow(250 in the northern portions of the county). This year has been an average winter, 200 inches-closer to 300 in north, and snow covering the ground from November 12 until now, with 12 to 36 inches of snow still covering the ground. The local loggers and other outdoor professionals know snow!! and they would not be caught dead(maybe..dead) 30 miles from nowhere out in the woods with ballon tires. One way to tell a visitor or southern transplant is by the size of their tires-my neighbor from Alabama moved here with balloon tires on his truck(we live 22 miles from town) and his wife has gone off the road numerous times the past two winters(they will eventually get some narrow-deep lug tires). I can see where a narrow, ag size, soft type nobby tire might be of use around here, but it would not hold up in the sharp ice. Same with the large logging equipment-deep lugs!! Ice rink conditions might warrant turf tires, but not on a high enough occurance to use in real winter conditions. Just my less than two cents worth, but I thought I'd reply because I live, drive, and work in snow a constant 5 months(sometimes 6 months unfortunately) of the year.

Jeff...MI.