Tire chains

[Tractorganic]

I'm having prob's finding aggressive chain for my industrial 17.5x24, 8PR, R4. I'm told by dealer I need to switch tires side to side to get needed clearance under fenders. Dealer says ordinary chains are backorded.
I had these tires loaded and they,re slidding around like 4x4 was never installed!
Anyone know a surefire quick solution?
Thanks,
Chris

 

[Craig Clayton]

The dealer makes sence, to obtain fender clearance do what the tire offset requires and any set of chains will work if you really need them.
Craig Clayton

 

[Sumpter]

Go to tirechains.com. I have the same size tire on my NH and I flipped the inner dish. I got my chains in about 3 days. Of course that was before winter.

 

[Tractorganic]

Thanks everyone! As to tirechains.com they have several choices for the size I have (17.5x24 industrial R4 on my TC40D). Anyone know the functional differences between: (Price is not a consideration compared w safety/traction.)
Duo-grip 3/8 cross chain $272.65
Duo-grip 3/8 cross chain V-bar $413.75
Ladder 3/8 cross chain $279.60
V-bar Ladder 3/8 cross 4 link chain $353.63
Ladder 3/8 cross chain Vbar 2 link $613.46
I use these all year in: snow, ice, mud and accidentally in gravel. By the way my fronts are spinning and digging notches sending me in wrong and tippy directions too, even with FEL and 72" bucket low and often loaded. Is this normal? There are no chains for fronts right?
Yes I do have snowy, muddy serious hills and I do scare myself frequently.

 

[Tractorganic]

Thanks everyone! As to tirechains.com they have several choices for the size I have (17.5x24 industrial R4 on my TC40D). Anyone know the functional differences between: (Price is not a consideration compared w safety/traction.)
Duo-grip 3/8 cross chain $272.65
Duo-grip 3/8 cross chain V-bar $413.75
Ladder 3/8 cross chain $279.60
V-bar Ladder 3/8 cross 4 link chain $353.63
Ladder 3/8 cross chain Vbar 2 link $613.46
I use these all year in: snow, ice, mud and accidentally in gravel. By the way my fronts are spinning and digging notches sending me in wrong and tippy directions too, even with FEL and 72" bucket low and often loaded. Is this normal? There are no chains for fronts right?
Yes I do have snowy, muddy serious hills and I do scare myself frequently.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Thanks everyone! As to tirechains.com they have several choices for the size I have (17.5x24 industrial R4 on my TC40D). Anyone know the functional differences between: (Price is not a consideration compared w safety/traction.)
Duo-grip 3/8 cross chain $272.65
Duo-grip 3/8 cross chain V-bar $413.75
Ladder 3/8 cross chain $279.60
V-bar Ladder 3/8 cross 4 link chain $353.63
Ladder 3/8 cross chain Vbar 2 link $613.46
I use these all year in: snow, ice, mud and accidentally in gravel. By the way my fronts are spinning and digging notches sending me in wrong and tippy directions too, even with FEL and 72" bucket low and often loaded. Is this normal? There are no chains for fronts right?
Yes I do have snowy, muddy serious hills and I do scare myself frequently.

The ladder chains fall bewteen the lugs on ag type (R1) tires and become pretty useless. The duo grip are better for ag type tires.

Ladder types work well I'm told on the R4 tires because of the bar pattern.

The vbar cross chains are more effective on ice.

I don't know why you couldn't use chains on the front tires of FWD tractor. Does your owners manual say that?

 

[Tractorganic]

The dealer said front chains or weights could cause problems (super steer?) but i'd sure like more mush steering,

 

[leveled]

why not get them for the front also, its not like your going to go on the highway with them and speed around. I put double ring chains on my MF 165 but i have lots of clearance with the fenders and i drive really slow. Chains make a huge difference.

 

[Tractorganic]

Well, I guess I'll steal my own post. Please see post on Q on front chains.

 

[Tractorganic]

Anyone know why it would be a bad idea to put chains on front of SS on TC40D, or wheel weights (I already run a FEL and bucket) for that mater? Dealer said not good idea. I'm desirous of better front steering in snow/mud. I'll certainly get rear chains and have had the rears filled but as is it's like driving a boat in mush.
Thanks,
Chris in snowy CT.

 

[Sumpter]

I put chains on front and have had no problems. I don't have supper steer though so can't speak to that. I bought the duo grip for the rear and as said earlier they fall between the lugs on the R4's. I am going to take them off and add a chain down the middle all the way around so that they stay in place.

 

[shawnd]

I have the ladder vbar chains on all 4 R4 tires (NH40 DA supersteer) that I purchased from Tirechains.com and have had no problems. I did flip the dishes though to get the clearance. I am on mountain with plenty of ice and these have been great. Good luck

 

[ND teacher]

Do you flip the dishes back in the spring or summer? You would need to if you were using 72" attacments for the rear? Flip the dish, are you just putting the tire from the left side to the right and vise versa so the dish is out?

 

[doelake]

I have R4 tires on my M59 TLB and with the backhoe removed and replaced with a rear mount snowblower, the tractor would have trouble going reverse up grade with the blower working....tire chains would not fit under the fender well (virtually no clearance)...I bought two boxes of atv ice studs 1/2 screw depth with carbide heads total 500 units and screwed 3-4 per lug on all 4 tires.....now the tractor operates like a tank glued to the roadway...no slip or slide....I clear approx 4 km of roadway through my campground, double width!
Cost $50.00 cdn and 1 hour labour with a screw gun...so far there is no downside:thumbsup:

 

[shawnd]

@ ND Teacher yes I swapped left to right, no I don't swap in the spring I have left them like that. the width is about 66" wide so it does not affect my 72" bush hog.

 

[Tractorganic]

Go to tirechains.com. I have the same size tire on my NH and I flipped the inner dish. I got my chains in about 3 days. Of course that was before winter.

I put chains on front and have had no problems. I don't have supper steer though so can't speak to that. I bought the duo grip for the rear and as said earlier they fall between the lugs on the R4's. I am going to take them off and add a chain down the middle all the way around so that they stay in place.

My dish flipper width will be 2 1/2" wider than my trailer deck width so i'm screwed! Unless there's a type chain for my R4 tires that can go on as is I don't know what else to do but bed in studs like we were excellently recommended by our Canadian friend. Chain prices are high, a new wide trailer would be killer, and a new truck to legally pull that all that weight would be astronomic. I just wanted some traction! Hoo boy.

 

[thclimer]

I have a TC33D with R4's and purchased 2-link ladder chains from Tirechain.com this fall for the rears. It's a huge improvement with chains. When I have a steering problem I brake with only one rear wheel to turn the tractor, its really does work

I would order chains for the rear immediately. V-bar are by far way more aggressive than plain ladder link so if you want the most traction get them.

Let us know what you decide and how they work for you.

 

[stuartshomepc]

@ ND Teacher yes I swapped left to right, no I don't swap in the spring I have left them like that. the width is about 66" wide so it does not affect my 72" bush hog.

I had to flip the tires left to right on my 1630 to get clearance between the fenders and chains. I use 4 link spacing chains on my AG tires and they work great. I passed on the "V" bar chains as part of my driveway is concrete and i didn't want to rip it up. Even with ice under the snow the regular chains have been all I needed. Hardly even use my 4WD at all. And I have an 7' Meyer truck style snow blade on the back that sometimes pushes tons of show.

 

[ND teacher]

when i measured the outside of the tires i was at 69" if you flipped the dishes wouldnt that widden the stance out wider than 69" i would think maybe even wider that 72"??? Is the clearance you are worring about from the inside of the wheel only? there doesnt seem to be much clearance from the top of the tire to the fender either?

 

[PointyHairedBoss]

I have R4 tires on my M59 TLB and with the backhoe removed and replaced with a rear mount snowblower, the tractor would have trouble going reverse up grade with the blower working....tire chains would not fit under the fender well (virtually no clearance)...I bought two boxes of atv ice studs 1/2 screw depth with carbide heads total 500 units and screwed 3-4 per lug on all 4 tires.....now the tractor operates like a tank glued to the roadway...no slip or slide....I clear approx 4 km of roadway through my campground, double width!
Cost $50.00 cdn and 1 hour labour with a screw gun...so far there is no downside:thumbsup:

Hey DoeLake,

My wife & I will be retiring to our cottage property on Sugar Lake near Orrville in 2012 (just down 518 from you).

We have about 85 acres & a 1/2 mile long winding, hilly gravel driveway which I will have to keep clear in the winter. I don't have any experience with heavy equipment but I have been looking around for a few years - planning for our retirement. Three months ago I bought a used Kubota B21 & have been doing minor repairs & service to get ready to move it north in the spring. This will be my summer machine for digging, landscaping, grappling, road work etc.

Now I need a winter machine primarily for snow removal - I'm thinking of something like a used 40-45 HP Kubota or Kioti, factory cab, hydrostatic, front mount blade & blower.

My problem: hills.
I have no experience with chains or studs & was wondering if you might be able to help me. My steepest hill is about a 40 ft climb I guessing about 12% grade. I have a VW Jetta (front wheel drive) & I have to take a bit of a run at the hill in the summer to get up. My wife's 4WD Honda CRV will crawl up no problem. Once there is a little snow on the ground, I know I'll need tire chains or studs on my snow clearing machine. I'm trying to find out if studs are as good as chains. Do you have to clear steep hills?