Using rear chains on backhoe

Cariboo4x4 · Aug 10, 2016

I recently replaced my old rear tires with new tires. The old ones were 6 and 8 ply. One had been replaced by previous owner so the two old tires were different plies. The new ones are 12 ply. I was told my old tires would last longer if I used chains all rhe time yet read recently tires will wear down quicker with chains if driven on harder surfaces like compact gravel roads. We get 6 months of snow/ice here. I'm mainly building small roads on our acreage and our acreage is hilly with lots of clay and small to basketball sized rocks. I'm offroad about 60% of the time. I want to get as much life out of my tires as I can and not worried about wearing out the chains. What do you all think? Photo is of my chains and I have fenders on tractor, and loader\backhoe attached currently and will leave backhoe\loader on 100% of the time.

rustred · Aug 10, 2016

the old tires are hard and have poor traction. the new tires are soft and should require no chains. chains do raise heck with tires. looks like a good set of chains.

M Nut · Aug 10, 2016

I sometimes use chains on my tractors in MN winters. I usually wait and see what the winter weather is going to be like, then put them on if
needed. Once on, they stay on until the last of the snow and ice melt away. At most, they are on 4 months or so. I Leave them off as much as
possible because I believe it saves on the tires, and for sure the life of the chains. I have several sets that are 30 years old or more,and still in
good shape.

BarnyardEngineering · Aug 10, 2016

In the mud, chains just help you dig a bigger hole quicker.

However on ice and slick clay, I can see where they would help even with new tires.

Bob Bancroft · Aug 10, 2016

My backhoe is used off road,(farm) so I put farm tractor tires on it. Those industrial tires were OK in hard going, but it's usually muddy here. So if you put new industrial tires on it, once you put the chains back on, maybe later after you've had a chance to try it, you may just leave them on.

Geo-TH,In · Aug 10, 2016

I have no choice, in winter my Jubilee will
get stuck removing snow. I have no ballast,
because I use tractor to mow yard in summer.

My Fatmall C can push snow now chains. My
terramite can push snow, move dirt, make
roads in gravel pit, no chains. No
excessive tire wear without chains. All
tractor have bar tires. Chains on Jubilee
make a ruff ride on grass, no snow.

Destroked 450 · Aug 10, 2016

Jack the rear tires off the ground and let the air out, then tighten the chains as much as you can, reinflate the tires making the chains tight on the tires.
This will give good traction with max tire and chain life
The tractor will ride a little rough on hard ground and compacted roads.
Most loggers in this area run tightened chains on their skidders year round for traction and long tire life.
Tires will wear out faster from spinning than from chain damage if the chains are keep tight.

Cariboo4x4 · Aug 11, 2016

Thanks for all the insight. I'm going to run without chains since the ground I'll be working on is dry and I will be travelling lots on our main driveways. I will be removing stumps etc later in the fall so will put the chains on before that. I'll try to get them tight as I can.

Andy Martin · Aug 11, 2016

(quoted from post at 19:36:11 08/11/16) Thanks for all the insight. I'm going to run without chains since the ground I'll be working on is dry and I will be travelling lots on our main driveways. I will be removing stumps etc later in the fall so will put the chains on before that. I'll try to get them tight as I can.

Why do you need chains to dig out stumps?

Cariboo4x4 · Aug 11, 2016

Lol. I think the chains may be beneficial in protecting the tires from punctures from other stumps and rocks I might hit as Im navigating around the stumps and other hidden debris. I think the chains will aid in traction. No sense wearing out the chains on the hard packed driveways for now.

T in NE · Aug 12, 2016

Ag tires grip soft dirt better due to deeper,
narrower lugs. But they wear faster on hard surfaces
due to those narrower lugs. The industrial tires
grip better (and wear slower) on pavement due to the
larger contact area of the wider lugs.

I'd have suggested getting ag tires if this only
sees pavement for transport, had you not already got
tires.

Cariboo4x4 · Aug 12, 2016

(quoted from post at 05:53:08 08/12/16) Ag tires grip soft dirt better due to deeper,
narrower lugs. But they wear faster on hard surfaces
due to those narrower lugs. The industrial tires
grip better (and wear slower) on pavement due to the
larger contact area of the wider lugs.

I'd have suggested getting ag tires if this only
sees pavement for transport, had you not already got
tires.

I blew a sidewall out in June, bought an old tire for $50. It lasted till August and it had a rotten spot pinching the tube. I ordered one tire and was told the new tire would be 6"-12" taller than other old one, so I ordered two. Turned out new tires just slightly taller than old ones. Yes, I thought the tread would be taller, more like an Ag tire. I may have bought Ag tires if I had known more. I told my Dad couple years ago I bought an old machine and rear tires were worn down. I was comparing these tires to the Ag tires on my B250 tractor. NOW I've learned the Old tires just had their edges worn off and scarred up. If I was not in such a rush to get my machine back up and running I would have put a post on here. The fellow that told me new tires would be 6-12" taller still has lots to learn about tires too.

Destroked 450 · Aug 12, 2016

Sounds like a good salesman, he talked you into buying a second tire.
I hate salesmen that will flat out lie to make a sale.

Cariboo4x4 · Aug 12, 2016

Yah I don't know if he was lying or not. I've known the shop a few years. I was dealing with a tire guy most of the time and then talking to their mechanic on the phone, he said 6-12". I just assumed they knew what they were talking about. I was a little choked that I did not need to buy two new tires. At least the tire plys match.

Using rear chains on backhoe

Cariboo4x4

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rustred

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M Nut

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BarnyardEngineering

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Bob Bancroft

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Geo-TH,In

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Destroked 450

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Cariboo4x4

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Andy Martin

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T in NE

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Destroked 450

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