Snowblowers: Tracked or tires with chains?

[Ausfahrt]

Which do you prefer? Price really doesn't matter to a point because I don't mind paying a bit more for something that works instead of fighting it.

The only experience that I have with walk behind blowers is an Ariens that I had a few years ago. It was ok but the handles were too low and it tended to ride up on deep snow rather that plow though it and it had tires.

Tracked blowers may or may not be better which is why I'm asking, some of you guys have a lot more experience with the white stuff than this Florida boy.

 

[svtrit]

I've never needed chains on my tires for a walk behind snow blower. That was advice I got from a native Minnesotan.

Tires get it done for me.

 

[RhondaHonda]

I have tires, no chains. I’ve heard of people adding weight to the front to keep the front end down but haven’t tried it. I have a steep driveway but it does ok for the few snowfalls I get a year.

 

[edyvw]

Which do you prefer? Price really doesn't matter to a point because I don't mind paying a bit more for something that works instead of fighting it.

The only experience that I have with walk behind blowers is an Ariens that I had a few years ago. It was ok but the handles were too low and it tended to ride up on deep snow rather that plow though it and it had tires.

Tracked blowers may or may not be better which is why I'm asking, some of you guys have a lot more experience with the white stuff than this Florida boy.

Ski resorts in CO only use tracked ones. 99% of them Honda.

 

[supton]

Never used a tracked one. I did have one with chains, but it had astroturf tires and needed the extra grip.

I did find that I preferred the solid axle over one with a diff. With a solid axle, it'd hit an obstruction, stop, then pop up and over. The diff would hit and immediately pivot, trying to remove itself out of my hands. Didn't like that. A small blower might be fine with a solid axle.

Didn't have to deal with inclines though, relatively flat.

 

[wings&wheels]

I found that wheels are better if you have uneven surfaces such as pavers, etc., easier to pivot up even with a large one, but for smooth surfaces I prefer tracks. We just bought a wheeled Honda after 12+ years with a tracked version.

 

[jetman]

tires, no chains

 

[BrianF]

Never used a tracked machine. Spent years using a wheeled with no chains. No diff either. The wheeled machines are easy to zip around or move when shut off.

 

[TCL]

No flats on tracks.....

 

[Ausfahrt]

Ski resorts in CO only use tracked ones. 99% of them Honda.

I visited my local OPE dealer today that sells Toro and Honda machines. He had one Honda and dozens of Toros for sale. Nuff said.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Never used a tracked one. I did have one with chains, but it had astroturf tires and needed the extra grip.

I did find that I preferred the solid axle over one with a diff. With a solid axle, it'd hit an obstruction, stop, then pop up and over. The diff would hit and immediately pivot, trying to remove itself out of my hands. Didn't like that. A small blower might be fine with a solid axle.

Didn't have to deal with inclines though, relatively flat.

Interesting. I hadn't thought of that aspect.

 

[#18FAN]

Honda wheel drive.

 

[JWC86]

Tracked hands down.
Also highly recommend a hydrostatic drive. If you have a hard build up your trying to get rid of you can let it crawl super slow and chew away at it. A wheeled unit or even a tracked unit that won’t crawl slow enough will just ride up over it.

I have a Yamaha but if I were to do it again I’d probably go Honda

 

[tbm5690]

Do you need to clear multiple surfaces? For example, I clear my concrete driveway and a path for the dog in the grass in the backyard so she can get to her designated "area" which is cedar chips...I also blow that out. Some Honda track units have a strut on the rear that adjusts the auger housing height...basically negating the need for adjustable skid shoes. That feature alone makes me want to buy it. I make do with my wheeled unit that I adjust the skid shoes on before heading from the front to the back, but the Honda would be superior.

 

[Japanese]

Why would you need chains or tracks when you push it anyway?
Vehicles use chains or tracks in the snow because there's nobody to push them.

 

[methusaleh]

No flats on tracks.....

I’ve never had a flat tire on a snowblower, been using them for the better part of 40 years.

That being said, tires without chains have served me well everywhere I’ve lived, including here in Vermont with a sloped gravel driveway.

 

[JimPghPA]

How much do both versions weigh.

Sometimes these macheines must be picked up and loaded into a truck to move it to multiple locations, or storage area requires lifting to put in and take out.

If tracked are a lot heavier, maybe the places that use them can drive it in and out of storage.

Lifting heavy equiptment gets old quick.

 

[Donald]

I had a 36" Airens snowblower to do a 1000' gravel driveway. It was a monster before the chains but with the chains it was pretty much a unstoppable monster. Tires were not enough. This was outside of Albany NY. So we did get a decent amount of snow.

 

[repairman54]

Rubber wheel drive system does not like chains, too much traction will wear out the rubber tire in its ''transmission'' faster that's why most blowers with them don't come with chains so they have some wheel slippage. I've got 2 8hp blowers, MTD and an Ariens. Blower will ride up in deep snow, heavier Ariens not as much but it does. In my lake effect zone no way your gonna scrape down to the asphalt anyway all winter and I've got both asphalt and stone.
Plus I'm blowing puppy paths in yard so digging into the ground is not desirable, just need to make it passible for a short legged dog and the wheeled one turns way easier than tracked ones. Tracks are good for straight line work and uphill blowing not maneuvering.

 

[Ausfahrt]

I appreciate all the replies and suggestions. Tracks seem like the way to go but my only concern with our steep property is that the tracked blower will slide down sideways. That shouldn't be a problem after the first snow when trails are established though.

Puppy paths in the winter are very important.