Tractor Wheels

As part of preparing for the inevitable arrival of winter, I want to make sure my tractor is ready for action in the snow. This usually calls for the addition of wheel weights and snow chains to increase the traction of the rear wheels.

Since I’m not an especially heavy person, I already added wheel weights some time ago. The weights for my tractor add an additional 35lbs (or 2.5 stone) to each wheel. This increases traction (reducing wheel-spin) and lowers the center of gravity - which in turn increases stability and reduces the rollover risk while mowing on our hill and is why I already have them.

For snowy conditions I’ll need even more traction, which is usually where snow chains come in to play. However, I don’t want to use chains for fear of them damaging our new (and expensive) driveway. So instead, and after some research, I ordered a new pair of tires (for the tractor of course).

The standard issue tires that came on the tractor are a "turf saver" variety that are intended to minimize damage to peoples well kept (flat) lawns. Well, I decided that I needed pair of real tractor tires, and ordered the some "super lugs", seen below on the left.

Check out those lugs! I had the new tires put onto my original rims, but eventually I’d like get the old tires put on a spare pair of rims, so they can easily be used as well. I’ve been using the new tires for the past couple of weeks and they are great. As you might expect, they're a little bit bumpier than the old ones (so no more zooming down the driveway at full speed), but the traction is far improved - meaning I can go places where I couldn’t go before.

Now we just need some snow, to put them to the real test.