Loade Tires vs Weights

[Trkr]

Which works better for you guys,traction wise,liquid loaded tires or weights?

 

[778899]

you have the right idea,weight on axle has biggest effect on traction,without causing front to lift too much,but with liquid you are stuck with placement and amount,you need at least 500 lbs moveable weights.

 

[VicS]

First rule. No Liquid in your tires. Second rule. Make your tractor as light as possible. Need as much movable weight as possible.

 

[gtx1967jewison]

If you pull in heavier classes- i personally enjoy making it WORK, not race to the end & spin. i have done very well with chloride in my tires. Im quite power starved for my weight classes, & when i win its ALWAYS due to traction advantage. I also feel at low tire pressures it helps keep the center from rolling up. Kinda like the short hitch/long hitch debate imo. Depends on whatcha run & how. And yes you DO need movable weight.

 

[400Dtractorman]

on my heavy tractor I use wheel wts cause it has the power in low gear to pull heavy. The other tractors I don't use any wheel wts or fluid. A guy told me that it takes less power to carry wt then to put it on the wheel and turn them. Seems to work for me. An empty tire is easier to move then a heavy tire. Just my thought. Ed

 

[Trkr]

Thanks guys,this is for a dedicated heavy tractor.It will also have movable weights.We also have a light tractor for the lighter classes.
I was just wondered about experience for actual traction say on a 8,00lb tractor loaded with water vs. an 8000lb. tractor loaded with weights,no water.

 

[Kip-Utah]

two of our most successful pullers have fully loaded or partially loaded tires...

 

[778899]

Low tire pressure only works with low power,hitch height is a huge factor in pulling with power,they limit it for a reason,low air lets the middle of tire fold up,not sure where the other low tire comment came from.Each has to do their own thing,learn how your tractor responds to any change and any track,knowing your tractor and making the best educated guess wins pulls.I have pulled from the Carolinas to Colorado,have seen many things,most not in the best interest of pulling the furthest.Watch the winners,they must be doing something right !!! And pulling slow MPH classes is a different science than much faster.

 

[778899]

Also lighter tractors can have a much higher power to weight ratio than heavier tractors,again changing the reasons for specific changes.It is the same principle as in many aspects of life,lighten front end only to add weight,utilize short lug to get more traction,but need to slip some to keep engine alive,give and take,pluses and minuses,all part of the choices in life.Again makes a difference if you pull many or only several times a yr. Some sleds and tracks require a much altered set up compared to last week.I change tires a dozen times thru the summer,and then winter is different still.

 

[colekicker]

Load you rear tires. Load your front tires. Buy as many wheel weights as you can hang. Build more weight brackets. Hang more weights. Build even more brackets because you're not heavy enough. You'll only go down the track once because you are so tired from loading weights.

Then do what VicS said.

 

[Trkr]

I guess you didn't read my second post.We have a poked and stroked Super M that we pull 4500 to 6500.Know about light tractor hp ratio.I asked about an apple to apple comparison on liquid tires vs iron weighted tires,not asking for smart respones please.We are putting weight on an old heavy low gear tractor,which is why I was asking for experiences from REAL pullers.

 

[778899]

TrKr, the principle is what every puller needs to learn,then apply it to his tractor after trial and error,no one can tell you how and what to do,their set up will not work for you,if you don't want to learn from seasoned veterans,learn it your self.PUT WEIGHTS ON DRIVERS,SEAT,CRAWL ALONG SIDE !!!!!! HOW'S THAT WORKI'N FOR YA.

 

[VicS]

Maybe you will look back and read this. This is a actual example. In the early 70's I was pulling my Dad's 4010, JD in the 12000 NA class. Never did win but came in second quite a bit, and third. Had the 4010 set up about right. Short drawbar, the right height, 18.4 X 38's Armstrongs. Weights 2 ft in front of the fuel tank. Oh and no fluid in the tires. We also had a 13500 farmer class, or out of the field class. You could have a turbo. I just had 2 rear weights and one front weight extra. Say 450 lb. I could do just as good in this class as the 12000. Because everybody then had fluid in their tires. I could give up 1000 lb and be competitive. This was at 4 County Fairs. I even won this class. I couldn't win the 12000 NA because a neighbor bought a set of 30.5 X 32's for his 856 IHC and had them cut. Big tires win too. Vic