I have a 10 wheeler with 20k front axle and it has the same turning radius as the titanic. Do all tractors with 20k front axle steer this bad?
Generally yes, because of the wider tires you lose clearance between them and the frame drag link and or steering box. There are things you can check , such as steering stops to be sure you are getting full travel. But when setting them be sure you leave at least an inch clearance from the tires so they don't rub anything
Just curious, what tires do you have to get to get that weight rating?
425/65/22.5 - $800+ each......
It's actually 22k front, but CA only gives you 20k.
I'm of the opinion that turning radius is affected by wheelbase and position of the steer axle(set forward vs. set-back), not the width of the steer tires footprint.After all, it's the angle of the spindle in relation to the frame that determines where the tire goes, not it's footprint.
My tractor with the fat feet turns horrible . Always has and it might be due to the 15,500 lbs on the front axle full time . None of the trucks the company has with the wide tires will turn good . That may due to what others have posted ,turn stops extended to keep parts from rubbing . Also it seems everything the company has the 20,000+ fronts on are long tractors to start with ( 290 + on the one I drive ) All I know is that it sure is aggravating when the guy ahead of you just drives in a place that you have to make 2 hitches in order to stay off the curbs . Ever notice how the wide ones push in the slick stuff ? I rarely use the power divider because of that .
That's because they float on top instead of sinking to hard-pan for traction. To get traction, you have to be able to bite something solid.
My tire guy says there is a narrower setup that you can get 18k on the front and steers/handles normal. Some of the newer heavy hauls have them. They would not work on my wide rims.
315/80R22.5 would be what he's referring to. As far as seeing a noticeable difference in turning radius on dry ground, don't bet on it.If you spend much time off road, stay with the wide base tires. If you are predominantly on road, you could go that route to save a few bucks per tire. And yes, you'll need 22.5X9.00 wheels, although standard 22.5X8.25 are an approved wheel for that size tire. Your 425's should be on either 12.25 or 13 inch wide wheels, preferably 13's.
Keep the wide tires, and check that the steering stops are adjusted to give you all the turning you can get without rubbing. What kind of truck is it? My T-800 KW turns as sharp as any, and with the 425 rubber on it. If everything in the steering system is tight, there are no steering problems, at least with good quality tires. I like the Michelin's, but they carry a big pricetag. On the other hand, the last set went nearly 150K miles.
Well put, Jerry. You get what you pay for, right? I couldn't believe someone would think the tire would affect the turning radius.