AG or Turf tires for snow plowing?

[Jrodgers04 43]

I have a C-141 hydro I use for plowing snow in the winter. Driveway and street both have fairly steep inclines, all pavement.

 

For the last few years she's done will with the stock turf tires, weigh box, and tire chains. 

 

Ideally I'd like to get away from chains as they rip into the pavement on wheel spin, which has been inevitable due to the inclines. 

 

Curious to know how people have made out with AG tires, or a different tire when snow plowing on pavement. No doubt chains are king but trying not to have to repave the dive way in the next few years

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,657]

Turfs with rubber chains will be your best bet

[Blackhood Bill 721]

I don’t have any pictures but you might consider the rubber chains as @ebinmaine suggests.I have Deestone ags and did well last winter without chains but I’m pretty flat here.

Edited October 28, 2019 by Blackhood Bill

[Cee245 818]

I use 50lb wheel weights / chains but my driveway is flat with a small incline at the mouth. 

I never spin unless it's my fault.  Chain's inevitability will tear up asphalt and concrete. 

 

Go with the rubber "chain's" I've heard and read of lots of good reviews on them.

 

 

Cory

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,339]

My opinion is that Ags are lousy for snow clearing on asphalt or concrete driveways. I went with this style tread a few years back and they are GREAT! I have 75#’s of cast iron wheel weights on each rear rim and don’t run chains.

[Ed Kennell 38,230]

I could not get up my steep paved driveway with  2 link Vee Bar chains.  I had to plow down and circle around through the grass to get back up.

With the turfs and rubber chains, I can plow up and down.

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

I guess I'll be the odd duck out at the moment... I plow and snowblow (depending on amount) with a pair of 520Hs mounted with Lawn Trac R1 AG tires that are fluid filled along with iron wheel weights and then a custom rear bracket for suitcase weights on the blower tractor... With this particular brand tire I have had NO issues with slippage on our inclined asphalt driveway... Before this brand I had Nankang and Deestone AGs which required the use of chains even with the addition of wheel weights... Also the older a tire is the harder the rubber ,the less flex and less tractive forces... I do believe turfs allow more rubber to force the chain to dig in more effectively than AGs unless you get the diamond or net style chains... So just to reiterate IMPO the Lawn Trac R1 or Carlisle TruPower AGs would be my go to tire of choice but loaded with fluid and additional wheel weights. 

Edited October 29, 2019 by WVHillbilly520H

[953 nut 55,324]

You will gain a lot more traction for not too much money if you fill your rear tires with RV Antifreeze.

     SIZE                 GALLONS Per Tire                WEIGHT in POUNDS

• 16x6.50-8               2.0                            21.4
• 18x7.00-8               3.0                            32.1 
• 18x8.50-8               3.4                            36.4 
• 18x9.50-8               4.0                            42.8
• 23x8.50-12             5.5                            58.9
• 23x10.50-12           6.8                            72.8
• 6-12                        3.6                            38.5
• Helped a lot on my driveway.
• 

 

[Jrodgers04 43]

Loving all the pics of the horses getting ready for winter. The rubber chains sound perfect, and also will supplement with the liquid tire weight.

 

Thanks all!

[SylvanLakeWH 25,602]

3 driveways.

Pretty flat.

No extra weight.

Michigan crap to great snow...

No issues...

 

[DougC 2,641]

Where I live in Iowa it usually starts out with freezing drizzle then rain for a base of ice then anywhere from 1 inch to 18 inches of snow, wet or fluffy.

I have to use turf tires with chains on my inclined driveway or I would not be able to push or throw snow. My neighbor has a snow blade on his 4wd  Ford and has more problems than I do and I am on a garden tractor.......... 

I have old concrete and gravel so I am not worried about  any wear and tear. Just my experience.   

I also have a Original Cab Snow cab to keep me warm and dry and a cup holder for the hot or cold beverage of my choice......

Edited October 29, 2019 by DougC

[snowhound 105]

My driveway is pretty steep and I run turf tires, chains and wheel weights.  I try to get out and clear snow before it gets over 5 inches deep by doing that I don't have a spinning problem.  If the snow does get to deep or is very wet and heavy I only remove it going downhill, my driveway is downhill going to the road .

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

I run chains and fluid fill tires on my c160 and if I spin a tire then I'm pushing a lot of heavy snow. 

Or I hit the garage and didn't know I hit it.

Don't ask . And tell me how no one has done that also.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,602]

8 minutes ago, BOB ELLISON said:

 

Or I hit the garage and didn't know I hit it.

Don't ask . And tell me how no one has done that also.

 

UHM...But big difference...I did know I hit it...

 

Also used my car the other day to stop my rat rod when I started it (Predator pull start) in reverse... 

 

On the bright side - I Didn't scratch the  so that was a plus...

[Mikey the Monkey 697]

Fluid filled 23x9.5x12 Kenda turfs inspired by @SylvanLakeWH, and wheel weights. No chains. Works well for me. 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,602]

52 minutes ago, Mikey the Monkey said:

Fluid filled 23x9.5x12 Kenda turfs inspired by @SylvanLakeWH, and wheel weights. No chains. Works well for me. 

 

Officer: “You look kinda young to be driving such a fast machine there son...could I see your license and registration?”

 

Boy: “Uhm...My Dad said it was ok...”

[953 nut 55,324]

3 hours ago, Mikey the Monkey said:

Fluid filled 23x9.5x12 Kenda turfs inspired by @SylvanLakeWH, and wheel weights. No chains. Works well for me. 

            A seat might be a nice addition.               

[lynnmor 7,308]

4 hours ago, Mikey the Monkey said:

Fluid filled 23x9.5x12 Kenda turfs inspired by @SylvanLakeWH, and wheel weights. No chains. Works well for me. 

 

No wonder you need all that weight, you look kinda light.

[Mikey the Monkey 697]

Haha yes @953 nut, I was putting the seat and tins back on after doing oil change, new belt, new set screws, new woodruff keys, new seals, painted wheels/hubs/weights. Just getting it ready for snow plow time

 

@lynnmor, Mikey the monkey took the pic, that's Sammy the monkey waiting for me to turn my head so he can hide the key

[bds1984 1,435]

Everyone has their preference for what combination of tread style, chains, and/or weights.  I think a lot of it comes down to your need, what is available, and your budget.  I use my 520H mutt for plowing and it has 23-8.50R12 ags, loaded, and the plastic cover wheel weights and it plows/pushes pretty darn good.  If I need more I have an additional 100 pounds of plate weights to install in my 2-inch receiver.  The only issue I have ever had pushing snow is when there is an ice storm that has left behind a nice, slick mess and in that case, there isn't much that can overcome that.  For my C165 I have 23-10.50R12 ags, loaded, and cast iron wheel weights; this machine I have yet to plow with but I just may try her out this winter.  I would go with what Spark has on his Workhorse but I got an incredible deal on the ags for my 520.

[Jrodgers04 43]

Going back through some older posts...

 

Thank you all for your input. Based on it, I kept by turf tires and bought the "rubber" chains so as not to destroy my driveway. I have used then successfully for the past few seasons, they are awesome.

[Wayne0 465]

I run turfs with chains on my 520H with a 2 stage blower. No problems on my 150' down hill driveway. I do have to say, they are not garden tractor chains, but cut down truck chains.