[SteveB318]

Hi,I have an '86 318 I bought from an old man that only drove it on Sunday's I'm pretty sure three of the tires are OEM and it's time for a change.I mow and snow plow with it and I'm not sure of how to choose new tires.The yard and driveway are hills.When the grass is wet the turf tires will lose grip so I was thinking of bar/lug style but would these be ok in snow and should I still use chains with them while plowing?and should the front and back be the same tread type?

 

[Sergeant]

I ran Bar/AG tires In the Past on My 240 for Plowing snow same for My JD 425, JD X485 The Only time the Bar/AG tires will slip is On a solid sheet of Ice. I suggest either Turf Or Rib style tires for the front. But Ag tires are Great In the snow Just Make sure Tractor is also Ballasted Properly with Frame or wheel weights:thThumbsU

 

[Rydplrs]

with power steering I'd use v-61's on the front.

for the rear either hdap or turfs with chains. I run wheel weight year round which helps alot

 

[RockyMtnMan]

SteveB - Hope this view helps you consider the impact of tires, weights, chains for varying seasons and conditions:

Background:
My primary tractor is a '89 JD 430 Diesel and had turf tires front and rear. When winter conditions overwhelm its limited, but good, bandwidth I bring out the add-ons for the tractor.

Then when the tractor is overwhelmed by conditions I haul out the 4x4 truck, plow, tube sand bag ballast in truck bed. And for the recent blizzard with heavy wet snows leaving behind 3-6' drifts, I tossed my Rud Grip tire chains (all the way around) onto the 4x4.

Saying all that to express -it doesn't matter whether we're discussing tractor or truck, if the conditions warrant throwing more at it to navigate then one better have it all on hand when it's most needed!!!

My tractor experiences began in the midwest and transferred to the high country in Colorado. I first tested the tractor and each type of tires without using weights and just to see how the tires gripped the surface at hand.

Rear Turf worked for me as follows:
Lawns - good
Dirt (tilling) - okay
Dry snow - okay
Ice - fuhgeddaboutit, leave it in the barn
Wet snow - fuhgeddaboutit, leave it in the barn


I changed to Rear HDAPs (Carlisle 26x12x12):

Rear HDAPs worked for me as follows:
Lawns - good
Dirt (tilling) - good
Dry snow - good
Ice - fuhgeddaboutit, leave it in the barn
Wet snow - fuhgeddaboutit, leave it in the barn


I added 2 link rear tire chains (cinched up) + 6x rear quick hitch 40lb suit case weights

Rear HDAPs + tire chains + 240lb rear ballast weights worked as follows:
Dry snow - what snow?
Ice - good
Wet snow - good

Notice, I avoided using "great" as an outcome - I'm trying to be realistic in descriptions as the conditions vary too much - what with inclines, declines, dry (fog came thru but humidity so low it left behind whoars frost) Vs. humid (snow, sleet, groppel, rain), concrete vs gravel base, etc.

In winter, depending on conditions/needs, I alternate between attaching a 54" quick hitch plow or 47" 2 stage quick hitch blower.

My next test - tomorrow I plan to insert/attach my 50lb (each) wheel weights to rear tire rims. We're supposed to get more snow and accompanying winds on Wednesday evening, Thursday - highs of 20 degrees.

 

[Chris279]

Can't speak to winter because this'll be my first with the 318 but I can say the rear AG tires were fine on my lawn. As for the front Firestone tri-ribs, tight turns cut like a turf knife. Hoping they earn their stripes in the snow.

 

[SteveB318]

Thanks RockyMtnMan for the info.
I use chains and I made an impromptu weight rig,a post with plate weights on it, last winter but I only had about a hundred pounds on it.I got some new chains for this winter,the ones I have are getting kinda smooth.
I took a look at the HDAP tires you mentioned .Did you leave the turf tires on the front when you changed the rear?
We don't get alot of heavy snow in my area.When it does get to much for the 318 I have a great neighbor that takes pity on this former city boy and cleans up my drive way with his Ford tractor.

 

[wizzo]

I'd go with Carlisle Field Trax (the JD OEM HDAP) or All Trails.... I think the V61s are the best steering tires.

 

[MichaelTJD60]

I'd vote for Carlisle All-Trail HDAP's year-round on the rear. More aggressive than turf tires, but will not tear up grass as easily as lug tires. All-Trails are the best all-purpose tire, hence their name. They are 4-ply compared to the stock 2-ply Field Trax HDAP tires that come stock on some of the new ones. The All-Trails have good grip on hills when mowing, even when wet. But when it comes to snow, they are just about as useless as turf tires...dry snow obviously isn't as bad as wet snow but they still pack with snow and slip like turfs. Now put 2-link chains on, and it makes a world of difference.

I ran All-Trails on my 210 for about a year and a half and they were awesome when mowing...plenty of traction and very rarely would they spin and even then they would hardly tear up the grass. When winter came around, they were as bad as turfs...spun everywhere I went if it was a wet snow. Then last season I put 2-link chains on and had much better traction. Only reason my wheels slipped at all was because I didn't have much weight to add to the rear. I currently run Tru-Power lug tires year-round on my 210 only because it is going to be a pulling tractor and is only a backup mower to my 316. The 210 runs the Powerflow bagger which isn't needed all the time, so I don't have to worry about tearing up the grass as much. If I mowed with it more, I would probably put the HDAPs back on it.

 

[Mach-1]

Carlisle Field Trax are tough to beat as a good, all-around general purpose tire.

 

[mrbacklash]

The benefit of HDAP's over lugs is that whatever flavor of HDAP style tire you choose provides the same traction in both directions. Lugs provide better traction in one direction than the other. Lug tires will not destroy a yard unless it is soggy, I use my 425 and loader on the yard pretty often with 8 suitcase weights, 4 wheel weights and loaded tires. If ANY tire spins it will tear up turn whether it be turf, lug, or hdap's.

 

[skiwithjohn]

I would vote for the Carlisle All Trial HDAP tires. I put a set of them on my JD 325 garden tractor and they have been great. We had a snow storm dropping about 6"-7" of wet heavy snow in Northwest Indiana last weekend. I did not have my tractor switched over for snow yet. I pulled off the mower deck and put on the blade without weights or chains. I was impressed with how well the HDAPs did with the slick wet snow. The only time I had a problem was when I got too far off the edge of the road towards the ditch and the blade was sitting lower than the rest of the tractor with the weight taken off the back tires. They worked well on the grass without tearing up the lawn. They have been great for me.