16-6.50-8 Front tire chains ?

charlie105 · #1 01-27-2022, 11:42 AM

Any thoughts on front tire chains ? Considering 2 link v-bar for our 105. Have virtually no steering control of the front wheels with ice under the snow.

kalebevans · #2 01-27-2022, 05:22 PM

I haven't tried those, but I'm sure they would do a great job but maybe be a little rough-riding as you'd expect. I have heard of people putting a chain (like a bicycle-type chain) around the center of the front tires to get that steering traction. Place it like the center rib on an ag steer tire with it aired down a little, and then the air pressure holds it on. I was going to try that on my 169 but someone ran off with the garage door opener chain I was going to use.

Billy-O · #3 01-27-2022, 09:18 PM

I prefer the skinny tires for the snow duty. Tire size 4.80/4.00-8. Of course, you'll need the skinny rims, 3.75x8, I think.

Otherwise, you can get the ribbed tires to help with steering on your current rims.

Red Dave · #4 01-28-2022, 12:04 PM

I've been where you are. I had the wide, flotation tires and wide rims on the front of my 125 when I got it. Like you said, very hard to steer in ice and snow.

The 123 had the narrow rims, but the tires were not much better for steering either. I bought a pair of narrow ribbed tires from Miller tire, moved the wide tires from the 125 to the 123, then mounted the ribbed tires on the 125. Been that way for a dozen or more years. It definitively better steering, but could still use improvement. Steers good with the snowplow raised, with the plow down it steers OK until it gets a good sized pile of snow in front of it, then it goes opposite the direction the plow is angled. Can't fight physics.

I've thought about adding weight to the front end, or trying chains as was discussed above, but haven't done anything yet. Taking smaller bites of snow helps too.

charlie105 · #5 01-28-2022, 01:27 PM

Currently running 16-6.50-8 front Ags. . Can’t say I’m entirely happy with them, and thinking the tri-ribs would have been a better idea. Either way the front end would push on ice, so I’m going to get —2-link V-bars, or maybe some (better?) alternative. I’m going to keep investigating, but sadly it is probably too late for this next Snowzilla being forecasted for tomorrow. Good Luck to all of us ! Thanks for the feedback.

B440? · #6 02-01-2022, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie105

Currently running 16-6.50-8 front Ags.

Head over to your local hardware store and buy a box of small sheet metal screws. Screw them onto the lugs of those ag tires. The short ones won't penetrate the tire and you can remove them if you don't like how they perform.

I've used them. This machine was used to drive on a frozen lake.