When weighing skid steer tracks vs. tires, let the job conditions guide your decision.
A skid steer loader is a powerful tool in the construction industry or in earthmoving projects. With the right size skid steer loader and the right attachment, you can perform any material handling, loading, grading or excavating job in almost any environment.
In addition to selecting size and attachments, you’ll also need to decide whether to use a track or wheel loader (the decision will depend on the surface and terrain you’ll be working on).
Read on for a skid steer comparison to help you choose.
Wheel Skid Steer Loaders were the only type of skid steer availabe until tracked skid steers were invented to overcome some of their limitations. They have both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
- Wheel skid steers are suitable for flat surfaces such as hard-packed dirt, asphalt, or concrete. They can move much faster on these surfaces than tracked skid steers, so they can cover more distance in less time.
- Wheel skid steers are generally better suited for landscape surfaces, which tracked skid steers may damage.
- They are cheaper to purchase and maintain than tracked skid steers.
Disadvantages
- The weight of a wheeled skid steer is distributed across only four tires, which means it can sink into muddy terrain. The tires can burst on rough or sharp surfaces.
- Tires wear out faster than tracks.
Crawler skid steers distribute their weight more widely over two tracks. Advantages and disadvantages of skid steer tracks versus tires include:
Pros
·They distribute their weight more widely and evenly, transferring less weight to the ground, making them ideal for wet, muddy, or snowy ground, loose gravel, and loose sand. Instead of sinking into soft surfaces, tracked skid steers “float” above them.
·The extra ground contact and lower center of gravity make them more stable on slopes. “It’s like operating a tank” “A tracked skid steer can go almost anywhere.”
·Crawler skid steers have a smoother ride than wheeled skid steers. They also provide greater digging and lifting forces on soft surfaces and don’t compact the ground.
Cons
·Think twice before using a tracked skid steer on concrete or asphalt. “It can destroy this kind of pavement because the tracks are so hard.”
·A tracked skid steer requires more maintenance and cleaning than a wheeled skid steer, which is something to consider if you’re buying rather than renting. A tracked skid steer costs a bit more than a wheeled skid steer.
·Replacing tracks is a bit more complicated than replacing tires.
When choosing between a tracked or wheeled skid steer, remember that no one machine is better than the other. It’s a matter of matching the machine to the job. A good manufacturer can guide you in choosing a skid steer or compact crawler loader that fits your needs.
If you need a skid steer and don’t know how to choose, you can click to view our selection of wheeled skid steers and crawler loaders, which I hope will help you
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