Chains: Front or Back

[Wolfy]

If you can only do one axle, the rear. I have a really steep driveway and we get blasted with super wet dense snow. My only 4wd tractor needs v bar chains front and rear to climb said driveway and apply small crushed stones with my Herd 3pt spreader. Rear chains and 4wd is often not enough. I also run chains all around on my yard plow truck.

 

[Yoseph]

Hi,
In my experience i always have tire chain on my multiple tractors, my John Deere lawn tractor equipped with adapted craftsman blower, and my International Harvester 275, and actually have a MF 1010 hydro 4 WD, noticed if you have more load on the front tire, you should have tire chain on the front, especially if you terrain is fully of slopes.
The rear tires chains are more effective on traction, the front are less on traction unless they are loaded.

 

[Helogabals]

I have an issue with CUT (Y 424) when pushing snow in floating (blade is on FEL). Sometimes snow is so heavy tractor's front tires start to lift. I have no traction problem at rear (with turf tires BTW) but basically tractor becomes un-steerable (IDK can I use such word). I can just point and shoot straight
I cant use very aggressive chains as all my operations are on asphalt / concrete
So I have got "snow socks". For front axle only
Cant say it miraculous solution for all your problems. But it improves a lot
Big Q is about how long they will last. That I will say you in April
And another big "+" is - they could be put on / off in seconds, without tools, anything. Just push up front and put them on, literally like socks

OK when snow is very wet, that doesn't help much as front tires are in the air completely. Bot it allows to extend use of floating for a good while

 

[Rockbadchild]

I have an issue with CUT (Y 424) when pushing snow in floating (blade is on FEL). Sometimes snow is so heavy tractor's front tires start to lift. I have no traction problem at rear (with turf tires BTW) but basically tractor becomes un-steerable (IDK can I use such word). I can just point and shoot straight
I cant use very aggressive chains as all my operations are on asphalt / concrete
So I have got "snow socks". For front axle only
Cant say it miraculous solution for all your problems. But it improves a lot
Big Q is about how long they will last. That I will say you in April
And another big "+" is - they could be put on / off in seconds, without tools, anything. Just push up front and put them on, literally like socks

OK when snow is very wet, that doesn't help much as front tires are in the air completely. Bot it allows to extend use of floating for a good while

View attachment 774665

I wouldn't use float then, obviously there is too much pressure on the FEL and it need to be lift up, unless you want to scrape the snow off then that's good but if you want to turn then you need to find that middle ground between blade ground contact and front wheel pressure / friction.

 

[LouNY]

I run studded Euro style chains, my 2wd of course only has them on the rear. The 4wd gets rear chains the entire winter
with the front ones getting mounted as needed. When I am anticipating possible heavy icing such as the storm forecast for this week
with wet snow, rain and mixed I'll mount the front chains to be more comfortable with the sander trailer trying to push the tractor
as I go down the steep slippery driveway with a few tons pushing me. I can drive up or down or stop anywhere with only rear chains
untill I put a heavy load behind me.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I run Euro style chains on the rear all winter and have rarely on occasion put v-bar on the front.
If you have separate brakes however you can assist steering when plowing by using one or the other when needed.