• From: New Zealand
  • Registered: 2010-06-24
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Best tyres to use with Polytrax?

Hey all,

The other day something terrible happened. The front left axle snapped clean in half on our K9-4pro. I had been loading the truck with gravel using the excavator, and when I went to drop off the load up the driveway the boss was standing there looking slightly unhappy about the wheel which was no longer connected to the machine...

We're running the tracks with lugs at the moment, but I had a thought today that perhaps general purpose tyres or something that isn't so chunky might be better? Has anyone had this happen to them before? Or could recommend more suitable tyres if we're using the wrong ones. I'd post a pic, but I was too stunned to remember I had a camera >.<

- Marty

www.dingonick.co.nz

  • Registered: 2010-06-17
  • Posts: 6

Re: Best tyres to use with Polytrax?

Martyn,
I broke an axle a few years ago on a series 2 K94, I wasn't using tracks at the time but I remember reading on the old site about a couple of other people who'd had the same thing happen. Doesn't that make you feel better!! As for the tyres I've been using the standard Trellborgs for years, they seem to work the best for my area, although it would be nicer if they could last a little bit longer which will open up another old can of worms. My poly tracks are almost stuffed, which means that I suffer from a bit of wheel spin within the trax especially when trenching.

Regards,
Richard Young
www.dialadingo.com.au

  • Dippy
  • New member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-05-29
  • Posts: 21

Re: Best tyres to use with Polytrax?

Martyn,
Have been running poly traxx fulltime for the past 3 1/2 years, half that time on Trelleborg standard tyres the other half on trelleborg cases Big Tyre Company, Toowoomba retreads. Retreads now have about 1500 + hours on them, now on my third set of traxx, first set had over 1000hrs, 2nd set (2nd hand when I got them) made 1100hrs + what ever they had done before (a very smelly and softer set)but didn't seem as hard and as good as the set I'm using at present which have a little over 800hrs (+ what ever hours on them before I got them) on and barely half worn also 2nd hand set with many broken links when I bought them.
The Tyres don't make any difference other than possibly the chunckier the tyre might make the machine a little ruffer. I too have broken 2 wheel motors, 1st one broke inside the motor the 2nd broke outside the motor so your not alone, I believe there have been others, use to be pics on the old forum showing some. I think you'll find it gets back to what you have been doing with the machine over a period of time that's causing them to break. Both mine broke with the traxx's on Left & right and as I said the pics showed straight wheel machines.


Dippy

  • Registered: 2010-02-11
  • Posts: 131

Re: Best tyres to use with Polytrax?

Have a look at the post "Is this how we got K9-2"....It has the pics of a K9-4 with broken wheel motor.

Regards Dave
EZR Mini Earthworks
0438 380069
*WARNING* These posts may contain traces of NUT
  • Registered: 2010-02-11
  • Posts: 131

Re: Best tyres to use with Polytrax?

My two bob's worth re tyres.....I DON"T run poly traxx, but I'd reckon "turf" tyres or "chevron" patterned retreads would be the go.
Why??? Less voids in the tread pattern....more "frictional" grip on the inside of the poly-traxx??? Just a theory!  roll  roll  roll  roll

Regards Dave
EZR Mini Earthworks
0438 380069
*WARNING* These posts may contain traces of NUT
  • Dippy
  • New member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-05-29
  • Posts: 21

Re: Best tyres to use with Polytrax?

Thanks Dave,

Couldn't think of what the pattern of me retreads (chevron) was when I was writing the other day and yeh your right about the grip work wonders in the poly traxx's, also clear themselves better in the mud with the traxx's on.

Dippy