Track sag

[Murray40]

I'm currently running 18 inch rubber Argo tracks on rawhide tires 25x11.5x9 on an 04 Argo avenger. Everything has been installed as per specs. However if I use tire pressure 5,7,7, and 6 psi as per specs I can't come close to the required min sag of 2 inch. I know if I run tight tracks I will stress my running gear. The only way I can gain the 2 in sag is with 3,4, 4, and 3 psi or less. i suspect there is more rubber to rubber contact with lower tire pressure. Any suggestions ?

[john swenson]

i'm looking forward to the answer from a experienced tracked argo owner. i am not sure why you can't run lower pressure unless it's harder on the drive train. j.b.

[Noel Woods]

I'm not a rubber track expert. Common sense indicates to me to run the lower psi until you get the sag needed. As with all things like tracks and chains, they will break in and stretch. I'm sure at some point down the road, the psi will go to 8-10psi as things loosen up.

[red bricks]

I have that exact same set up. '04 Avenger with 18" tracks. I also run the Adair Track Tuners. I generally try to "feel' my way to the correct tire pressure. If they are slipping I'll add air to the corner tires. I used to have a spacer in the tracks for many years and then I think the tracks must have stretched a bit so I removed them. I probably have a 1 1/2" sag. I still have several of the original "04 tires and they occasionally leak but I have been replacing them over the past year or so. For me its all about adjusting the tire pressure

[Murray40]

Thanks. I will work with this advise.

[ve1sar]

Hi, Here is some info that may help. Do you have a spacer coupling installed on your tracks? If not install one to give your tracks more
length. If you have one installed add another to give you more length. This may help you. Regards Paul

[Murray40]

Yes, I have one 2 inch spacer on tracks. Perhaps I should add I have two tires with tubes and two tires I've had vulcanized, however can't see that making any difference. (Dry snags and soft side walls don't get along well.) I remove the tracks in summer. My summer treks are over varied terrain, old hard surface abandoned logging roads, muck, water....and tires alone will get me there. Winter conditions, tracks a must...no question in my experience.

[Avenger Bob]

I use the Argo rubber tracks in winter as well. I found that if I lowered the pressure in the front tires the treads would tend to pull off when I went up really steep inclines. I use the metal spacer to get the tension right.

[ARGOJIM]

Problem could just be that your tires have grown over the years.

[Sparx]

The rubber tracks stretch a lot real quick! Pay attention every ride on your tire pressures and track sag the first 50kms or miles. At first I had the metal spacers but within 30 kms they were off and running 3.5 psi in the corners and less in the middle tires (only because I ran track tuners). I would run as little as possible for a better ride but enough not to slip the tracks in snow or water. I found in the winter I would run about 5psi since I was always in snow and everything was cold and slippery or it would spin in the tracks trying to climb hills.

[mowbizz]

The rubber tracks stretch a lot real quick! Pay attention every ride on your tire pressures and track sag the first 50kms or miles. At first I had the metal spacers but within 30 kms they were off and running 3.5 psi in the corners and less in the middle tires (only because I ran track tuners). I would run as little as possible for a better ride but enough not to slip the tracks in snow or water. I found in the winter I would run about 5psi since I was always in snow and everything was cold and slippery or it would spin in the tracks trying to climb hills.

Wow! I wouldn’t have believed those thick rubber babies would stretch, ever!
Live and learn!

[Murray40]

Just got back from the bush. Mild, wet and soggy snow conditions. 2 inch sag with psi 3, 4.5, 4, and 3 not cutting it! Serious tire slippage. (As suggested). Normally been winter driving under frosty dry conditions. I'm off the opinion that 1 inch sag is ok on snow and ice....but I could be wrong.

[AlaskaGrizzly]

Just got back from the bush. Mild, wet and soggy snow conditions. 2 inch sag with psi 3, 4.5, 4, and 3 not cutting it! Serious tire slippage. (As suggested). Normally been winter driving under frosty dry conditions. I'm off the opinion that 1 inch sag is ok on snow and ice....but I could be wrong.

Probably about the only thing you can do keep from slipping is to pressure up and get more tension. When running tracks I liked to run them as loose as possible but always carry my air pump and pressure gauge to make adjustments if needed. You might find that in your normal frosty dry condition 2" of sag is enough but you just proved its not good with wet soggy snow.