Wheel spacers

[halfBaked2024]

I ordered my first tractor (TYM T574H) yesterday and am wondering if anyone dealing with hilly terrain has put spacers on to enhance stability. If so, what size?

My dealer seems reluctant to recommend them, but I’d like to have them put on before they fill the tires if I decide to pull the trigger.

 

[rScotty]

Wheel spacers aren't real popular - but I don't know why not. People who have them seem to like them. Maybe it is because they are expensive and unlike adjustable width rear rims they are hard to change.

Also good spacers are expensive. They need to be dead accurate and have the exact proper fastenings so that the wheels stand up to the increased load. For that reason, on a new tractor I'd want the spacers to be a factory approved option - or better yet, a factory optional part. Even so, your dealer might be understandably reluctant to recommend both wheel spacers and loading the tires since both increase the load on the wheel fastenings.

If you go for spacers, most people use the +2" instead of anything larger.

If you have to chose only one, you'll need to decide if you want improved traction in sloppy dirt and snow - which means either loading the tires or adding wheel weights or chains.
Or if you what you want is mostly side hill stability - which is what spacers or wider tires do the best of all.

In my opinion, a far better option than spacers is to order your tractor with upgraded rear wheel rims that have width adjustment. Most larger tractors 50 hp and up will have adjustable wheels as an option or the dealer may have specify it. Tractors used for ag pretty much have to have adjustable width.

luck,
rScotty

 

[RjCorazza]

As rScotty points out, nothing beats a wider stance for hill stability.
I don't have spacers on my tractor, mostly because most of my implements are sized to the OEM width and I don't want the tractor any wider. I did put 2" spacers on my backup zero turn to use on banks. They make a significant difference.

 

[halfBaked2024]

Thanks for the feedback, @rScotty and @RjCorazza - this forum has such helpful folks on it!

I am trying to quantify the benefit on different spacer widths and am working on the maths. All I see on the forums is “It’s so much better!”, but no-one has any tangible information like, “On a 15% cross slope, with 2” spacers, it will take X more amount of force to tip the tractor. With 6” spacers, it will take Y amount.” I know I’m weird, but knowing the numbers eases my lack of confidence.

I had them ballast the fronts and rears, giving me about 350# up front and 1,400# more in the rear - no brainer there. And I get that this helps incrementally keeping a lower center of gravity. But, how much is actually gained from 2” spacers? I see the 6% increase in width adding to the leveraged length. But monetary outlay being similar, is it worth risking the perceived mechanical strain on the axles and getting 6” for 18% increase in leverage length?

I know a dork like me has done the calculations, I just can’t find it. If I end up creating it, I will share it. This is the closest thing I found and plan on starting here:

My impatient self is saying, “Well, heck man… just get the 4” set then.”

 

[DarkBlack]

I definitely wouldn’t put wheel spacers on my front wheels

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm surprised that your tractor doesn't have options on your rims to make the wheels wider. On my Massey, I have 4 different ways to mount my rims to make them wider. I maxed them out so they are four inches wider on each side, and for me, that was significant.

What does our Owners Manual say about widening your wheels?

 

[scootr]

My 52 hp MX Kubota did not have adjustable wheels. I put 3" spacers on the rear and 2" spacers on the front per the spacer manufacturers recommendation. It made a big improvement in the way it feels on hills. I don't have any numbers just the very real pucker factor. Buy the best quality spacers you can afford. I paid around $700 for mine and would do it again.

 

[rScotty]

I definitely wouldn’t put wheel spacers on my front wheels

I wouldn't either - not without more measurements. Nor would I load the fronts. The front axle pivots in the middle, so it's a whole different situation than the rears. Adding front wheel spacers will keep the axle on the ground, but it won't prevent the body of the tractor from tilting.

 

[scootr]

I wouldn't either - not without more measurements. Nor would I load the fronts. The front axle pivots in the middle, so it's a whole different situation than the rears. Adding front wheel spacers will keep the axle on the ground, but it won't prevent the body of the tractor from tilting.

We've had this discussion many times here. I believe spaced front tires do help with stability. The front axle pivots until it hits the stops. If the tires are spaced out they hit the stops sooner. Of course, to each their own.

 

[DarkBlack]

If the tires are spaced out they hit the stops sooner.

I don’t envision that being the case. In my mind, your front tires could be 6 feet apart or 6 miles apart. In either case , the rigid tractor body and rear end will still have to rotate the same number of degrees, and lift the high side rear tire off the ground the same distance in either case, to cause contact of the fixed front axle pivot limit stops.