15" wide vs 16" wide??? Flotation diffs??

[summitxrider]

I know this is an age old question, but what are your opinions on deep snow flotation with a 15 wide vs the 16 wide?

I'm running a 2010 Backcountry converted into a 146". Not sure to run the 146"x16"x2.31' or the 146x15x2

 

[ridealaska]

Only thing i've heard for downsides of a 16'' track is it makes carving a little harder. But i've got one and turnings fine and flotation is sweeeet.

 

[89sandman]

15 inch, don't want my tunnel any wider...

 

[smittysnow]

15 inch, don't want my tunnel any wider...

Thats cause you can't run 16 wide on your M. It's pretty simple math..not to be a jerk

 

[Anti-Hero]

c/pi=r

2*pi*r*h=surface area.

16 wins

 

[poorider]

15 inch, don't want my tunnel any wider...

agreed. ya, 16 does float better but they don't lay over as nice and you can feel the width between your legs. I'd rather have a bit longer than wider

 

[jpxp154]

go with the 16inch you dont whant to dig trenches like the others.and get stuck.lol

 

[CATillak]

Haha, love this topic.
Only the people with 16 wides like 16 wides, same for the 15 wide guys.


16 wide aint gonna win you a top speed race across a marsh, but it WILL get you higher in the trees and take off faster, hell it even brakes better. But this is just my opinions

 

[summitxrider]

Well I need speed and flotation. I have the Challenger 146x16x2.31" track right now. The track and lugs are sooo stiff. Stiffer than my 09 Summit 154". If the 15x2" will give me similar flotation and more speed, it may be the answer.

Does stiff lugs affect flotation in fluff powder?

 

[smittysnow]

agreed. ya, 16 does float better but they don't lay over as nice and you can feel the width between your legs. I'd rather have a bit longer than wider

I guess I'm just used to a little extra width between my legs

 

[redbarchetta]

Well for speed you would probably want a 15" wide track I would believe there would be less rotating mass, as for the floatation I don't think the stiff lugs would do anything to hurt you but take off and climbing in the fluff you will trench alot more.

 

[Himark]

floatation is a wider footprint period! Traction is another issue. The theory of a longer track puts down a front print which gives you better co-efficiancy for the rest of the track. Not my theory so dont kill the messanger but it makes sense.

 

[trench]

I think the 146x16 2.31 will get you more places on deeper days.
But if you drag race on more set up snow the 146x15 2'' lug track will be faster.
Once again depends what you like to do.

 

[BackCountryBob]

No difference side hilling a 146 x 16 vs a 15---it does make a difference on 159+ tracks. Maybe you should try a three hole track port to soften up the track?

BCB

 

[poorider]

I guess I'm just used to a little extra width between my legs

uuuh.....you are used to taking extra width between your legs? I hope you're a chick

 

[jskattum606]

I own both. A 166x15 and a 151x16. The 16 wide is a little harder to tip over on harder snow but in the pow, the extra flotation is worth it for me. The 15 wide is easier to side hill when the snow is a little harder but it cuts through the snow more and dosent float as well.

 

[Nikolai]

I've had both on the same sled and won't own a 16 wide again. The 15 handles noticably better.

 

[Jaynelson]

159x16....love it.

It's like a drunk college girl on extacy....if you can't lay it over easily, you're doing something wrong.

 

[Coldfinger]

146 vs 146, the 16" will handle the pow better than a 15".

 

[summitxrider]

thanks for the input. i need top end speed but not to sacrifice too much flotation. if there really isn't that much difference between the 16 and 15 in flotation, and the 15 is faster, i might have my question answered.