Why are front tires so narrow?

Mosey · Jun 30, 2003

I'm still pondering the discussion Compact Tractors are Designed All Wrong and have been wondering why front tires are so much smaller than the rears on a typical CUT. What is the advantage of a smaller tire? Is it just cost? It seems to me that it would be better for the front tires to be much wider so there would be less compaction, especially when using a FEL.

Mike_Dumond · Jun 30, 2003

Wide is probably better in some situations, but I think the real question is how wide. My brother bought a massey 7 or 8 years back and he ordered extra wide fronts. They were wide enough to almost float on water, but even with power steering, he had to work to turn the tractor. He sold it a few years later, and first thing the new owner did, was put on new fronts.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 30, 2003

My 'GUESS' would be that it's because the front end is the steering end and thinner tires give more maneuverability?

Taylortractornut · Jun 30, 2003

Another thing is that wider tires on the front give more rolling resitance in soft situations. Alot of folks here run flotation tires on the rear of ag tractors that are 2 wheel drive and skinnies on the front. In simpler words it has less surface area to push through the soft stuff.

Anonymous Poster · Jul 1, 2003

Narrow tires dig in better to steer better than wider flotation tires. Also less surface area resistance when steering without moving, such as in loader work on firmer surfaces. All non articulated loaders I have seen have smaller tires on the front.
For real AG use the narrow ribbed tires really cut in to steer better in the soft dirt.

RobS · Jul 1, 2003

Wider tires means more scrub while turning (inner and outer edges rolling on different radii). Scrub translates to forces acting on front end hardware. Steering axles have several weak points so it is desirable to minimize those forces.

Articulated tractors don't need the steering function in the axle so they have much beefier axles to handle the large and sometimes dual front tires /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif