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

[mo1]

Since we have delved down into the physics of how tires work I would like to ask why the front tires are usually so small? I'm thinking the reason being for steering purposes? If it's a silly question forgive me but I figure lets not leave any stone unturned at this point.

Front tires are smaller in diameter than rear tires in no small part because a smaller diameter tire allows for a sharper turning radius with similar axle width as compared to a larger-diameter tire. As was previously stated, a large tire cannot be turned to as sharp of an angle as a smaller tire with the same axle width as the tire would strike the side of the tractor. You would need to have a much wider front axle in order to push the hub of the inside front tire out far enough so that the tire won't strike the side of the tractor when turning. Look at the difference between a planetary-hub MFWD utility tractor and the same tractor in 2WD form. Axle widths are very similar but the MFWD unit will have front tires about 1/3 larger in diameter than the 2WD tractor to give relatively similar ground clearance under the front axle. The MFWD tractor will have a turning radius that is roughly a third wider as a result.

 

[GeneV]

We have one member here who preaches the gospel of weight: Tractor Sizing - TRACTOR WEIGHT as ONE (1) CRITERION in TRACTOR SELECTION

My question is why aren't other alternatives being considered by the industry like this one:

I've seen landscapers using them on their zero turns. I've never seen them in mud though, what happens when all those folds get caked full of it?

 

[bcp]

I wonder if there will ever be a tractor/dirt version of Mecanum wheels.

Bruce

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

I wonder if there will ever be a tractor/dirt version of Mecanum wheels.

Bruce

It's like the machine version of a moonwalk

 

[MossRoad]

I wonder if there will ever be a tractor/dirt version of Mecanum wheels.

Bruce

OK, THAT I've never seen before. Thanks!

 

[LD1]

OK, THAT I've never seen before. Thanks!

They've been around about a decade.

I've never heard them called that, or that brand. But airtrax is a company and they call them omni-directional wheels.

Some of the old episodes of myth busters showed they have a forklift with them

 

[MossRoad]

They've been around about a decade.

I've never heard them called that, or that brand. But airtrax is a company and they call them omni-directional wheels.

Some of the old episodes of myth busters showed they have a forklift with them

Would have been handy for machine installations at my old job.

 

[LD1]

Would have been handy for machine installations at my old job.

Agreed. But they are really expensive and I have never actually seen them used in person. And I have been around hundreds of forklifts from little 4k machines up to 80k machines moving all types of equipment and machinery.

As handy as they look, I bet there's a bit of a learning curve to operating one...lol

 

[MossRoad]

Looks like its driven with a joystick?

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

I'm assuming they are European?