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

[teg]

I'm convinced. I just ordered my heated knife...

Good, let us know how it works for you... that is if we get any snow

 

[Dakota_male]

Here is a article where some fellows documented their experiences with pictures for grooving big truck tires.

4WD Magazine

 

[nspec]

I'm ordering my groover tonight. I've been following this since last year, and I'm finally sold. Rears are a no brainer. I'd really like to hear from you guys who did the fronts, though. Really not sure what pattern to use. I have a steep hill, so traction is a concern, but side slip is too. I would like to compare the parallel groove vs multiple perpendicular grooves on the fronts with regards to side slip. I'm kind of thinking I'll do 2 perpendicular grooves on each side of the centerline, and either leave the center smooth as is, or possibly run a real short parallel groove right at the center. Thoughts?

 

[preacher01]

Deadman, in post #64 in the picture of the rear tires I see a chalk like on the outside of your tires. How much tread did you leave on the outside? 1 inch or 2? The tires look tremendous. My knife is supposed to arrive next Monday. Thanks for the help. :thumbsup:

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I wonder if 1/2 inch rope wound around the rear tires would work as well as chains without the problem of tearing up an asphalt surface? Probably have to replace the rope each season, or maybe even monthly depending on wear.

 

[preacher01]

When I was a kid and we wanted to ride our bicycles in the winter time, we wrapped baler Twine around our tires to act as chains and it did wonders on ice. That was back before bicycles had hand brakes and you stopped them by pushing your pedals backwards. Did anyone else ever do that? I think it would be worth a try especially on ice.:thumbsup:

 

[Dakota_male]

When I was a kid and we wanted to ride our bicycles in the winter time, we wrapped baler Twine around our tires to act as chains and it did wonders on ice. That was back before bicycles had hand brakes and you stopped them by pushing your pedals backwards. Did anyone else ever do that? I think it would be worth a try especially on ice.:thumbsup:

Yes, I did the same thing with heavy twine, my old town was all hills. (Springhill)

 

[Bigturk]

I installed a set of 2 Link Ladder chains on my tractor this morning. Although traction is awesome the ride is horrible. I travel on the road often and the ride is unacceptable. I will be taking the chains off tomorrow.::thumbdown:

I ordered my Ideal heated knife tonight and will grove my R4s. Thanks for this excellent thread. I will post some pics when finished.

 

[Dakota_male]

I installed a set of 2 Link Ladder chains on my tractor this morning. Although traction is awesome the ride is horrible. I travel on the road often and the ride is unacceptable. I will be taking the chains off tomorrow.::thumbdown:

I ordered my Ideal heated knife tonight and will grove my R4s. Thanks for this excellent thread. I will post some pics when finished.

My rear chains were grader quality 7/16 cross links and created a very rough ride too until I dropped the tire air pressure to 10 lbs.

 

[Dakota_male]

With air pressure that low is there a danger of the tire slipping on the rim?

Not when your just plowing snow I have 14.9-24 6 ply R4 tires