eli5 Why tractors have unproportionally big rear wheels?
In: 1
To get lot of traction on soft terrain.
On mud you want big wheels or tracks. This makes your wheel “work” on more soil, meaning you destroy the soil less. If you destroy the soil, your wheel will dig a hole and you can actually dig on the spot until you sink completely.
Now, tracks tend to cost more, wear more and damage roads.
Big wheels are cheap, easy, and fuel efficient too.
About front vs rear, the front is less loaded when you work, as when you work with the tractor, the pull force will shift your weight to the rear. So the front has less troubles with sinking.
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