If only I'd have known.....

   / If only I'd have known..... #21  
Addressing a couple of points here: YES, the ratio between front and rear rolling radius is pretty critical when using 4wd. Tractors with small front wheels are actually considered front wheel assist, not four wheel drive. They are geared so the fronts move a little faster than the rears when the tires are new, and as they wear (fronts will wear faster), they eventually get to moving the same speed or a little slower. Changing the ratio puts a whole lot of stress on drivelines and can be very expensive.

The different tire types are intended for different purposes. The ags are narrow and sidewalls are stiff to put maximum pressure on the lugs for maximum traction. Turfs are wide and sidewalls are soft to mimimize pressure on the lawn. R4s are a compromise. The width and sidewall structures require different rims, sometimes with different bead profiles. It's done that way to fit the different functions of the tires and make the tractor work best in a particular application, not to sell tires and rims.

I somehow missed page 2 when I wrote this up, almost deleted it, but decided to leave it for clarification.
MOF, I'm pretty sure you have a front diff in that Dodge pickup. There would have to be one or you'd tear things up in a big way whenever you turn the wheel. It won't be a limited slip like you can get in the rear diff, but there's a diff in there somewhere. Think about the different distance the inside and outside front wheels travel when going around a corner.

You used to be able to get a manual lock for the center diff on some serious off-road 4x4s. With modern electronics controlling things, multiple clutches, traction control, computers controling the braking and power to each wheel thousands of time per second, etc. etc. a center diff is pretty much a thing of the past. You don't see it much unless someone builds their own off roader.
 
   / If only I'd have known..... #22  
There are actually now a few automotive manufactures that have true operator activated locking rear differentials available as an option. A very limited few even offer a front locking differential option.

It is also possible to add a true operator activated locking differential to the rear and front differentials on many 4WD vehicles. A company called ARB makes these locking differentials which are controlled by switches in the cab. With a standard 50/50 part time 4WD transfer case and two ARB locking differentials, you actually end up with a true 4WD vehicle.

By "true 4WD vehicle" I mean that regardless of traction conditions, all FOUR wheels receive an equal split of power. Even if one or more of the wheels are in the air (zero traction) or on snow or ice.

Without locking differentials and a locked transfer case (either a part time transfer case or a full time transfer case with a locking option), power is actually directed to the axles/wheels with the least traction. I'm sure most people have experienced the one wheel spinning uselessly while the other one sits there doing nothing syndrome.
 
   / If only I'd have known..... #23  
Soundguy you crack me up. grasping, more grasping, still grasping, darn need more straws. makes me think of wiley coyote (or is it Kioti) hanging off a cliff grasping at every blade of grass.
 
   / If only I'd have known..... #24  
I believe they over filled the tires with the calcium chloride. This is a 43 inch high tire on a 16 inch rim. You couldn't properly fill the tire with air because even when the valve stem was in the 12 o'clock position fluid would come out. Also the recomended inflation pressur is 12 PSI but I am currently running them at 18 PSI. The tire size is 18.4-16.1 on a 14x16.1 rim. I bought this tractor from a private party with 72 hours on it.

Bill C
 
   / If only I'd have known..... #25  
Not that this is a big deal.. but.. having water over the level of the valve stem does not prevent air from going into the tire.. however.. you got less room for the air.. etc.... and ya don't want them smack full... water don't compress much...(grin)

Soundguy
 

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