On wheeled tractors, the inflation pressure must be set based on the axle load and maintained when operating the tractor. For a tracked machine, it is important to make sure the track tension is set correctly and boggy wheels are greased or oil levels are maintained. Both systems require regular maintenance during the life of the tractor. Typically, a tracked tractor will cost more to purchase vs. The last item a customer should consider would be total cost of ownership. However, the narrower width of a tracked tractor makes driving on the road less stressful compared to a 4WD tractor with duals, especially in areas of the country where roads may only be 15 feet wide. The faster road speeds are better for minimizing wasted time between fields. When transporting tractors on the road, a wheeled tractor can operate in the 25-30 mph range, while tracked machines are limited to 20 mph. For traction and fuel usage, both tractors will have similar fuel costs. In this scenario, a tracked tractor would use less fuel. If the tires on the wheeled tractor are over inflated, that tractor will not develop the proper footprint, which results in less traction. When comparing a tracked tractor to a comparable wheeled tractor with the proper inflation pressure, they both will use similar amounts of fuel to complete a task.

A track system takes more horsepower to rotate the track, which results in higher fuel consumption. The lower slip range of the track system does give users more traction in the field, but that does not result in less fuel used. When looking at traction, track systems are most efficient at 0–3% slip, while wheeled systems are most efficient at 5–9% slip. With the track system there is not a wave of soil, so the track lug isn’t trying to climb out of a rut. The lug on the track system is planted in the soil and the tractor is pushed forward. The rotation of the tire causes a wave in front of the tire, and the tire is climbing out of the rut in wet soils. The rutting is a function on how the wheel and track system operate differently.Ī tire rotates and the tire lug needs to pull the tractor forward. In wet soils, it does not matter which system is being used - compaction occurs with or without ruts. What we have heard, anecdotally, is that the absence of a rut in the field means there must be no compaction. However, there is still the perception that tracks reduce soil compaction when compared to tires, in all situations.

If the inflation pressure of the tires are above 35 psi, the track system had lower contact pressure than the tires.

From 20 to 35 psi, the tracks and wheel systems were comparable.

If the inflation pressure of the tires is less than 20 psi, tires transmit less contact pressure to the soil compared to tracks.

Firestone Ag has conducted studies on soil contact pressures on two and four track systems and wheeled tractors and has published technical papers with the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).

In wet or moist soils, the soil is damaged by the highest contact pressures, which would be under those boggy wheels. When measuring the contact pressure of the track system, there are pressure spikes under each one of the boggy wheels. When I ask users why they have tracks, the number one response I get is, “I want to get rid of compaction and the track has a much larger footprint area.” While it is true the total footprint area of a track is larger than a tire, the weight of the machine is not equally distributed under the track.

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