Ag tires for snow

[HankB 16]

I guess I didn't need to worry that I'd have to wait for next winter to try these out plowing snow. This morning we had about 4" of very heavy wet sticky snow to deal with. To start, I just set the blade straight and ran down to the end of the drive for the first pass. This is the toughest duty since the snow tends to pile up in front of the blade and it gets harder and harder to push. I had no difficulty pushing it all of the way to the end of a 100+ foot drive. During the rest of the plowing effort, I had no difficulty with the ags slipping at all. The only time they lost traction is when I hit the big old piles trying to push more of the new snow that way. That's where I would leave scars from the chains I had been using.

Based on these results, I'm a happy camper. I think I get at least the same traction with the ags that I was getting with chains.

What I had - 23x9.5-12 turf tires with 4 link chains. (In previous years, I used these w/out chains and a 42" blade. I had to take a small bite with sticky snow.)

What I swapped to:

- 12x7 rims (IIRC from a 312-9)

- 23x8.5-12 Nanco tires

- 5+ gal fluid fill per side.

Total cost was under $200. I probably paid too much for the wheels, but they were the modern silver color, not old pitted/repainted ivory color. For fluid fill, I chose RV antifreeze due to non-toxic and non-corrosive properties. Because I'm the cheap bastage that I am, I diluted with some water. I tried a 50:50 mix of antifreeze and water in my freezer and it froze a little too solid (at 0

[chazm 413]

Gotta love it when a plan comes together

Only thing missing...

Chaz :party:

[C-Series14 15]

Just to add to what Hank has said...I have always used Ag tires on all my tractors. I have several with 10.50's and several with 8.50's. The most used tractors have the 10.50's and they work fine for mowing, towing, and the FEL tractor. This winter, I put the 8.50's on the plow tractor. The 10.50's didn't seem to have that great of traction. Well, the 8.50's have 5 times the traction as the 10.50's! The snow plow tractor has front and rear WH wheel weights also.

SO.....There sits my FEL tractor with 10.50's. Grabbed the jack and proceeded to swap the 10.50's for 8.50's. This tractor now has way better traction than with the 10.50's! So it is true, the skinny tires are the way to go....till summer!

Of course I knew this all along, I was just too lazy to swap them out! B)

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

Good to hear the good news The work better for two reasons:

1) More aggressive treat (duh)

2) Narrower tire.

My 854 has narrow tires with a semi aggresive tread. These work as well as my Charger with chains and 23x12-8.5 turf tires.

[stevasaurus 22,914]

Good going Hank...just got in from moving that snow. Noway you could blow that snot...had to be plowed or shoveled. Nice to have a plow isn't it. B)

[Brrly1 1,146]

Hey Mike, It sucks growing old, don't it. Just think one of these days you'll be ridin a dresser with saddle bags, cd,radio it might even have cruise control. Maybe even have the leg fairings. See Ya, Bye Burly

B)

[C-Series14 15]

Hey Mike, It sucks growing old, don't it. Just think one of these days you'll be ridin a dresser with saddle bags, cd,radio it might even have cruise control. Maybe even have the leg fairings. See Ya, Bye Burly

Me on a Bagger??? No way!!! Happy on my lowered Wide Glide! B)

[wh500special 2,244]

Based on these results, I'm a happy camper. I think I get at least the same traction with the ags that I was getting with chains.

I'm glad it worked really well for you, but other than on the "warmer" snowfalls where the fresh snow fell on warm ground w/o an ice base I have never had any success plowing w/o chains. Seems like unless I can get a clean bite of pavement or gravel, turf and ags are almost useless unless wrapped in steel.

Perhaps I need to give it another go around.

Thanks,

Steve

[rickv1957 72]

Hank,sounds like them AGS are working good for you!,Rick

[HankB 16]

Only thing missing...

I wondered who would ask. Well, a picture of a tractor with new tires seems pretty boring so I'll do like the 4x4 guys do and get one tire up as high as possible to "articulate"

That's as high on that pile of snow she'd go.

Probably a more informative picture is a side by side with the factory tire:

Good going Hank...just got in from moving that snow. Noway you could blow that snot...had to be plowed or shoveled. Nice to have a plow isn't it.

The best part is I plow at full speed.

I'm glad it worked really well for you, but other than on the "warmer" snowfalls where the fresh snow fell on warm ground w/o an ice base I have never had any success plowing w/o chains. Seems like unless I can get a clean bite of pavement or gravel, turf and ags are almost useless unless wrapped in steel.

Time will tell. My experience has been that the wet stuff is the hardest to push. When it's colder the snow is fluffier and pushes easy. But perhaps conditions where you plow are different. I'm plowing asphalt and the chains were scratching it up.

best,

hank

[rickv1957 72]

Hank,your tractor looks great,like them ags,Rick

[rydogg 186]

Nice setup ya got there!! I ordered some ags a couple days ago and can't wait to get them on the C121 and see how they grip compared to chains.

[6wheeler 641]

Ryan, where did you order them from? I want to try some on my c165. And Brrly, you are right on with the bagger.... I don't call that old----just comfortable... Pat B)

[rydogg 186]

I ordered them from tiresunlimited.com they were under $100 for the pair of 23x8.5x12 tires and had free shipping I did a lot of shopping around and with the free shipping these were the best I found. They are Duro HF255.

[Dw Andy 0]

Nice setup ya got there!! I ordered some ags a couple days ago and can't wait to get them on the C121 and see how they grip compared to chains.

Up in our area we been drivin' on ice since christmas. I'd be goin' nowhere without my chains!

[chazm 413]

The best part is I plow at full speed.

Good looking sneakers ya got there Hank

Thanks for the pics

Chaz :party:

[tgranthamfd 29]

Nice pics. I didn't do very good with mine, plowing, but I think they are 74' model.

[Coadster32 793]

I normally plow with a Charger12-filled 12X8.5 ag's.(needs new AG's though) I do get some slipping, and alot of pushing on the front end. I recently got an 854 with 12X6 turfs. Lots of plow slippage. I put a set of unloaded 12X8.5 ag's on, and it plows better than the Charger12! No slippage, pushing, and it kicked butt in 9 inches of snow. AG's do work very well. B)