Tire studs - again.

[jel1988]

Studs are used on higher speed applications like a car or truck. On a low speed application chains will give better performance and they won't wreck an expensive tractor tire.

 

[hhsco]

Can you flip your wheels to widen the rear stance of your tractor? That may help with clearance for chains. I'd kill for some six year old tires- my '78 JD 2040 has the original rears....and they actually still look and work pretty swell!

 

[MiserableOldFart]

I lost about 10 studs over the course of the winter. I would rate this as a fail, especially in view of the fact that the traction gains were minimal at best. If there was ice, it might have been different. Again, if you have ag tires, with much deeper tread, you can use longer ones that are probably less likely to pull out. Also, the more expensive carbide studs might well have some kind of improved design to the screws, though I doubt it. I also can't help thinking that the tiny holes left upon removing the studs will allow a small amount of air to get into the treads and hasten their decline over the years. I'll be sticking to just chains on the front tires as long as it works..

 

[MiserableOldFart]

hhscco, I Never doubted that chains would give much better traction. I don't think these are going to wreck my tires, but they didn't do much good, either. In my case, the clearance on the rear tires isn't sufficient for chains. Also the expense of rear tire chains is very large. If I ever get the spacers for the tires (another $300 item) then I should have the clearance, and I can consider dropping the dough for the rear chains.

 

[curvecrazy]

If you spin up with the studs you're gonna tear some out. Tree roots and spinning takes em out I find on ATV. I find your experience different from mine but where I am the ground is frozen hard and they grab and you go.
One difference might be in our approach.... First snowfall I prepare a base just driving the truck back and forth on the first 4-6 inches of snow. That makes an ice base that keeps my 3pt blower and front plow out of the gravel. Once the base is there it turns to ice under the snow and I do all my snow removal on top of that base to protect the driveway. My 2wd tractor gets around fine with minimal studs on the rear diamond pattern turfs. Longest I can use with my tread depth is about 3/4" but I don't have 3/4" so I used half inch koldkutters that I had on hand for three seasons now with good results. I've had no problems reusing tread screw holes over seasons. When removed they leave a tiny dimple hole on the tire so it's not like major damage to the tire if operator uses care on the tractor throttle not forcibly ripping out screws fwiw. My gravel drive has a slope at the woods and I literally can't get up it in the winter with the 2wd without some assist. V chains are great but the installs a hassle and the rides bouncy and the **** things loosen up so always adding more straps LOL. Not to mention raping my metal fenders on the inside when the chains move around which somehow they "always" manage to do! With moderate amounts of screws in the tires, which is super easy and quick to install with cordless drill, I go back and forth on that slope problem solved. No being stuck, spinning, BS, etc.... Just goes right up it no slip.
Sure it can be argued the V chains give better traction but their such a PITA to use that I'd willingly deal with the slight drawbacks of the ice screws or find another solution. I'm not interested in scratching neighbors driveways when attempting to be neighborly and help em out with snow removal....ie no good deed going unpunished. Oops.... Btw... The screws slip pretty easily on asphalt so if that's your gig then you're in the same boat as me searching for another solution.