Here's what I have found:
I used the same blade for years and years clearing my concrete drive, and gravel parking, then moved up to doing one or two parking lots. I removed the shoes totally. With them on and holding the blade up, you can't get under the snow, and it just rides on top. With it down on the ground, you usually can. It took years to wear out a cutting edge. When it finally did, I was clearing, like 4 parking lots, and I don't know how many drives and sidewalks. I flipped it, and decided to put the shoes back on and set them to just rub. It adds surface area to wear on, and slowed down the wear. I finally wore out the shoes and the edge, and I made my own shoes when Idid. They last longer now, lol. Point is, guys think they save concrete. Truth be told, those scuff marks are gone by June/July. They don't bother me anyway. You can get under the snow, and do a good job clearing. On gravel.... it doesn't matter. Even if the rock is froze, they still dig. (Granted, not as bad.) So..... when doing dirt or gravel work, take them off. When clearing snow.... your choice. Now that I don't clear parking lots, I just leave them off.
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