Best Front Snow's on 18 Auto/D's?

["Manic-Mechanic" 1,194]

I have had several treads on the front of the 18 Auto and find maneuverability over ground & Snow, ,almost pointless. On top of asphalt or cement no problem. I am considering the Tri Rib. Any thoughts on these and the claim to add easier steering? Better maneuverability on Snow?

 

Edited December 14, 2022 by "Manic-Mechanic"

[ebinmaine 67,556]

IMHO ---   WEIGHT will be your best friend.  

 

ANY rubber no matter what shape won't match chains.  

 

I have a set of 20 x 8 x 8 turfs on the front of my snow tractor. Fluid filled.  5 gallons each. Approximately adds 55 lbs per side. 

 

It's pretty good except on ice or really tough heavy snow.   

 

Some folks use snowblower tires and get good results.  

 

I don't believe the tri-ribs would please you for winter steering.  

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,594]

I use turf tires in rear and front, no chains. Works for me plowing Michigan slop snow on three flat concrete drives.

 

I would think tri-ribs would be very poor performing in snow but i have no personal experience with them... I would think same reason they turn easy on pavement and dirt would be same reason they wouldn't turn on snow - very little surface area... just my 

["Manic-Mechanic" 1,194]

31 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

IMHO ---   WEIGHT will be your best friend.  

 

ANY rubber no matter what shape won't match chains.  

 

I have a set of 20 x 8 x 8 turfs on the front of my snow tractor. Fluid filled.  5 gallons each. Approximately adds 55 lbs per side. 

 

It's pretty good except on ice or really tough heavy snow.   

 

Some folks use snowblower tires and get good results.  

 

I don't believe the tri-ribs would please you for winter steering.  

 

 

I was reading a minute ago, about narrow VS wide on the rears, depending on soft or packed Snow. I never gave thought to weight on the fronts? I do have a beautiful set of turfs on now, so weight would be the key...Now 5 gal ea makes for a heavy wheel indeed! What type of fluid, how much air?

Edited December 14, 2022 by "Manic-Mechanic"

["Manic-Mechanic" 1,194]

2 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

I use turf tires in rear and front, no chains. Works for me plowing Michigan slop snow on three flat concrete drives.

 

I would think tri-ribs would be very poor performing in snow but i have no personal experience with them... I would think same reason they turn easy on pavement and dirt would be same reason they wouldn't turn on snow - very little surface area... just my 

Yes, Eric was just mentioning this as well. Sounds logical to me. Toss that idea! Keep the turfs and look at weight. Now on the rear I have 32" tall ags sitting on 16" rims. Thinking now should've went wider? Tires are costly so, glad to refrain from the Tri rib.

[Achto 27,597]

40 minutes ago, "Manic-Mechanic" said:

I am considering the Tri Rib. Any thoughts on these and the claim to add easier steering? Better maneuverability on Snow?

 

At the steering wheel, on hard ground tri ribs will make it feel like you power steering compared to turf tires. Don't know how they are for traction in the snow.

 

I but a set of these on the front of my snow plowing tractor. With these tires my tractor always goes where I point it. No added weight on the front.

https://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-Trac-ATV-Bias-Tire/dp/B001THCJDO/ref=sr_1_2?crid=K6XFHZZWJ0VA&keywords=6.5+x+8+snowblower+tires&qid=1670978625&s=automotive&sprefix=6.5+x+8+snowblower+tires%2Cautomotive%2C120&sr=1-2

Edited December 14, 2022 by Achto

[Darb1964 1,042]

Weight and chains, weight and chains. 

["Manic-Mechanic" 1,194]

1 minute ago, Achto said:

 

At the steering wheel, on hard ground tri ribs will make it feel like you power steering compared to turf tires. Don't know how they are for traction in the snow.

 

I but a set of these on the front of my snow plowing tractor. With these tires my tractor always goes where I pint it. No added weight on the front.

https://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-Trac-ATV-Bias-Tire/dp/B001THCJDO/ref=sr_1_2?crid=K6XFHZZWJ0VA&keywords=6.5+x+8+snowblower+tires&qid=1670978625&s=automotive&sprefix=6.5+x+8+snowblower+tires%2Cautomotive%2C120&sr=1-2

I have those on my utility carts, left over rototiller tires, similar 

[Blasterdad 2,692]

6 minutes ago, Darb1964 said:

Weight and chains, weight and chains. 

 

["Manic-Mechanic" 1,194]

1 minute ago, Blasterdad said:

 

Yes! I seen those last year, just figure up the links on 35 chain?

[Darb1964 1,042]

1 minute ago, Blasterdad said:

 

Yes that

["Manic-Mechanic" 1,194]

1 minute ago, Darb1964 said:

Yes that

[Blasterdad 2,692]

1 minute ago, Darb1964 said:

Yes that

#40 roller chain, old chains from the snowblower, perfect length. 

[Blasterdad 2,692]

4 minutes ago, "Manic-Mechanic" said:

Yes! I seen those last year, just figure up the links on 35 chain?

About 100 links... Depending on tire...

[Blasterdad 2,692]

Mine are #40, thats what size the snowblower uses.

[ebinmaine 67,556]

33 minutes ago, "Manic-Mechanic" said:

I was reading a minute ago, about narrow VS wide on the rears, depending on soft or packed Snow. I never gave thought to weight on the fronts? I do have a beautiful set of turfs on now, so weight would be the key...Now 5 gal ea makes for a heavy wheel indeed! What type of fluid, how much air?

I use Rimguard fluid. 

 

It's readily available in my area for the same price (or more often) less expensive than either RV antifreeze or winter washer fluid. Those two weigh LESS than water at about 7.5 lbs/gallon.  

Rimguard is a beet juice derivative and weighs 10.5 to 11 lbs/gallon.  

 

Air pressure is up to you. 

You don't need air pressure in fluid filled tires. 

I don't check my air pressure in fluid filled tires. 

The shop likely put a little air in when they were filled 4 or 5 years ago. I've not checked it since. 

 

 

 

For the roller chains mentioned above you can use 35, 40, or even 60. Whatever is cheap and available to you.  

 

 

[ri702bill 8,327]

10 hours ago, Darb1964 said:

Weight and chains, weight and chains. 

My version-

Weights - 4, Fluid Filled tubed tires - 4, Chains - rear, Turf tires - rear, AG tires - front, (AG'g stay on all year, without the homemade weights in the summer)

 

 

[oldlineman 1,481]

Edited December 14, 2022 by oldlineman
This is what I use 1979 c-1o1, wrap the front tires with #40 chain best thing I have done for winter steering , like its glued to the ground. Bob

[Pullstart 62,905]

You can research on the fluid type, many people use different fluids.  Here’s a thread we did on that topic a while back.  I was able to saturate sugar into water and into RV antifreeze for more weight.

 

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/90255-lets-discuss-sugar-or-beet-juice-tire-fill-homemade/?tab=comments#comment-917639

 

 

I prefer no air pressure in my fluid filled tires.  
 

I’ve used a transfer pump with varying results before.  I’ve also used a small air tank, full of fluid, and pressurized to fluid fill through the valve stem.

 

 

[Pullstart 62,905]

I haven’t ever done the roller chain method, I haven’t had the personal need.  I’d imagine like @Achto mentioned a tri rib feeling like power steering on dry ground, that chain would make steering a breeze rotating on just 1/2” width instead of 6 or 8 inches.

[ebinmaine 67,556]

On 12/14/2022 at 9:12 AM, Pullstart said:

 I was able to saturate sugar into water and into RV antifreeze for more weight

Forgive my bad memory. Did you ever figure out how much weight you added?

[Pullstart 62,905]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

Forgive my bad memory. Did you ever figure out how much weight you added?

I’ll think about the forgiveness….   I don’t recall the weight exactly, but it seemed like 1/2 the volume of sugar to fluid fully saturated.  Maybe it was closer to 1:1.