actionaj
Gold Member
This past winter is the first time I used R-4s in snow/ice didn't have a problem at all.
Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Turf or Ag tires for snow removal
- Thread starter jas67
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I have a 27 HP 4WD with a front blade and Ag/Bar tires. Never had a problem with slippage in any type of snow even on icy roads. This has been a subject of much heated discussion so you can search for snow and tires and probably find a lot of opinions. I don't have any grass to mow so will never get anything but Ag tires.
arrabil
Veteran Member
Winter car tires look an awful lot like turf tires. Just with more siping.
blagg
Silver Member
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- Feb 18, 2008
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- 08 Grand L3540 HST
This last winter I at times was not able to plow snow in a timely manner. At times I was using the bucket in 30 plus inches of untouched snow. The R-1s with a 800lb ballast barrel cut down through it and kept going. I would think the turfs would float on top. At times I was impressed at how deep I was able to drive through. I do agree with turfs and chains in icy conditions though. More rubber on the ground equals more traction.
LBrown59
Super Star Member
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- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
Here is my experience moving snow:::Diamondpilot said:
1966 Bolens 850 garden tractor 2wd turfs with chains almost unstopable in up to 14'' of snow.Remove the chains / helpless in any snow.
BX23 FEL 4x4 AGs no chains no problem in snow .
BX 1500 4X4 Front Blade AGs no chains no problem pushing snow.
My limited time in the snow showed me deep lug tires do a lot more than a turf tire would have. I live on a sloped road and 4wd pickups slip and slide all over the place, but when moving snow with my 20hp 4wd tractor I never slipped a tire once. The lugs bite through the snow where a flotation tire would ride on the top and slip. Just my opinion, My rear tires are 8.3 X 24 so that makes quite a difference. Your small rear tires, turf or AG will have trouble without chains in deep snow.
Glowplug
Veteran Member
Wow! Seems like there are probably more opinions on this than there are options! I have no experience but from everything I've seen, heard, or read the R1 Ags often will get caked with snow between the bars and turn into narrow donuts of slick compact snow. It's totally different with chains of course. Turfs have a wide footprint which gives a wide surface area for more friction and grip. And turfs are not like normal vehicle "all-season" tires. They usually resemble serious snow tires for a vehicle. Now LSW ("golf course") tires are pretty slick with very shallow lugs and would likely be horrible in snow. I would think that R4 industrial tires would do pretty well in snow. I would also think a lot would depend on whether you have 4WD or not, the weight of the machine, conditions of snow, whether the tires are loaded or not, and type of snow as well as the depth of snow. I guess that's why there's so many opinions of the subject.
Disclaimer: Note that all of this comes from what I've heard and from educated reasoning; I have no personal experience.
Disclaimer: Note that all of this comes from what I've heard and from educated reasoning; I have no personal experience.
WilliamBos
Super Member
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- May 1, 2004
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- Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
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- MF 1635 12x12 Powershuttle
We will be adding chains tho'!!
patrick_g
Elite Member
Just to pour a little gasoline on the fires to put them out...
It is what you have before it slips that matters. Once a tire starts to slip the traction is about the same irrespective of the area of contact. (Not conjecture, physics.)
A smaller tire will have less footprint area BUT more PSI of force making contact. The larger tire will have more contact area but less PSI. Coefficient of friction being the same with same rubber compound.
In more extreme conditions, chains are a good solution to increasing traction. Chains will be forced down into the snow and resist lateral motion (shearing forces) better than any of the three most popular tread styles Ags, Industrials, or Turfs without chains.
Studs are also a very good performer but more hassle than chains.
Wanna see the ultimate in traction on ice?
Ice racing! Motorcycles or cars at ridiculously high speeds and high G turns on flat unbanked corners. They use SPIKES on the tires, exaggerated studs to get tremendous traction.
Pat
It is what you have before it slips that matters. Once a tire starts to slip the traction is about the same irrespective of the area of contact. (Not conjecture, physics.)
A smaller tire will have less footprint area BUT more PSI of force making contact. The larger tire will have more contact area but less PSI. Coefficient of friction being the same with same rubber compound.
In more extreme conditions, chains are a good solution to increasing traction. Chains will be forced down into the snow and resist lateral motion (shearing forces) better than any of the three most popular tread styles Ags, Industrials, or Turfs without chains.
Studs are also a very good performer but more hassle than chains.
Wanna see the ultimate in traction on ice?
Ice racing! Motorcycles or cars at ridiculously high speeds and high G turns on flat unbanked corners. They use SPIKES on the tires, exaggerated studs to get tremendous traction.
Pat