COMMANDO1 23 #1 Posted January 28, 2011 Sound out, lets hear it before i buy. Do chains help w/AG'S? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 14,893 #2 Posted January 28, 2011 Yes, but be prepared to be shaken around a lot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billyban1 0 #3 Posted January 28, 2011 I can't imagine needing chains with ag's, unless you're on dirt or gravel. I've pushed snow on my neighbors packed down gravel driveway and darn near stalled the engine because of the ag's traction. My blacktop drive will stall it, unless it's ice covered. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SAM58 30 #4 Posted January 28, 2011 Depends on the tractor... I have a 416-8 with a 54" blade works great! Also I have a C-141 Auto with a 42" blade that has to have chains or it justs sits & spins.... with chains it will go anywhere. Both have AG tires :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #5 Posted January 28, 2011 Bob is totally on the mark......... keep in mind also the chains flop around a little more with ags. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldnugly 2 #6 Posted January 28, 2011 I have a set of 2-link chains I bought for the AG's on my C-160-8spd with wheel weights. They're still sitting in the box they came in. I've plowed six times so far this winter and haven't needed them on my gravel drive. The snow has only been 4-6 inches deep and not the heavy wet stuff. But it showed no sign of starting to lose traction. Others can help you with ice or paved or concrete surfaces. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 14,893 #7 Posted January 28, 2011 I can plow all day long without chains as long as the road is level and the snow is light and no more than about 4" deep. After that, chains are a must for me. I have used AG's and am now using turf tires. AG's without chains have very little traction on a paved drive since they were designed to dig into dirt or gravel. Going through wet snow with AG's is fine with the plow up, but once the snow has been pushed, and the bare pavement is showing, the AG's no longer grip without chains. Turf tires without chains grip fine until the snow gets heavy. So my answer would be, if you are serious about plowing snow, put chains on no matter what type of tire you use. Just my experience. You may have a different one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rydogg 186 #8 Posted January 28, 2011 I was using bar tread tires on my C160 until we got a thaw that refroze and made the my whole gravel driveway a skating rink and the bar tires couldn't get any traction. I put on a pair of skidloader type tires and rims that were on a JD 110 and some 2 link chains with "ice biter" links and I have no problem now and the chains don't sink in between the bars like they would on the other tires. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,116 #9 Posted January 28, 2011 One of the guys I work with has a C-141 with Carlisle Ags, the tires are filled with fluid for weight. He thought all was going to be well this winter with no chains because he got lucky last yr. and didn't slip. Well, I told him just wait because there will come a time when the conditions will make them ags useless. His luck ran out this season! All it takes is that one time for the snow to pack down real hard in the driveway and then you get a good dumping of snow and the Ags are now useless. He finally chained up like I told him to and he can't believe how much he can now push. This yr. in CT we aren't counting each storms accumulation in inches, we are counting them in feet! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,040 #10 Posted January 28, 2011 I agree with Ken. If you have any sort of grade and/or ice or packed snow then any tire without chains are useless. I have ags on my Terramite and that thing has more than enough weight but it cannot get out of it's own way on any sort of slope or packed snow/ice. The very best combo is turf tires with low tire pressure and 2 link v bar chains. Add a little weight and you will not find a better set up. :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,540 #11 Posted January 29, 2011 The very best combo is turf tires with low tire pressure and 2 link v bar chains. Add a little weight and you will not find a better set up. I second what Steve said. And if you can get 2 ply turfs instead of 4 ply they will be "softer" and will be unstoppable with chains. I used brand new AG's ( no chains) one winter and was very disappointed and will never go back to them for winter chores. Mike........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 991 #12 Posted January 29, 2011 i know that im not talking about wheelhorses here but up here we run chains on our forklifts and on a backhoe where i used to work,the ags are ok in normal but as soon as any ice built up your arnt going any where and yes a very rough ride Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arndts small engine repair 0 #13 Posted January 29, 2011 Hi you can look at or d video with ag tires and the chians are fine ! we have used them on them for years ! i have seen a big john deere tractor having a hard time to push deep snow with just a little ice under the snow ! we have chains ! here is the link ! good luck ! http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?showtopic=25027 chains http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?showtopic=25087 :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rustbucket 4 #14 Posted January 29, 2011 i use turfs with chains. have a set of chains on my blower tractor and putting a set of chains on my one plow tractor tomarrow. dirt road comunity and the plows tend to leave the road an ice sheet. the comunity plows that is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimbotelho 1 #15 Posted January 30, 2011 I just removed the ags with chains off of my 417h and put turfs on (uncle bo let me try them ) the machine is so much better and I dont have weights as yet With weights it will push like hell this is my opinion been there!! good luck :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill 4 #16 Posted January 30, 2011 Myself I have ran both 23x12x12'Ags with chains and 23x12x12 turfs with chains, and the turfs did so much better then the ags on my gravel driveway Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WheelHorse_of_course 99 #17 Posted January 30, 2011 The single biggest factor is surface area. The smaller the surface area in contact with the ground the greater the pressure (lbs/square foot). From most to least surface area: Wide Turf Tires Narrow snow/turf tires Wide ags Narrow ags Chains 4 link Chains with snow teeth 4 link Chains 2 link Chains with snow teeth 2 link The harness of the biting area is the second factor, but is clearly secondary. That is why "rubber chains" work so well, as they still reduce the surface. The width of the tire is the factor a lot of people don't factor in. My 854 did amazingly well with out chains. I got chains for it but sold it before I had the chance to try them. :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dresden Guy 24 #18 Posted January 30, 2011 I agree with Ken. If you have any sort of grade and/or ice or packed snow then any tire without chains are useless. I have ags on my Terramite and that thing has more than enough weight but it cannot get out of it's own way on any sort of slope or packed snow/ice. The very best combo is turf tires with low tire pressure and 2 link v bar chains. Add a little weight and you will not find a better set up. Stevebo & Ken ..... DITTO!! I use that exact setup (Turfs w/ lowered pressure + Vbar/2-link + wheel weights, or in my case, my large butt) and I can go without slipping on snow, ice, or any other winter surface with my C-160-8! IMHO, ags are for garden plowing, tilling, pushing dirt with a plow, gravel leveling, etc. (or just neat looking with tri-ribs on the front) but they are rendered almost useless for winter applications. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Polaris2007 4 #19 Posted January 30, 2011 I gotta agree with the above posts. Turfs aired down to 3 or 4 psi, 2-link chains, and PLENTY of weight = not getting stuck.......very often:-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
