Narrow rims/tires

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reaperman

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Dec 18, 2011
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598
You do see this setup a lot these days. I prefer chains, cheaper, but if plowing on tar, chains do ware out faster. But on gravel driveways chains cannot be beat for traction. Locally, I can pickup a set of chains at a fleet supply store for around $75
 
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ancomcabs

ancomcabs

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Nov 3, 2011
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299
You do see this setup a lot these days. I prefer chains, cheaper, but if plowing on tar, chains do ware out faster. But on gravel driveways chains cannot be beat for traction. Locally, I can pickup a set of chains at a fleet supply store for around $75
I thought about chains as well but I'd rather not chew up the parking lot where I plow, the skid is basically only used for snow removal here in the winter so having a dedicated set of tires is not a big deal, just trying to get the best product/deal
 

mark18mwm

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Jul 25, 2013
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240
I would think those will work fine. I plow snow with two different skid steers, a New Holland 160 and a old bobcat 600. Both have truck tires in the winter, no chains. last night we just plowed a large factory with about 5"-6" of wet heavy snow with temps at about 30 degrees, about a slimey and slippery as it gets and no problems at all with out chains. The NH is the bosses, I was in it about 10 hours and only trouble I had was I backed on top of a pile of snow ( my own fault) and lifted the tires off the ground, otherwise no problem with traction. that skid has light truck type snow tires similar to a Blizzak tire, with factory sipes in the tire to help with traction on ice. The Bobcat 600 is mine, I keep light truck tires on all year. They are nice in the lawn, not so aggressive a tread as a skidsteer tire helps to not tear up the lawn. That being said I'm bringing the Bobcat in the woods this weekend to haul logs out. The ground is not yet froze and very soft from a lot of rain this year with about a foot of snow over the top of the ground. There are no roads or trails, I will have my chains on in the woods just to be safe. One tip with truck tires, you might want to use tubes in the tires to run lower tire pressure, that helps with traction quite a bit. With to low air pressure with out tubes you can break the bead on tight turns when you have good traction. I think you will be happy with the skinny tires, I am, and I was a believer in chains a few years ago.
 
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ancomcabs

ancomcabs

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Joined
Nov 3, 2011
Messages
299
I would think those will work fine. I plow snow with two different skid steers, a New Holland 160 and a old bobcat 600. Both have truck tires in the winter, no chains. last night we just plowed a large factory with about 5"-6" of wet heavy snow with temps at about 30 degrees, about a slimey and slippery as it gets and no problems at all with out chains. The NH is the bosses, I was in it about 10 hours and only trouble I had was I backed on top of a pile of snow ( my own fault) and lifted the tires off the ground, otherwise no problem with traction. that skid has light truck type snow tires similar to a Blizzak tire, with factory sipes in the tire to help with traction on ice. The Bobcat 600 is mine, I keep light truck tires on all year. They are nice in the lawn, not so aggressive a tread as a skidsteer tire helps to not tear up the lawn. That being said I'm bringing the Bobcat in the woods this weekend to haul logs out. The ground is not yet froze and very soft from a lot of rain this year with about a foot of snow over the top of the ground. There are no roads or trails, I will have my chains on in the woods just to be safe. One tip with truck tires, you might want to use tubes in the tires to run lower tire pressure, that helps with traction quite a bit. With to low air pressure with out tubes you can break the bead on tight turns when you have good traction. I think you will be happy with the skinny tires, I am, and I was a believer in chains a few years ago.
Thanks for taking the time to reply, I ended up ordering the wheels-made a lower offer that was accepted. I now have to find some snow tires. A quick search and I'm not getting a lot of results for 7.50x16 truck snow tires, where did you get yours?
 

mark18mwm

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Jul 25, 2013
Messages
240
Thanks for taking the time to reply, I ended up ordering the wheels-made a lower offer that was accepted. I now have to find some snow tires. A quick search and I'm not getting a lot of results for 7.50x16 truck snow tires, where did you get yours?
You may have a hard time finding tires in the old inch measurement, however a 235/85r/16 should be about what you want. Off the top of my head I can't tell you the size on my bosses NewHolland but I can find out tomorrow. I am thinking they are 235/85/16 though. My old Bobcat 600 has old 7.50x16 that I have have had forever, not sure where they even came from. They are getting pretty worn and I'll need to replace them or recap them soon. Here is a link to a "Blizzak" type tire, http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+W965&partnum=385R6BZW965 I'm just showing it so you can see the tire and the sipeing. If you don't want to pay that much ( I'm not sure I would either) if you find a "old school" tire shop where they actually know about tires they should be able to hook you up with something. A good tire shop can sipe the tires for you, shouldn't cost much. I would avoid places like Tire rack, and similar large chains just because they seem to want to always look up the recommended tire aplication on the computer for a specified vehicle, your application won't be found. You need a tire guy that has been around a while and understands what you want. I would look for tire shop that sells implement, farm, and construction tires. I could recommend some in northern WI. but that probley won't help you. Let me know if you want the tire size on the NH, I will find out. One other thing to keep in mind is you will want tires fairly close in height to the stock tires if you use your bucket to plow, a blade it is not as important and taller tires are ok. But with taller tires with a bucket it raises the height of the machine and your bucket may not go all the way down it the tires are to tall. That would mean you would have to lower the nose (cutting edge) of the bucket and it might want to dig in it the ground isn't froze. You should be able to raise the height of the machine about 2 inches before this is a issue, but something to think about. sorry for being so long winded, but just trying to share my experience, hope it helps.
 

mark18mwm

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2013
Messages
240
Thanks for taking the time to reply, I ended up ordering the wheels-made a lower offer that was accepted. I now have to find some snow tires. A quick search and I'm not getting a lot of results for 7.50x16 truck snow tires, where did you get yours?
Did you ever find some tires and how do you like them if you did? I have had to use chains to get in the woods and left them on to plow a couple times, man I hate those things!
 
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