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HDAP tires without chains for snow duty - a review.

31902 Views 48 Replies 24 Participants Last post by  wizzo
Hi All,

As promised, I wanted to give a report of how well HDAPs (Carlisle All Trail's) without chains handled snow removal duty on my GX345 (without diff-lock). We have 4 suitcase weights on the back, no wheel weights, and the tires aren't loaded.

I got the 23x10.50-12 All-Trails from http://www.tiresunlimited.com for $133.66 (free shipping even), and got them mounted just in time -- they were only put on Friday afternoon. The roads were already really rough by then, and the wife would have preferred that I come straight home instead of stopping at the service station to pick them up, but I'm glad I did.

Friday night we got about 8" or so of snow, and no problems getting though it at all pushing the blade.

Saturday, I opened the garage door to about 30" of snow, so I swapped over to the blower. I had just picked up a 3252X, 42" model, off of craigslist for $200. Coolest thing was, it had never been used. When I first hit the PTO, I thought something may have been wrong, as it ran dead silent -- but it worked fine, and again, no slipping from the HDAPs. I had the driveway cleared in about 10 minutes.

I noticed my neighbor hadn't done his driveway either day, so I called him (hoping and hoping and hoping for some more seat time!) to ask if he was having any issues with his Cub Cadet and front blade. The blade is only maybe 12" tall on that machine, so I knew it would be pretty rough going for him anyway. As luck would have it (bad luck for Team Cub, good luck for Team Green!) he hadn't had much luck plowing, and had gotten a flat tire to boot. I told him I'd give him a hand clearing his 1,200' driveway.
:bannana: :bananapow :bannana:

I didn't want to attempt to try cutting in from the main road (we're on a main state road, on a blind curve no less) so I carved a path out across our lawn and started from there.

I'm still new to this tractor, and new to snowblowing on any tractor, but I quickly picked up on a method -- push-a-few-feet-forward, reverse, and go forward again in a 'W' pattern, to open up a path over to his drive. Within an hour, I had gotten his drive cleared wide enough for a vehicle, up to about 30' from the area he had shovelled near his home. Impatiently (and stupidly), I tried to 'charge' through the remaining stretch.

I don't have drift cutters (but I bought some flat stock this morning and soon will have some temporary ones!) so one of my big problems was when I undercut the snow with the blower (in some places higher than the chute), the rest fell behind the blower and got trampled by the tractor, creating slippery spots.

In my last mad charge, I undercut so much snow, I did get stuck for a couple of minutes until my neighbor could get through the snow to help push me back some until I had grip again. I took the rest patiently, and was done in a few minutes. I then did some high-speed runs up and down the drive shearing a nice smooth 'snowblower wall' on either side, and making sure it was passable for his car and van.

Sooooo... all in all, the HDAPs performed BETTER than I possibly could have imagined. I only needed assistance because of my own impatience, and if I had a diff-lock transaxle, I may not have even needed it then. (BTW - I did pick up a 2005 GX diff-lock trans which will be going in sometime soon)

I highly recommend the HDAPs, and give a big thanks to slkpk for talking me into getting them!

I may still pick up chains though, as my shed is about 500' from our driveway, and I have to go across the yard and up a slope to get to it. With the chains, I imagine it may be nearly unstoppable. I also want to get a pair of the drift cutters that Stladrill found, as I like how they can be retracted when not in use.

Now I'm actually looking forward to the additional 8-12" they've forecasted for tomorrow night. Gotta go rescue that Cub Cadet again hehehehehe!!!!

I'll try to snap a shot of the neighbor's drive, too, tonight and add it to the thread. Also threw in a grille emblem shot for KATT. =)

PS - When I stopped at Home Depot this morning to get the flat stock, I picked up a JD deluxe tractor cover for $25 on clearance. Can't hurt to check your local store to see if they have any if you need one.

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6-10" here on wendesday baby! yea!

looks like a load of fun. great pics, gotta love that seat time
Excellent review and happy tractoring. slkpk
Good info.

HDAPs probably make the most sense for me. I would have liked some Carlise Ag tires as I like the looks but they dont sell the style I want any more. The new ones are a little to agressive for me with the straight lugs.

I might order up a set up the All Trails and pick up another gallon of green slime (tire guy is going to hate me).

With chains I was able to blow a straight shot through the yard with snow over the top of blower. I just raised it about 4 inches off the ground and charged forward (no W pattern).

I think you would like the chains if your shed is that far from drive !

Good think about HDAPs is they say chains work better on them than Ags.

Nice write up.

Thanks
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Nice review FL, thanks for taking the time and great pics too ! :fing32:
I might order up a set up the All Trails and pick up another gallon of green slime (tire guy is going to hate me).
At my John Deere dealers here they carry the Briggs & Stratton tire fill. Claims to not rust and they told me they use it in customer's tires and that it doesn't need to be drained/replaced at some point.

I put it in my probably 40 year old fronts and they're finally holding air.

It's blue stuff. Cleans up with water. Probably even whitens your teeth... :)
Thanks for the review, Looks like HDAPs are the way to go for year round use.:fing32:
Great review. sorry there is no way around drift cutters, but there is no way around drift cutters.
Thanks for the grill shot !! I know I am way way "over kill" with wheel weights, chains, on HDAP's, and Diff lock ( I guess I'm an old chicken:00000061: ) on mostly level asphalt.
Anyway nice report :fing32: and it backs up what KATT has been babbling about since Fall :1106: Hence some of the beatings.
I might order up a set up the All Trails and pick up another gallon of green slime (tire guy is going to hate me).
How about picking up an extra set of rear rims, and load them with Rim Guard or the like to use for plowing/dirt work, and keep the cushy turfs for when the grass is all grown in nicely? Best of both worlds. A tractor salvage yard up here has 345 rims for $25 each if you're interested. I wanted to grab a pair myself, and can pick some up for you if you're interested.

I think you would like the chains if your shed is that far from drive!
I'll do so. You are my 345 idol you know, so I follow your suggestions & projects closely!

At my John Deere dealers here they carry the Briggs & Stratton tire fill. Claims to not rust and they told me they use it in customer's tires and that it doesn't need to be drained/replaced at some point. It's blue stuff. Cleans up with water. Probably even whitens your teeth... :)
PigBear -- is this the stuff? http://www.briggsandstratton.com/maint_repair/parts_supplies/details.aspx?pid=100032
That`s a great looking tire, anyone aware of a similar design in 16" rim diameter ? ( Ingersoll/ Case 4 series tractor)

T.I.A.
Dave, (I think its Dave right?)

Great writeup. Thanks for the personal note you sent me too. Much appreciated.
I'll get me some of them there tires one day. After this weekend (locals are saying it was closer to 30" around here) I think my 345/thrower combo with wheel weights and 4 suitcase weights is the cat's meow for what I need to do. Neighbors do too!
Wife took pics, I just gotta take the time to figure out how to get them on here.

See ya'
Dave
I've been running that tire for a few years now. They do work well.
How about picking up an extra set of rear rims, and load them with Rim Guard or the like to use for plowing/dirt work, and keep the cushy turfs for when the grass is all grown in nicely? Best of both worlds. A tractor salvage yard up here has 345 rims for $25 each if you're interested. I wanted to grab a pair myself, and can pick some up for you if you're interested.
In my case I need more traction on the turf so it will be a permanent thing for me. I have grass all the way down to a stream and its pretty steep. Thats the real reason I want the HDAP's. What I have does great (with chains) in the snow.

I'll do so. You are my 345 idol you know, so I follow your suggestions & projects closely!
Well you do know my goal in life is getting you to spend money? LOL
Forward Look

Can I ask what size your rims are ? The 23 x 10.50 x 12 all trails I have now, I mounted on 7 inch rims, (carlisle's site claims 7 inch rim for this tire). Been using them for a few years and they seem fine.

I picked up a set of new 25 X 10.50 x 12 ($100 off ebay:bannana: to my door) and was going to try 8.5 rims for this set.
They are the stock 2003 GX345 rims. When I measured out the backspacing, they were 4" on one side, and 4.5" on the other, so I'm guessing they are 8.5". Someone will hopefully correct me if I'm wrong.
if u can get the Carlsile "X"trak series design in ur sixe....it is on some walkin blowers....& on this rig......had blade up in 6-8 inches of snow & it never stopped......YES....blade UP....

http://tinypic.com/r/2zrnfwo/6

notice a set of duals for turf ridin too....Yellow weight boxes on each side full of melted lead....200# each
I just pulled the trigger on a pair of HD Field Trax in 16x6.50-8 for the fronts. Not sure if they'll be a huge amount better than the Multi-Trac CS turfs currently on the front, but if they're even half as good as the All-Trail's on the rear... then I'll be happy. Actually, I'll be happy anyway because they just look so #$%[email protected]# cool on the tractor. =)

Got them on eBay; a seller named atvmaster, $60.91 for the pair including shipping.

Carlisle has discontinued this size, according to TJ Jackson in Carlisle's Customer Service Department:
The HD Field Trax are on the list to be discontinued. We will continue to accept orders for them as long as we have inventory. Our product code is 5010411. Please visit your local Carlisle dealer and he can call customer service to order the tire.
I'll post pics of course when I get them installed. Another foot of snow forecast for today...
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They are the stock 2003 GX345 rims. When I measured out the backspacing, they were 4" on one side, and 4.5" on the other, so I'm guessing they are 8.5". Someone will hopefully correct me if I'm wrong.
Thanks...... Good luck with you new fronts.
good info OP, thanks for the update.
Looks like your green had some fun with the white stuff!
Was wondering which would work better for plowing snow in a chipped/stone driveway,the Carlisle all trails or the Carlisle super lug tires they would be going on a john deere gt 235.
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