eli5 Why tractors have unproportionally big rear wheels?
In: 1
Better for going over uneven and soft ground.
Like if you look at tank treads (or for like heavy construction equipment) that’s really well supported, lots of flat areas that can bridge over holes.
A small car tire might fall into a hole and now you’re just perched on the car frame. Not so good.
The big wheels are in between. Nowhere near the complexity of a tread but wide enough and with a flatter curve in the outside to spread weight better.
That means less pressure on any single point on soft ground so it sinks less, and more ride height so that if it does sink you don’t get stuck.
Front wheels don’t really matter as much cause they are just there for a bit of stability and steering. It may make the thing more uncontrollable in some situations but you aren’t mudding with a lifted truck. Big tires are expensive. Mechanisms to turn them sideways as well. If you can get away with two big ones, why pay for four.
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