Tractor Pull tire situation

[oldestguy]

Somewhat in line with the hill climbing question, I will be in an antique tractor pull in a few weeks. I will drive an antique Allis-Chalmers owned by a neighbor. Last year I almost went farther than he did with a similar one. The pull is on a concrete roadway.

This year he clams he will go even farther by doing this: Extend the rear axle wheels out to their limits, making the thing a few feet wider than before. His claim is it gives him a longer run. Why?

My only guess is that with possible loss of traction on the lighter side (He sits to the right of center), that the affected left side tire will have better "lever arm" against the hitch.

 

[FoMoCoMoFo]

"a few feet wider than before"

I'm visualizing big heavy spacers.

Is there a weight limit? Tires full of water?

I wouldn't expect much from increasing track width alone.

 

[cibachrome]

The wider track puts his tire tread away from the rest of the crowd during the run: Putting him on a "fresh" surface, especially if its brushed concrete. This can backfire, though. If the previous pullers laid down some serious rubber, that groove will be better, if you get your tires hot enough to stick to it.

First time I ever heard of tractor pulling on concrete. Its always been manicured dirt for me.

 

[TheBlacksmith]

I could see the advantage of a fresh surface on dirt versus the area that had been torn up and "manicured" many times before his run, but I also think that on concrete being "in the groove" on previous puller's rubber deposits is better

 

[oldestguy]

These antique tractors are all weighed and the lightest start first. This one will be in the lightest class. I believe it will be first to pull on that section of the concrete as to "tire tracks". No weights in the tires unless part of the original factory delivered machine. Age of rubber may mean something, since those old tires may be brittle, not much stickiness. This neighbor also runs with as low a pressure he can get, supposedly getting higher contact area, but lower psi.

Something not figured is the effect the sled has on the concrete. This is one of those automatic things with big weight gradually moving up from support on tires to the sled part. The sled is hardwood on its base.

I suspect no difference from last year. We shall see.

Perhaps I should advise him to get hew tires?