106 vs 127 vs 147 Newbie Questions

[BHAM]

Figured it's been a bit. I finally got the plow mounted up today. I had a bear of a time spreading the rear forks out enough to mount on the pegs properly. A little extra persuasion and I am ready to play around a bit finally. I was impressed after soaking the angle latch pin I was able to unstick it and move my blade freely from side to side. Not expecting to move a ton of snow but with my 260lbs body sitting on the rear axle it should be enough for now to move a few inches around. Still waiting on spring to get new tires all the way around.

I pretty religiously start it up on the weekends for 15 minutes or so. The Starter Generator is due for a rebuild, I am not getting a ton of charging on the battery to crank the machine over after multiple starts and restarts. This machine has become my trailer towing friend. I no longer have to tear the bagger off my Deere to hook up on my trailer.

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Are you running chains on it?

 

[mpatterson]

Heads up, you will hate the tri-ribs in the snow. I have them on my 782. They slide around a lot. Plowing with them will have front of tractor pushed to side a lot. Ice is totally not your friend! The multi rib tires are the best for snow. Have the Veinstra (spelling??) tires on my 982, those nice. Not cheap, but worth it.
Nice find on your tractor. Certainly would have been nice to see all 3 in your shed though
Nice to see your "green" blood doesn't run as thick as some!

 

[David Collard]

No chains. Yet anyway. This last storm turned to soup before I could make a stab at plowing the backyard. The ground also hasn't really froze so my fear of digging up the lawn got the better of me. The plows cutting edge needs to be reworked and shoes replaced.

I appreciate the tips on tires. I am pretty positive I am using these for my front replacements:

https://www.giga-tires.com/16-6.50-8/bkt-tires/lg-rib/tirecode/94013036
The rear tires are another story however. I originally was thinking Firestone 23x10.5-12 floatation. I want a bit wider stance but not resizing my wheel like some here have. The next logical option is some other BKT's:

https://www.tires-easy.com/23-10.50-12/bkt-tires/tr-315/tirecode/94022298
I also keep looking at R-4's as it's a bit different than standard:

https://www.petestirestore.com/23x850-12-BKT-Skid-Power-HD-Skid-Steer-Tire-6-Ply-TL_p_6694.html
As I've said before I enjoy good quality equipment regardless of color!

 

[-CӞ]

No chains. Yet anyway. This last storm turned to soup before I could make a stab at plowing the backyard. The ground also hasn't really froze so my fear of digging up the lawn got the better of me. The plows cutting edge needs to be reworked and shoes replaced.

I appreciate the tips on tires. I am pretty positive I am using these for my front replacements:

https://www.giga-tires.com/16-6.50-8/bkt-tires/lg-rib/tirecode/94013036
The rear tires are another story however. I originally was thinking Firestone 23x10.5-12 floatation. I want a bit wider stance but not resizing my wheel like some here have. The next logical option is some other BKT's:

https://www.tires-easy.com/23-10.50-12/bkt-tires/tr-315/tirecode/94022298
I also keep looking at R-4's as it's a bit different than standard:

https://www.petestirestore.com/23x850-12-BKT-Skid-Power-HD-Skid-Steer-Tire-6-Ply-TL_p_6694.html
As I've said before I enjoy good quality equipment regardless of color!

David, for dozer blades that primarily push snow, I highly recommend one of these: rubber wear strip.
The Cub 100 pictured in Olathe KS is mine, and I really like how the rubber wear strip performs in snow on my pavement. It is like a snow squeegee, and easy on the pavement too.
Best,
-C3

 

[mgonitzke]

Those smooth rib front tires are going to be absolutely awful in the snow. Not sure what all of your planned uses are for the tractor, but if snow plowing is amongst them, you'll want a more aggressive tread.

These will do well in all conditions. I have them on all of my tractors, and they look like a tractor tire: Vredestein V61

These will be great in snow, but IMO look a bit silly on a garden tractor: Carlisle X-trac

For rear tires, you appear to currently have 23x8.50-12 tires, which are mounted on a 7" rim, so I would stick with that tire size. You really need an 8.5" wide rim to mount the 23x10.50-12 tires. I don't understand everyone's obsession with putting larger tires on everything. In the vast majority of situations, more flotation is not useful, and you will have to add more weight to get similar traction to a narrower tire. For this reason I am considering going down a size on my 782 when I get new rear tires for it someday (currently has 10.50 wide tires on it, and I have a set of rims for 8.50 tires).

R4 tires are good on a subcompact with front wheel assist, but I have heard many people say they are terrible on a garden tractor. I wouldn't use those either. For 23x8.50-12 I would lean towards Carlisle Versa-Turf or Goodyear R14 tires. I will likely pick one of those options for my 782. I have not used either personally, but I have heard great things about both of them.

I try to stay away from the Chinese brands- The all seem to run small and are generally poor quality rubber.

 

[tkhoffman]

No chains. Yet anyway. This last storm turned to soup before I could make a stab at plowing the backyard. The ground also hasn't really froze so my fear of digging up the lawn got the better of me. The plows cutting edge needs to be reworked and shoes replaced.

I appreciate the tips on tires. I am pretty positive I am using these for my front replacements:

https://www.giga-tires.com/16-6.50-8/bkt-tires/lg-rib/tirecode/94013036
The rear tires are another story however. I originally was thinking Firestone 23x10.5-12 floatation. I want a bit wider stance but not resizing my wheel like some here have. The next logical option is some other BKT's:

https://www.tires-easy.com/23-10.50-12/bkt-tires/tr-315/tirecode/94022298
I also keep looking at R-4's as it's a bit different than standard:

https://www.petestirestore.com/23x850-12-BKT-Skid-Power-HD-Skid-Steer-Tire-6-Ply-TL_p_6694.html
As I've said before I enjoy good quality equipment regardless of color!

I may be wrong but getting a 6 ply tire on these 'thin' rims might be very tough.

 

[HKCooper44]

I may be wrong but getting a 6 ply tire on these 'thin' rims might be very tough.

Putting 6 ply tires on a Cadet is like putting truck tires on a Prius....totally needless. Plus, lug-style tires are nearly worthless in the snow.

 

[MarcHeld]

I’m running Vredestein V61’s for the first time in the snow and they are amazing.

 

[tkhoffman]

View attachment 156353
I’m running Vredestein V61’s for the first time in the snow and they are amazing.

What are your outside temperature?

 

[mpatterson]

I use them on my 982 with the blower on, they work great down to like -30*C here in Ontario. Like all other tires, the ice will make them slide, but anything else, they grab good. WAY better than my tri-ribs do!
I wish I would have got 2 sets when I ordered them from tire dealer many years ago. They are a stiff walled tire though, mounting them isn't that fun.

 

[David Collard]

Wow! I really appreciate the feedback. I know tires are are hot debate topic for many. I fall more into the "look" more than functionality column. When my Dad restored our D200 he put Carlisle Super Lugs on it after a few winters of chains and wheel weights. The lugs coupled with the always important weight made it unstoppable going forward blowing snow. Reversing without the weight bar left for a lot of wheel spin on asphalt if I remember properly.

I'm sold on V61's for my front replacements. They have the look and functional elements I'm after. I also understand now why those who mount a 10.5 on the stock rim get so much ballooning even at low air pressures. I have a tire shop down the road from me I'd probably just have them mount for me. I will never forget wrestling the super lugs with dish soap onto the Wheel Horse rims one late summer afternoon.

 

[Doug Rusk]

lug-style tires are nearly worthless in the snow.

I dont think I agree with that. I have an 1862 with ag style rears and one with out. Have very little trouble with the ag style getting around in the snow. Both have chains and to be fair one has a 451 blower and the one with ag style has a qa 36 a snow thrower on it. But it gets around better than I expected. I'd like to put a set on my other 1862. Maybe I would be disappointed.