Tired of spending money!

[sea2summit]

Educate yourself on the entire subject of rolling circumference and front to rear tire rotation.
Bottom line is that front and rear tires of differing sizes do not turn at the same rates. This is why when 4wd is used on hard pack surfaces, you find an issue with binding of the gears and troubles in getting out of 4wd. There is lots of information on these topics and the need for slippage (non hard pack surfaces)

The speed of the wheel when it contacts the ground is the same front ant back. If the wheels in front are smaller they will spin faster to make that happen. That ratio is worked into the gearing of the 4WD.

 

[mrmikey]

It was always my understanding that the front wheels turned slighty faster when in FWD in order to make steering easier, by slightly I mean 1% or so. If the front wheels turned slower, you'd have a heck of a job making a turn and it would plow into the corners, too fast and it would pull into the corners too fast.
As to wheels being different size front to back, the difference in tire size is not the ratio front to back, the gearing in the transfer case/transmission/front diff. makes up the difference so front to rear the surface feet per minute covered is almost identical other then the percentage difference I mentioned earlier.
Least ways that's my take on it LOL..............Mike

**EDIT**
I missed sea's post somehow, didn't mean to step on ur toes by saying the same thing

 

[CoyPatton]

The speed of the wheel when it contacts the ground is the same front ant back. If the wheels in front are smaller they will spin faster to make that happen. That ratio is worked into the gearing of the 4WD.

Sorry but they are not! You may believe they are but again that is not correct! If they were there would be no issues related to binding.

 

[sea2summit]

Sorry but they are not! You may believe they are but again that is not correct! If they were there would be no issues related to binding.

So when my tractor is in 4WD my front tires are turning (120"/175"=) 0.68 times for every time the rear tire goes around but that's less binding than effective gear ratios would be (with your assumption the tractor doesn't have effective gear ratios)?

 

[arrow]

I believe that is by definition, as used when talking about tractors.

But really, all things considered, does it really make any difference in operation of the tractor at the tire contact patch, if the wheels/tires are different diameters or not? I don’t think so, except that larger diameter tires on the front are probably better than smaller ones.

Actually, I see the answer when I look at my tractors. They both have OEM 4WD decals on them! The manufacturer should know what he built and sold, right? My tractors are 4WD!

So it has now been proven that my FWA tractors are REALLY 4WD tractors!

I’ll sleep better tonight! ROFL...

Not to break a better sleep pattern; but most c.u.t. 4wd tractors are really 2wd tractors with open differentials. 3 if you consider the rear differential lock while in 4wd.