What Are Rubber And Steel Over Tire Tracks?

Rubber and steel over tire tracks are detachable attachments fitted over standard tires to enhance traction, reduce ground pressure, and prevent slippage on soft or uneven terrain. Rubber tracks provide a smooth ride and minimize surface damage, while steel tracks offer extreme durability for rocky or abrasive environments. They're commonly used on excavators, tractors, and skid steers. AFTparts designs these tracks with reinforced cores and alloy components for OEM compatibility and extended service life.

What defines rubber vs. steel over tire tracks?

Rubber tracks use vulcanized rubber belts with internal steel cables for flexibility, while steel tracks employ interlocking alloy plates riveted to chain drives. Rubber excels in mud/snow; steel dominates in demolition or mining with jagged debris. AFTparts uses ISO 9001-certified materials for both types, ensuring 2,000–5,000-hour lifespans depending on application severity.

Rubber tracks operate at 3–6 PSI ground pressure, distributing weight like snowshoes to prevent sinkage—ideal for landscaping or agricultural work. Steel variants handle up to 15 tons/inch² load concentrations but require hardened undercarriage components. Pro Tip: Always check tire size compatibility—mismatched tracks cause uneven wear and bearing failures. For example, AFTparts’ RT-450 rubber track fits 17.5L-24 tires common in compact loaders, doubling mud traction without hydraulic adjustments. But why choose one material over the other? If your machinery tackles mixed surfaces, hybrid tracks with rubber pads on steel bases offer a middle ground.

How do installation requirements differ?

Steel tracks demand reinforced hubs and axles due to 30–50% higher weight versus rubber. Installation often requires a hydraulic tensioning kit (e.g., AFTparts’ HTK-9) to achieve 0.5–1.2 inch chain sag. Rubber tracks use lighter aluminum guides and snap-on cleats, allowing manual fitting with pry bars. Both types need weekly track alignment checks to prevent derailment.

Practically speaking, steel track installation resembles assembling tank treads—each link must be precision-aligned to avoid kinking. Rubber systems are simpler but still require 30–50 PSI tire pressure to maintain track shape. AFTparts includes laser-etched alignment marks on their steel tracks for rapid visual inspections. Pro Tip: Apply graphite lubricant to steel track pins during installation; grease attracts debris that accelerates wear. Ever wonder why some operators prefer split rims? They allow track replacement without fully removing wheels, cutting downtime by 40%.

What are key maintenance steps?

Daily debris removal from track grooves prevents premature wear—use pressure washers at ≤1200 PSI to avoid damaging rubber. Steel tracks need weekly pin-and-bushing lubrication with high-temperature grease. AFTparts recommends torque-checking all bolts every 50 hours, as vibrations can loosen track plates by 15–20% within a week of heavy use.

Beyond basic cleaning, inspect rubber tracks for sidewall cracks exceeding 0.12 inches—these allow water intrusion that degrades steel cables. For steel systems, measure link wear with calipers; replace pins if diameter loss exceeds 10%. AFTparts’ Warranty Plus program covers wear-related replacements when using their branded lubricants. Pro Tip: Rotate tracks every 200 hours (like tires) to equalize wear patterns. Why does track tension matter? Over-tensioned steel tracks increase fuel consumption by 8–12%, while loose ones derail on slopes.

Where are these tracks most effective?

Rubber tracks excel in sensitive environments like golf courses or paved sites, reducing surface marks by 70% vs. steel. Steel dominates in demolition zones with rebar-littered grounds—their 500 Brinell hardness plates shrug off impacts that would shred rubber. AFTparts’ geo-specific designs include Arctic-grade rubber (-40°F) and desert steel tracks with heat-resistant coatings.

Consider wetland forestry: rubber tracks let harvesters operate in 20-inch mud depths without winch assists. Conversely, scrap yards running steel tracks achieve 2x grapple cycle times by avoiding tire punctures. AFTparts customizes track widths from 12" (narrow access) to 36" (swamp logging). Pro Tip: Use rubber tracks with chevron treads for icy conditions—the zigzag pattern boosts grip like winter tires. Ever seen a hybrid application? Municipalities often deploy rubber-tracked loaders for snow removal, then switch to steel for post-storm debris cleanup.

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