Tractor tires for winter

[BCE3]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Stud all 4 tires.

 

[Smokeydog]

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]

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]

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.

 

[SmallChange]

Do studs do anything noticeable to asphalt driveways? I've heard chains do. I might consider studding my R4s to reduce possible pucker events on ice.

 

[Billrog]

As long as you don't spin the wheels you never notice any difference.

 

[BCE3]

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.
View attachment 767091
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.
View attachment 767092

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

Thanks for your post , great idea !

 

[oosik]

Easiest and perhaps best solution - chains for the front tires. I run R-1's year round on my M6040 and have not found a need for chains - yet. Besides a good set of those European type ( Aquiline Talon ) are so God-awful expensive. Last I checked - around $4000 combined cost for front & rear.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

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.
View attachment 767091
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.
View attachment 767092

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

I like the looks of that! It has to help! Might do that one of these days!

 

[dj1701]

I put chains all around. It goes where I point it.

 

[WinterDeere]

I have 2-link chains for all four corners, the usual 1/4" stuff for fronts, and heavy duty chains (5/16" or 3/8"?) for the rears. I hate moving those rear chains, honestly.

Turf tires grip great on my asphalt drive for plowing, and even do well enough around the yard in moderate snow depth (eg. up to a foot). In fact, I wouldn't want to run chains on asphalt, as they just slip and chew up the surface. But if I need to pull a trailer or wagon around the yard thru deep snow, then I chain up.

 

[dj1701]

Here is a better pic.