Early 8n rear tires for snow backblading

I am going to be back blading snow here in northern Wisconsin this winter. I have bad rims and tires on the tractor. I need to select a tire and rim size that will give me the best traction. I was thinking a larger than normal size like 13.6? Can I fit the chains on and will it get better traction this way? Thanks for any advice?

It might be a narrow tire would do better in snow... wide will get up on top easier... no traction there... chains are good but need to cut through to the bottom...

Have fun!!

I have 11.2x28 rears with calcium and normally drive forward pulling a 7' blade , can easily move 5" at a time with some speed in third . If its more or icy
under i put on the chains.

Thanks for the info. You answered my next question too. How wide of backblade should I use.

Thanks duey. You may be right. I was thinking I could use a wider tire with deeper lugs to get more weight applied with more surface contact?

Go with 11.2 x 28 with calcium and chains. The tractor will be a beast in the snow. IMO 12.4 is too large and 13.6 definitely too large.

Tractor tires are generally a harder rubber and don't perform well in snow. Chains and weight will be required. The "x"
style of chains will keep the chains on top of the lugs. Ladder type chains fall between the lugs and can't do their job.
Bigger tires have a tendency to float on the snow and reduce grip.

Now......if someone would invent an electrically heated seat cushion.......

"Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you."
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(quoted from post at 18:41:04 09/22/20) Go with 11.2 x 28 with calcium and chains. The tractor will be a beast in the snow. IMO 12.4 is too large and 13.6 definitely too large.

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I have 12.4s on my 8N, and while I like the way they look, they do noticeably increase your ground speed (even worse for 13.6s). The 8N has "fast" reverse gearing as it is, and were I to do it again, I'd get 11.2s. Doubt I'll ever get the chance - I bought new tires when I rebuilt the tractor in 2008 and they'll likely outlive me.

es

Quite a few years ago now I went to see the great Ford N collector Palmer Fossum. In his shop he had an aluminum pan seat for a tractor. It had a 3/4" hose inlet and outlets on it. You ran heater hose to/from the the engine and had a coolant heated seat. I wanted to buy it but he wouldn't sell it.
That would be just the ticket while moving snow.
Now,
Keep your tires the right size - 11.2x28
Your tractor will perform the best with the right size tires.
With fluid or wheel weights and good tire chains your N will surprise you with how well it moves snow.

If you get any real amounts of snow, you need loaded tires, wheel weights, chains, and a front blade. See
picture.

Early or late, what does that have to with tire tread? FORD N Tractor specs state rears at 10 x 28 (11.2 x 28 nowadays, same thing) and 4 x 19 with 5.50/6.0 x 16 optional on fronts. I advise not to deviate from those specs. Bigger isn’t better. Also OEM spec’d was Calcium Chloride for tire ballast as that was what was around back then. I highly advise against the stuff nowadays; it’s highly corrosive to ferrous substances. When the Ca Chl leaked, usually first signs are around the valve stem, and sometimes not noticed until too late as rims were cancerous from the inside out. Today there is an alternative substance for tire ballast called “Beet Juice”, aka for Rim Guard® as it is made from sugar beets. It is NOT corrosive, has weight per gallon, and works great. I am a satisfied customer having had it in my working tires since the mid-1990’s. On my 6.00 x 16 Guide Grip style fronts I use the Ford 2-PC weights adding 200 pounds to the front end. I live in Michigan and so have 8/9 months of winter and I have NEVER gotten stuck plowing snow and using a Dearborn Utility Blade. I also advise to use STABILIZER BARS when back blading snow and dirt. The STAB BARS, also called ANT-SWAY BARS, help keep the blade from kicking off to one side when pushing backwards and help keep blade tracking straight when pulling forward under load. Works for me, your mileage may vary…

FORD 8N TRACTOR & BACK BLADE w/STABILIZER BARS:

11.2 x 28 FIRESTONE Field & Road rears, loaded with Rim Guard; 6.00 x 16 Firestone OEM repop Guide Grip style front tires with Ford 2-Piece wheel weights.



1948 FORD 8N w/DEARBORN 19-5 UTILITY BLADE; TIM DALEY OWNER/OPERATOR & KIDS:


FIRESTONE OEM 6.00 X 16 GUIDE GRIP REPRODUCTION FRONT TIRES ON 16” RIMS & 2-PC WHEEL WEIGHTS:

*FORD Front Wheel Weights for 16” Rims. 2-PC, each segment at 50 lbs, total front end weight = 200 lbs.








Tim Daley(MI)

NICE!!!!

I never tried a blade.
But have used different 8Ns to clear snow with a back facing drag box for years in NE Ohio. One with loaded tires and one without. Did have a little trouble spinning tires on ice a few occasions, but I never needed to install chains, just got a bit more momentum before the next push.

I don't think you will gain anything going with larger tires than 11.2x28. I push snow with a 62 4000 row crop. It does not have loaded tires, chains , or
weights. The only time I ever had a problem was once when the rain turned to snow and had two - three inches of ice under the snow. I got stuck on the ice. I
threw tire chains for a garden tractor in front of the spinning tire and the 4000 came right out.

Chains are an absolute must. weight is good, it will help. once ice forms on the ground, you'll sit and spin without chains. With any kind of incline you wont be able to go up it without chains. Got 25 years experience pushing snow in WI with an 8N. oversized tires wont gain you anything.

No need to go bigger than 12.4. 23 degree will give you better bite without chain if chains are used make sure you get the right ones for the tread lugs on your tire. ladder style
chains will fall inbtween the lugs on 23 degree lug tires making them useless

What works for others is their business.
I can tell you one indisputable Fact
though.
Good tires, added ballast and heavy tire
chains will give the Best possible
traction when doing anything with a wheel
tractor in ice and snow.