Why is Weight The Only Solution Being Offered To The Problem Of Traction?

[LD1]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the taller tire can cover more distance in a shorter amount of time then the shorter tire.

On a tractor with the same gearing, yes.

I have 14.9x26" tires on my bota and it clips a road speed of ~17mph
Dad has a 630 with tall 12.4x38" tires. Road gear is only 11mph.

So context is important

 

[airbiscuit]

A taller tire travels further per revolution. But they are geared for tractor speeds, so if you are going 2mph with a small tire and 2mph with a tall tire, you're both going 2mph. The surface foot speed is the same but the tire RPMs are different.

 

[m7040]

Transferring the center of gravity is one way to get more traction without adding a lot of weight. The example I have is my zero turn where adding suitcase weights behind the rear wheels gets a big boost in traction via transfer of CG towards the rear and at the same time decrease the resistance from the the front wheels because they are now not loaded as much

 

[jeff9366]

Larger wheels and tires provide more tractive power pulling ground contact implements and logs, pushing a loader bucket into dirt and pushing snow. Larger wheels and tires permit heavier tractors to bridge holes, ruts, burrows and tree debris yielding higher operating speed with less operator perturbation.

 

[BnRidge]

Transferring the center of gravity is one way to get more traction without adding a lot of weight

The weight transfer that occurs is sometimes hard to recognize. With tillage equipment, the point of engagment is actually below ground level, which means the draft angle is negative (angled down), and the resulting downward force is added to the rear wheels (and subtracted from the front). Also, when "pushing" with a fel, the resultant force is above the rear axle, again transferring downward force to the rear wheels (and subtracting from the front).

 

[Grumpycat]

There are only two things that govern tractive force - coefficient of friction and the force between the surfaces (weight).

That is for ideal static friction. Once the static friction force is exceeded the equations must include the surface area.

For a long time racers stubbornly insisted narrow tires had the same traction as wider tires. This is true until the tire slips. Greater contact area enhances traction when the tire is slipping. Lower tire pressure results in greater surface contact. But lower pressure can let the tread squirm in directions which decrease traction.

 

[ptsg]

People use R1 Radial tires, here in Europe, to get more traction amongst several other benefits, because they are wider, not because they are taller and skinnier.

Radials on the left, Bias ply on the right.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

People use R1 Radial tires, here in Europe, to get more traction amongst several other benefits, because they are wider, not because they are taller and skinnier.

Radials on the left, Bias ply on the right.

View attachment 732191 View attachment 732192

This introduces another perspective into this discussion: Wider versus taller and narrower

Somehow this discussion has turned into rocket science now

 

[ptsg]

This introduces another perspective into this discussion: Wider versus taller and narrower

Somehow this discussion has turned into rocket science now

Well, you know how more technical TBN threads go. It was bound to happen.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Well, you know how more technical TBN threads go. It was bound to happen.

True