Tractor tires for winter

BCE3 · Oct 19, 2022

I have a older Kabota B7500 with the original ag tires on the front and back, use chains for the back but the front are always slipping in the ice and snow .
I was wondering if a different tire would help in this situation ? Can you put two different type of tires on the front than the back ? This is a 4 wheel drive tractor
Thanks for your help

B C

Billrog · Oct 19, 2022

Can't answer your question but if there's tread on the tires you have let air out of them so their soft and they'll probably work as good as any tire. You can also buy studs and screw into them or chains.

ROUSTABOUT · Oct 19, 2022

You can put chains on the front. Just some for a light truck. I probably have ten sets or more. All came from yard sales, thrift stores, pawn shops. Some are brand new, bag still sealed when I got them. Maybe four sets new. Whopping 5 bucks a set.

seville009 · Oct 20, 2022

You’ll probably always having steering issues on packed snow/ice just becsuse there’s so little weight on the front. Even if you have a front snowblower, the blower is usually in float, so there’s not much yo push down on the tire.

As the others have suggested above , chains on the front should help, but it will never be like driving on a dry surface .

Hoobie · Oct 20, 2022

I suspect this will start a discussion as many opt for putting chains on the front.
My dealer strongly recommended against this when I asked about it several years ago. I have aggressive ice chains on rears but thought of putting chains on front.
They said no. With the " front lead" the front wheels want to slip a little. The extra traction and right conditions can stress the front system. So I chose not to and actually I get by just fine. I work in the woods in rough conditions.
Others use front chains with no issues.

mikester · Oct 20, 2022

Stud all 4 tires.

Smokeydog · Oct 20, 2022

Consider grooving or sipping tires? Tires need edges for traction.

Had well worn R4 tires on my M59 when I bought it. Slipping bad on side hills and mud. Used a angle grinder with a chainsaw carving blade to groove.

Made significant difference.

Did similar for the B26 fronts for mowing grass on hilly terrain. Hot knife regroover. Homemade R14 type on a heavier tire.

Others have had improvements in snow/ice traction from grooving.

hube2 · Oct 20, 2022

Hoobie said:
I suspect this will start a discussion as many opt for putting chains on the front.
My dealer strongly recommended against this when I asked about it several years ago. I have aggressive ice chains on rears but thought of putting chains on front.
They said no. With the " front lead" the front wheels want to slip a little. The extra traction and right conditions can stress the front system. So I chose not to and actually I get by just fine. I work in the woods in rough conditions.
Others use front chains with no issues.

I agree with this. I deal with significant ice on my steep driveway in the spring. I have a set of studded diamond pattern chains and I don't have any issues getting anywhere. There is some lateral sliding on the front but there is very little that will stop that from happening.

Billrog · Oct 20, 2022

I used V chains on the front wheels only of my first small tractor for 30 yrs. with no ill effects. It's only been the last few yrs. I have them on the back wheels.