Roll Program

Imagine for a moment that a NASCAR driver has a healthy lead going into the second half of a race. He pulls into the pit for a quick tire change, and his team switches his racing tires out for off-road tires. How do you think that driver is going to perform in the second half of the race? In short — probably not well. This is an extreme example, but it’s one that demonstrates the importance of selecting the right tire for the job. Backhoes are no exception to this rule.

“Determining where and how a backhoe will be used is really the key consideration that needs to be made when selecting tires,” says Paul Hawkins, vice president of off-the-road sales at Titan Tire Corp. “As I see it, there are three main types of backhoe operators: those who work on hard surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete and rock; those who work on soft surfaces, such as mud, snow and sand; and those who work in some of both. What may be a good tire for one type of operator, probably wouldn’t be as good a tire for the others.”

There are a number of tire design characteristics that determine how well a tire will perform in different applications, including tread pattern and tire construction (radial or bias). These characteristics can greatly impact traction and tire longevity.

Choosing a Tread Pattern

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the vast number of tread pattern options on the market today, but Hawkins breaks it down into several design characteristics that will help backhoe owners sort through the clutter.

“When choosing the rear backhoe tire, one of the first things you want to look at is the tire’s lug-to-void ratio,” says Hawkins. “Tires with a higher lug-to-void ratio are typically better for hard surfaces, whereas tires with a low lug-to-void ratio are better for gaining traction on soft surfaces.”

Hawkins goes on to explain that the higher the lug-to-void ratio, the more rubber there is on the road. More rubber on the road means a stable, smooth ride and a long, even wear. These tires, however, wouldn’t have as much traction in mud, snow and sand as a tire with a low lug-to-void ratio. Similarly, a tire with a low lug-to-void ratio would wear more quickly and cause a rougher ride on the road. Most backhoe operators don’t want to compromise performance in one area to get performance in another, so for those that split their time between hard and soft surface work, choosing a happy medium is often the best option.

“There are some pretty innovative hybrid tread designs on the market for backhoes,” says Hawkins. “For operators that want all-around performance, I’d suggest using a tire with a high void-to-lug ratio in the center of the tire and a lower lug-to-void ratio toward the shoulder. This will provide the best of both worlds for the operator.”

Though Hawkins stresses that choosing the correct tread pattern is of utmost importance for the rear tires, choosing the front tires should not be considered a trivial decision.

“Most front tires on backhoes use either an open-bar lug design, such as a skid steer or I-3, or a rib design,

such as an F-3,” he says. “The open-bar lug design of a skid steer or I-3 tire will provide better traction on soft surfaces, whereas the ribbed design of an F-3 will provide excellent longevity and a smooth ride on hard surfaces. For all-around performance, I’d go with either an I-3 or a skid steer tire.”

Choosing Between Radial and Bias

Simply put, bias tires are less expensive than radial tires, and for that reason, operators that have a lot of tire damage or are price-sensitive often opt for the bias option. While the upfront cost savings of a bias tire may make sense in some applications, Hawkins suggests looking at the cost of a tire over its lifespan as opposed to what it costs upfront.

“Radials have a number of benefits that can lead to a longer life when compared to a bias,” says Hawkins. “The main things to consider with radials are their longer tread life, increased load capacities and cooler running temperatures.”

Hawkins goes on to explain that radial tires have a flatter footprint, which provides for longer tread wear. So,

for operations that run tires until they’re worn out, radials will provide a better cost per hour or cost per mile than a bias tire. Additionally, radials will provide higher load capacities and cooler running temperatures than a bias. This is important, because if a tire is consistently pushed at or above its load capacity, it becomes susceptible to premature failure. Similarly, if a tire is consistently running longer distances or at high speeds on hard surfaces, its running temperature will be high, which can lead to premature tire fatigue and wear. So, for operators who carry particularly heavy loads or regularly operate on roads, the cost of a radial is well-justified over time.

Maintaining Backhoe Tires

As with any tire, proper care of backhoe tires can vastly increase their lifespan. One of the most important things to regularly monitor is inflation pressure. Doing so, however, isn’t as simple as matching the pressure to the number on the sidewall.

“Many people don’t realize that the number on the sidewall is the maximum inflation pressure that tire is rated to handle — not the recommended level of inflation at all times,” explains Hawkins. “A mistake commonly made when adjusting inflation pressure is not accounting for the loads the equipment is carrying.”

An overloaded and/or under-inflated tire will widen the footprint and cause extra wear to the shoulders, while an overinflated tire will cause the center to wear more quickly. No operator is willing to inflate or deflate every time a load is carried, however, so Hawkins recommends consulting with your local tire dealer and/or the manufacturer’s handbook to determine the appropriate inflation pressures for the application.

John Krantz is a features writer for Two Rivers Marketing, based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Tire wear is not an exact science. Many factors can lead to excessive tire wear, including the overall quality of the tire, application, routine maintenance and operator influences. One of the leading wear factors is using the incorrect tire in the wrong application. A lug tire in an asphalt or concrete application will tend to wear faster than a tire designed for that application. Another factor leading to excessive wear is the operator, as they have more influence on the wear and condition of the tires than anything else. Constantly spinning the tires when going into a load or making sharp turns has an effect on tire longevity. An operator with a softer touch, who makes wider turns and doesn’t spin the tires, can certainly help extend the life of the tires.