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On my other favorite forum (tractorbynet) there's some good information about increasing the snow performance of R4 industrial tractor tires by grooving them. R4sc have a big footprint and don't have an aggressive tread pattern, so they mostly just spin on snow and ice.
For deep snow, ag tires are much better, or tires with chains, but on packed snow and ice apparently turf tires are the best (barring chains or studs). The reason is that the small grooves in the turf tires get packed with snow which then provides good traction on the ice or packed snow.
My little 29 HP New Holland with a light back blade is my primary snow removal machine. It works pretty good. I put truck chains on the front tires and some weights up front (no loader). I don't have and don't want to buy chains for the rear, so I took some advice I've seen on TBN. I grooved the tires. The grooves allow for performance more like a turf tire. Most people recommend a heated grooving iron, but I didn't want to spend $100 on something I only need one time.
So, I fired up the Dolmar 421 with a 12" bar and a newish loop of VXL, and went to town. Obviously I was worried about cutting too deep and ruining the tire, but the rubber cut easily and didn't try to pull the chain in at all.
Too early to vouch for the results, but it didn't cost me much to try. Many people swear by grooving their tires, so I figure it's worth a shot. Only took about 10-15 minutes per tire.
For deep snow, ag tires are much better, or tires with chains, but on packed snow and ice apparently turf tires are the best (barring chains or studs). The reason is that the small grooves in the turf tires get packed with snow which then provides good traction on the ice or packed snow.
My little 29 HP New Holland with a light back blade is my primary snow removal machine. It works pretty good. I put truck chains on the front tires and some weights up front (no loader). I don't have and don't want to buy chains for the rear, so I took some advice I've seen on TBN. I grooved the tires. The grooves allow for performance more like a turf tire. Most people recommend a heated grooving iron, but I didn't want to spend $100 on something I only need one time.
So, I fired up the Dolmar 421 with a 12" bar and a newish loop of VXL, and went to town. Obviously I was worried about cutting too deep and ruining the tire, but the rubber cut easily and didn't try to pull the chain in at all.
Too early to vouch for the results, but it didn't cost me much to try. Many people swear by grooving their tires, so I figure it's worth a shot. Only took about 10-15 minutes per tire.
