What the best Rim size choice - Snow Removal

**brumas** · 09-19-2011, 12:48 AM

Hi folks,

I'm mounting a snow plow in one of my mini trucks (Susuki Carry 93) and so im setting up the guy for the winter.

What is the best size rim for the snow 12", 13" or what else? What about with?

Other thing, the tires codes change and a guy gets confused, so a tire with 155 or 175 with should fit in rim with which with? Is it advisable to go wider?

Im doing snow removal so ATV tires dont seem to be the best choice besides arent road legal I dont know if it will do a good job when the tires have contact with the road or driveways. What do you advise me? should I go with studs or without? with big threads or kind of regular all season threads?

some examples are:
Hankook Zovac HP W401 - 155 R13 78Q studdable, T SBL
Sigma ARCTIC CLAW TXI - 155/80 R13 79S BSW
Firestone Winterforce - 155/80 R13 79S studdable, BSW

I heard a lot examples like carlisle all trail and others but this tires even though have bigger threads, they dont have sipes and are studless and are more expensive, so, are those the best choice? And what kind of rim should chose for an carlisle all traill?

Where can I buy cheap rims? Just the simple steel donuts. I dont know if I understood from other threads, but it seems that a lot of cars out there use the same type of rims with 4 studs that the Carry use.

I know that some of this questions already have been answer in some way or partially but I can't find all the info that i'm looking for and the info is all disperse everywhere and sometimes people get lost in sideways subjects going out of subject

**Ironraven** · 09-19-2011, 11:05 AM

I plowed last year through some pretty deep stuff with 23x10" ATV tires very similar to the carlisle all trails and never got stuck while plowing. What else are you going to be doing with your truck? Are studded tires street legal where you live? You need to find your bolt pattern, some of the older Carry's have different bolt patterns...

What I would use are non-studded snow tires, but then again studs aren't legal in MN. I'd stud the sh!t otta them if they were... I like my 13" tires, but I need slightly taller tires to fit with my plow mount setup which is underneath the front of the truck. I'm hoping to find a decent set of 24-26" tires to throw on my existing 13" rims this fall. For best traction on snow/ice a studded, narrow tire is your best bet. Good luck, and post up some pics of your plow setup!

**brumas** · 09-19-2011, 12:27 PM

I think my biggest concern is that if the plow start picking a lot of snow the tires will slip on the solid ground.

23x10" seems a wider tire, 10" seems like a 255 in the other tire code
so what kind of with the rim should has to hold that kind of tires. Saying that, it looks opposite what you just said "For best traction on snow/ice a studded, narrow tire is your best be"

"You need to find your bolt pattern", I have 3 mini trucks a zuky from 92 other from 95 and a mistubishi from 93 and it seems the rims fit in all 3, I will recheck that today.

Im not sure but im pretty sure that we can use studs here, anyway I will plow early in morning no one cares at that times if you are using studs, for the City any help tackling the snow is welcome, anyway ATV tires are not suppose to be street legal as well, im wrong or right?

Calgary has special weather conditions, you can have -20 degrees in one day and then on the next day the temperature can change to positive like 2 degrees, just like that, so the snow will start melting and then the temperature came back to -20 or -30 and then you will have ice in some spots where the snow are not piled properly

"hoping to find a decent set of 24-26" tires" is this the diameter? looks a lot to me, isnt ther there danger roll over the truck?

Originally Posted by Ironraven

I plowed last year through some pretty deep stuff with 23x10" ATV tires very similar to the carlisle all trails and never got stuck while plowing. What else are you going to be doing with your truck? Are studded tires street legal where you live? You need to find your bolt pattern, some of the older Carry's have different bolt patterns...

What I would use are non-studded snow tires, but then again studs aren't legal in MN. I'd stud the sh!t otta them if they were... I like my 13" tires, but I need slightly taller tires to fit with my plow mount setup which is underneath the front of the truck. I'm hoping to find a decent set of 24-26" tires to throw on my existing 13" rims this fall. For best traction on snow/ice a studded, narrow tire is your best bet. Good luck, and post up some pics of your plow setup!

**Ironraven** · 09-20-2011, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by brumas

I think my biggest concern is that if the plow start picking a lot of snow the tires will slip on the solid ground.

23x10" seems a wider tire, 10" seems like a 255 in the other tire code
so what kind of with the rim should has to hold that kind of tires. Saying that, it looks opposite what you just said "For best traction on snow/ice a studded, narrow tire is your best be"

"You need to find your bolt pattern", I have 3 mini trucks a zuky from 92 other from 95 and a mistubishi from 93 and it seems the rims fit in all 3, I will recheck that today.

Im not sure but im pretty sure that we can use studs here, anyway I will plow early in morning no one cares at that times if you are using studs, for the City any help tackling the snow is welcome, anyway ATV tires are not suppose to be street legal as well, im wrong or right?

Calgary has special weather conditions, you can have -20 degrees in one day and then on the next day the temperature can change to positive like 2 degrees, just like that, so the snow will start melting and then the temperature came back to -20 or -30 and then you will have ice in some spots where the snow are not piled properly

"hoping to find a decent set of 24-26" tires" is this the diameter? looks a lot to me, isnt ther there danger roll over the truck?

I live in northern Minnesota so our weather is pretty close to what you have there in the winter

Yes, my wide tires were not the best choice for plowing, I chose them because they were the only DOT certified ATV tire I could find that were sturdy enough for my truck's weight. but the reason I mentioned it is that despite them not being the most ideal for plowing I never even came close to getting stuck plowing last winter.

Before:

During:

After:

I didn't have trouble on ice either:

These little buggers have a very low center of gravity, I've done some crazy stuff in my truck with a 2"+ lift and 23" tires and never felt like it was going to tip over. There are a couple members on here with 4"+ lifts running 26" tires for rock crawling, I don't think you need to worry about rolling the truck...

But if you are worried about it being too tippy, go with a 13" wheel and a good studded snow tire. I've had really good luck with Hanook snow tires, I've got them on my wife's Mini Cooper and even without studs they have kung fu grip on snow and ice!

Good luck dude and post pics of your setup when you get it all set

**brumas** · 09-21-2011, 10:06 AM

You were right my 92 Suzuki has a bolt pattern 4x4,5" and the other Suzuki from 95 as 4x100mm. (what a shame)

So to hold your tires what is the your rim with?

**Acerguy** · 09-21-2011, 03:19 PM

Unless you need floatation to go on TOP of the snow, skinny tires will give you higher pressure contact down to pavement/gravel. For proof, consider the tires rally teams use in true snow rallies like Rally Sweden:

While I run wide ag lug tires on my truck for soft ground traction in the warm weather when I get around to doing a plow on my truck, I'm considering getting chains for the stock skinny tires. Assuming they will fit, of course.

**brumas** · 09-24-2011, 03:48 AM

I just found that Meyer has a plow for ATVs, UTVs and/or vehicles with 2" receivers.

Check the link
http://www.meyerproducts.com/Plows/UtilityVehicle.aspx

**Ironraven** · 09-26-2011, 11:47 AM

Best mini truck plow ever IMO
http://www.eagleplows.com/

They're made in the USA and they are some good guys besides!

**brumas** · 09-26-2011, 07:37 PM

It seems to be good for personal use not for comercial.

I'll be doing at least 40 driveways a day, the plow need to last

Originally Posted by Ironraven

Best mini truck plow ever IMO
http://www.eagleplows.com/

They're made in the USA and they are some good guys besides!

**Little Dumper** · 11-15-2011, 02:15 AM

Snowsport......light as hell, tough as nails. I made my own version of the 80" wide one for my truck and it moves some serious blow. It's a manual angle style but you could whip up a power angle ram pretty easily.

Someday I'll post pics and videos of it in action when I get off my butt.

Jon.

**brumas** · 11-15-2011, 09:44 PM

I saw this plow before, it looks interesting but difficult to believe.

I do snow removal as a business and the mini trucks would be the best solution for driveways or small parking lots or maybe even sidewalks.

This plow seems awesome for bulk and rough clearing, but don't have down pressure so I couldn't plow backwards with the plow mounted on the front, there is always this situation when you start plowing a driveway because its the only way to clear the snow close to the garage door.

I have one question, how thin is the layer of snow in the concrete after plowing. Does it look neat and clean?

If you can send some pictures or even videos with the truck plowing would be awesome.

I notice you use a 175/80r13's in your truck, did you ever used 155? If yes what is your opinion, im waiting for a set of 175's General Altimax Artic.
Do you put ballast in your truck when you plowing, how much weight?

Thanks for your reply
Brumas

Originally Posted by Little Dumper

Snowsport......light as hell, tough as nails. I made my own version of the 80" wide one for my truck and it moves some serious blow. It's a manual angle style but you could whip up a power angle ram pretty easily.

Someday I'll post pics and videos of it in action when I get off my butt.

Jon.

**Ironraven** · 11-16-2011, 07:38 AM

I had 4 125# sand bags in the back of my truck last year and that was plenty for traction.

If you want a power down solution that would be perfect for sidewalks check out AcidGear's site. He has 50" and 60" Poly V plows that I'd bet would be right up your alley.

http://www.acidgear.net/

**Little Dumper** · 12-07-2011, 11:25 PM

The only thing that is not so cool about that design is the fact that you can't drag snow back. But, you will clean the ground so well that they will think you power swept the driveway. You can plow over grass, rediculously uneven ground and curbs and not hurt the plow or what you ran over. The boxed ends really helps to gather up a lot of snow and get it where you want it in a hurry. Sidewalks are where these trucks really shine, the narrow width and tight turning radius makes these things almost as good as one of those articulated snow machines you see running around with a city logo on them.

I put about 300lbs of sandbags in the back and have yet to power out in fresh snow. I really should upload that view of me plowing out a campground that was shut down for the winter. I moved a snow pile that was 8 feet wide and 4 feet tall.

For plowing I run the studless 145r12 6 ply tires that came on the truck from Japan (lucky me). The 175r13s are my summer tires. The UTV tires are great off road but not so good for plowing on hard surfaces, I get better traction with the winters.

Jon.