Studs vs chains for tires

[Williy]

:I would think that the snow blowers on
the back of the tractor would be like a
case of hemorrhoids something I could
do very nicely with out!!!

willy
Don't care to drive backwards when its
so easy to go forwards

 

[stumblinhorse]

A blower is required where I live. I run out of room with a blade. I did it for years. You can only push it off the driveway so far for so long. Then when I get snow piled 20’ tall alongside the driveway then the snow drifts in between and settles too deep. Blower solves that problem there is no buildup. No drifts.

 

[Erik M]

I have a tractor that weighs about 5K lbs with the blower on it and I plow a 500’ driveway that slopes down hill. While I have done it for 8 yrs without chains I splurged last year and got chains just for the days when the lane is a sheet of ice. It was well worth the $3K for the chains and I wish I had them years ago. The ag tires are fine in the snow but when we get the snow followed by rain and the snow turns to ice the chains are worth every $$.

 

[IndyIan]

I just use hex head sheet metal screws for my driveway, $20 box of 100 per rear tire, and I use smaller ones in the front. They don't seem to wear enough to matter so far in the 4 or 5 seasons I've used them. I think they are hardened a bit as they are self tapping. No need for carbide studs IMO unless you road it a lot. I haven't lost one yet either that I know of. I think if I used them in the woods in the winter I would have to careful spinning and catching them in roots, but I don't take my tractor into the woods in winter. I have one section of my driveway is maybe 10-12% grade and I can go up and down that on glare ice, not with a whole lot of traction to spare but I have dragged my car up the hill to get it to the road.

 

[ruffdog]

 

[SteveMo]

Thanks for the continued replies. I did go to chains on my rear tires only. So far, I am very happy with the performance of them on the steep hill that I have. No one delivers to my door in the winter, I have to meet everyone at the top of the driveway. They all learned their first time when I had to tow them back up! LOL. I don't remember what type of pattern the chains are, I'll post a pic soon. I remember that they were approximately $800 CDN for the pair but worth every penny.