What Are Rubber And Steel Over Tire Tracks?

Over-the-tire tracks are exactly what the name says: a belt or a steel grouser assembly that fits over the machine's tyres rather than replacing the wheeled undercarriage. They are the answer when a wheeled skid steer has to work where wheels cannot - soft ground, mud, sand, snow or a slope - and the two families that get compared are rubber and steel. Rubber is quieter, lighter and kinder to surfaces; steel bites harder and survives rock and demolition debris. The choice is about the ground, not about which one is stronger.

Last updated: October 6, 2026

This guide covers what over-the-tire tracks are, how rubber and steel versions differ in use rather than in marketing, how they are fitted and tensioned, what they do to the tyres underneath, and what to check before buying a set in Canada.

What over-the-tire tracks actually are

An over-the-tire set is a track system that wraps around the existing tyres, held in place by the friction of the belt on the tyre and by guide blocks or a guide wheel that keeps it centred. Nothing about the machine's final drive changes: the tyres still drive, and the tracks simply spread the load and add bite.

That is the key difference from a compact track loader. A CTL has a dedicated track undercarriage with sprockets, idlers and rollers; an over-the-tire track is an attachment on a wheeled machine. It gives a wheeled skid steer much of the flotation and traction of a track machine without buying one - at the cost of extra weight, a wider footprint, and the tyres taking the loads the track transmits.

Two practical consequences follow. Width matters more than people expect: the tracks add to the machine's footprint, which affects how close it can work to a wall, a kerb or a trench edge. And the tyres become part of the track system's life - a worn or unevenly inflated set of tyres wears an over-the-tire track unevenly in return.

Rubber versus steel, in practice

Rubber over-the-tire tracks are the general-purpose choice. They are lighter than steel, so the machine keeps more of its power and lifts more of its rated load; they run quieter; and they do not mark asphalt, concrete or paving. On turf and finished surfaces they are the only sensible option. Their weakness is abrasion and cutting: rock, broken concrete, demolition debris and steel edges cut them, and a rubber OTT set on a quarry site is an expensive way to work.

Steel over-the-tire tracks are built for the ground that destroys rubber. Grouser bars bite into mud, loose soil and snow, and the steel survives contact with rock and debris that would cut a rubber belt. The trade-offs are real: more weight means more fuel and less lift capacity, the ride is harsher, and on a finished surface they cause the damage the machine was supposed to avoid. Steel also transmits more shock into the axles and tyres.

Where a machine works on both, the honest answer is that the two are not interchangeable in one job - many contractors keep a set of each and change them with the site. That decision is the same one behind why rubber pads exist on steel-tracked machines: protect the surface with the softer option, and put the aggressive one on when the ground demands it.

Fitting and tension

Over-the-tire tracks are fitted by driving the machine onto the belt and walking it on - a two-person job with the machine on level ground, the tyres cleaned and the track laid out straight behind the wheels. Tension is what keeps it on: too loose and the track climbs off in a turn, too tight and it loads the tyres, the axles and its own guide blocks continuously.

The settings differ between systems, so the figure and the measuring method come from the manufacturer's instructions for the specific tracks on the machine - not from a rule of thumb. The habit that matters more than the number is checking it: after the first few hours of work, and again whenever the tyres have been changed or re-inflated, because a track tensioned against a soft tyre will be loose once the tyre is pumped up.

Two related maintenance jobs come up constantly on these machines, and both are worth knowing before a track is fitted rather than after. Tracks that will not stay centred usually have a tension or alignment problem rather than a worn belt, which is the subject of fixing a track adjuster; and directional belts fitted the wrong way round clear material badly and wear unevenly, as whether rubber tracks are directional explains.

What they do to the tyres and the machine

Over-the-tire tracks increase the load on the tyres, the wheel bearings and the axles, because the machine's weight is now being carried through a track that grips instead of a tyre that slips. Keeping tyre pressures correct and even is not optional: an under-inflated tyre on one side changes the track's tension and its line, and the track then wears on one edge.

The other effect is on manoeuvrability. A wheeled skid steer on over-the-tire tracks turns differently - the tracks resist the pivot that wheels allow, especially on hard ground - and the machine's turning circle effectively grows. That is worth planning for on tight sites, and it is the reason some operators prefer to fit tracks only for the part of the job that needs them.

For fitting the tracks themselves properly, and for the machine-side procedure on a compact loader, the sequence is set out in replacing tracks on a Bobcat machine.

Choosing a set in Canada

Four things belong in writing before you buy: the size and system the tracks are designed for (they are matched to the machine's tyre size and wheelbase, not to the model name alone), the belt or grouser specification as supplied, the warranty terms as a period plus an operating-hours cap, and the stock position with a delivery date. Ask, too, what the tracks weigh, because that figure goes straight into the machine's lift capacity.

Where the machine's own tracks or undercarriage parts are the question rather than an over-the-tire set, the sizing logic is identical and is collected in how to read track sizes and pick the right tread and in the rubber tracks guide. Fasteners are the other item that surprises people: over-the-tire systems and track shoes both rely on bolts that should not be reused, which is what how to read bolt head markings is about.

Finally, price the whole system rather than the belt. Over-the-tire tracks work with the tyres, the guides and the machine's own running gear, so a set bought without checking tyre condition can wear out early for reasons that have nothing to do with the tracks - and the undercarriage components underneath, from track rollers to idlers and sprockets, are what decide how a tracked machine's whole system performs. For parts sourcing across a mixed fleet, the broader options are gathered in where to buy mini excavator parts in Canada.

FAQs

What are over-the-tire tracks used for?

They fit over a wheeled machine's tyres to add flotation and traction where wheels slip or sink - soft ground, mud, sand and snow - without converting the machine into a dedicated track loader.

Is rubber or steel better for over-the-tire tracks?

Rubber is lighter, quieter and safe for asphalt and turf, and suits general site work. Steel grips harder and survives rock and demolition debris, at the cost of weight, ride quality and surface damage. Choose by ground, not by strength.

Can you put tracks on a wheeled skid steer?

Yes - that is what over-the-tire tracks are for. They are matched to the machine's tyre size and wheelbase, and they work with the existing drive rather than replacing it.

How tight should over-the-tire tracks be?

To the figure and measuring method in the track manufacturer's instructions, checked after the first few hours and again after any tyre change or re-inflation, because tension changes with tyre pressure.

Do over-the-tire tracks damage the tyres?

They increase the load the tyres and axles carry, so worn or unevenly inflated tyres wear the track unevenly and vice versa. Keeping pressures correct and even is what protects both.