Best front tires for plowing? Adding studs?

[BeninCT 451]

I’ve been adding rear weight and will also add some weight upfront to help with steering when the snow plow is down but I thought I would ask the group if there was a general agreed-upon best tire to use upfront for steering traction when plowing?

 

After that I wanted to ask if anybody had any experience adding metal studs to their front tires for plowing/steering traction?

[ebinmaine 68,888]

I've considered adding studs myself on several different occasions and I've always shied away from it. Reason being is because they are surprisingly easy to accidentally remove from the correct tire and accidentally install upside down in the wrong tire.

 

Best recommendation for front traction in my experience is of course lots and lots of weight, combined with roller chains going the circumference of the tire. I did that on train is 867 and it works quite well giving consideration of the fact that her tractor is much much lighter than mine and so is she lighter than me.

 

Extra WEIGHT as you know is your friend.

On my plow tractor I have well oversized tires on the front which are fluid filled.

 

 

[wallfish 17,114]

X 2 on the #40 roller chain

[formariz 11,988]

9 minutes ago, wallfish said:

X 2 on the #40 roller chain

x3 on that. One needs only to really look at what the roller chain does to understand that nothing else will equal it.

1-extremely small contact point with ground piercing any snow or ice under it therefor making positive contact with ground.

2-extremely hard metal making it able to do the above.

3-ability to have exactly same effect on both wheels equally creating a "like it is on rails" effect.

4-what makes it so effective on #1 at the same time adds the benefit of "lightening" steering  due to the minimal contact area.

5-the quickest and most inexpensive solution for the problem.

6-the only REAL solution for the problem

[rjg854 11,578]

Couldn't agree more, roller chains make all the difference in the world. 

[pfrederi 18,004]

Roller chains!!!!

[ebinmaine 68,888]

One would almost get the impression that some of us are into roller chains....

 

😂

[varosd 1,185]

I went with knock off MTD type metal front wheel weights and it made all the difference 

of course now that we moved from Pennsylvania back to the mountains of North Carolina we have had mild winters 

of course, we are looking at some dusting/ ice on Sunday night 

lol 

[Achto 27,919]

I have these on the front of my C-145 that I use for pushing the snow blade around. They made a word of difference, no weight added and the tractor goes where I point it. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-Trac-ATV-Bias-Tire/dp/B001THCJDO

 

Been thinking about adding these to the rear. I've heard very good reviews from people who don't even run chains with these. Say that chains are not needed.

 

https://www.millertire.com/23x8-50r12-carlisle-versa-turf-compact-radial-tractor-tire-6-ply/ 

[ebinmaine 68,888]

21 minutes ago, Achto said:

have these on the front of my C-145 that I use for pushing the snow blade around. They made a word of difference, no weight added and the tractor goes where I point it. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-Trac-ATV-Bias-Tire/dp/B001THCJDO

 

I been thinking on ordering a set like that. 

Really do wish they came in a larger size for 8" wheel.  

 

[SylvanLakeWH 26,155]

I run no weights no chains on my C 105 and C 6.5 (predator swap)… Michigan snow slop etc. Three flat concrete drives…two brand new. So I want no marks…

 

Works fine…

 

My question to the front chain guys - do you mark up your concrete / asphalt drives with the roller chain? When I ran chains on back for one year it was noticeable scratching on both asphalt and concrete. I stopped and frankly don’t see the need for my drives… dirt drives I get, paved I’m curious your experiences…

[Rusty Tinsnips 477]

2 hours ago, Achto said:

I have these on the front of my C-145 that I use for pushing the snow blade around. They made a word of difference, no weight added and the tractor goes where I point it.

These worked very good last year. On concrete. chipped stone and dirt.

[Maxwell-8 4,359]

25 minutes ago, Rusty Tinsnips said:

Those are snowblower tires if I am not mistaking? 

[Achto 27,919]

10 minutes ago, Maxwell-8 said:

Those are snowblower tires if I am not mistaking? 

 

You are correct. They do make great steer tires as well.

[Achto 27,919]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Really do wish they came in a larger size for 8" wheel.  

 

The ones that I posted are 16x6.50x8's

[ebinmaine 68,888]

27 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

The ones that I posted are 16x6.50x8's

Yessir. 

I have 20 x 8 x 8 on the plow rig.  

[pfrederi 18,004]

I suppose they are OK on cement/blacktop if it was clear when the snow came but if you have a build up of ice packed snow chains are the best answer

[Southern_Secret 463]

Would these roller chain deals work good in light mud? If so how does one make them?

[wallfish 17,114]

 

4 hours ago, Southern_Secret said:

Would these roller chain deals work good in light mud? If so how does one make them?

For that condition Tri Rib tires are probably your best bet. Maybe doing 2 loops of chain on each tire would help too. I'll get you a pic of chain on a tire when it gets light out

[rjg854 11,578]

[pfrederi 18,004]

4 hours ago, wallfish said:

 

For that condition Tri Rib tires are probably your best bet. Maybe doing 2 loops of chain on each tire would help too. I'll get you a pic of chain on a tire when it gets light out

 

 

For mud I think the triribs would be better

[ebinmaine 68,888]

4 hours ago, wallfish said:

For that condition Tri Rib tires are probably your best bet.

 

2 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

 

 

For mud I think the triribs would be better

 

Can concur. 

 

Trina has 3 tractors with 3 different types of front tires. 

Our experience:

Turfs with roller chains are best for ice/snow. 

Tri ribs for mud dirt gravel sand. 

Front AGs work well on non ice conditions but not quite as good as tri ribs. 

 

[Lee1977 6,874]

I agree that Tri-Ribs work great in mud dirt gravel and sand, but I avoid mud every where I can.

I have the Tri-Ribs on my 312-8 on the rear I have Carlisle  All Trails II. We don't get enough snow and ice to need chains.

Snow usually only last a max of three days some might linger in shady areas for a week.

We never get snow from the west the mountains gets that. We have to have moisture from the south and extremely cold air from the north east to get snow.

The most useless tires I have ever had were the Carlisle Turf Savers that came on Wheel Horse Tractors. The only thing that is level around here is my drive way and it goes into my basement.

[BeninCT 451]

I am worried that these chains will mark up my new driveway.  Do they leave any marks?  I suppose as long as you are moving when you turn prob not… 

Thanks for all the responses.  Turf saver tires are terrible in the snow and that is all I really use this thing for so considering those snowblower tires posted with the huge lugs.   Thank you, again.

[SylvanLakeWH 26,155]

On 1/1/2022 at 12:20 PM, Lee1977 said:

The most useless tires I have ever had were the Carlisle Turf Savers

 

20 minutes ago, BeninCT said:

Turf saver tires are terrible in the snow

I respectfully disagree. I plow three flat broom finished concrete driveways in South Eastern Michigan (just did 3” off all three this morning)… Carlisle Turf Savers with no added weight and no chains… work great for me.  

 

just my experience. I plow in 2nd gear with a C 105 and a C 6.5 (predator swap). Basically same tractors…

 

Used chains first year and they definitely will mark up asphalt and concrete… 

 

 

Pics of my set up: