{"id":27944,"date":"2026-07-29T14:58:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T12:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/news\/chains-vs-tracks-for-professional-forestry-machines-how-to-choose-the-right-setup-for-your-terrain\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T09:47:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T07:47:58","slug":"chains-vs-tracks-for-professional-forestry-machines-how-to-choose-the-right-setup-for-your-terrain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/au\/news\/chains-vs-tracks-for-professional-forestry-machines-how-to-choose-the-right-setup-for-your-terrain\/","title":{"rendered":"Chains vs. Tracks for Professional Forestry Machines: How to Choose the Right Setup for Your Terrain"},"content":{"rendered":"<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 wrapper-contained mt-0 mb-20 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<div class='text-md\/5 flex items-baseline gap-1.5 [&amp;&gt;*:nth-child(n+3)]:truncate text-gray-700'><a href='https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/au\/' aria-label='Home link'>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' width='12' height='12' viewBox='0 0 12 12' fill='none'><path d='M2 10.667h2v-4h4v4h2v-6l-4-3-4 3v6ZM.667 12V4L6 0l5.333 4v8H6.667V8H5.333v4H.667Z' fill='currentColor'\/><\/svg> <span><a href=\" https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/au\/ \">Home<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 wrapper-contained mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<div class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-y-4 gap-x-4\" >\n\t\n<div class=\"flex flex-col col-start-4 max-sm:col-start-1 col-end-span-6 max-sm:col-end-span-12 row-end-span-1 justify-stretch h-full [&amp;&gt;*:only-child]:h-full items-stretch w-full [&amp;&gt;*:only-child]:w-full pl-0 pr-0 pt-0 pb-0 bg-gradient-to-r overflow-visible\" >\n\t\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<div class=\"w-full text-blue-500\" >\n\t\n\t<p>29.07.2026 | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/au\/news\/category\/forestry-solutions\/\" \/>Forestry Solutions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h1\tdata-slug=\"\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>Chains vs. Tracks for Professional Forestry Machines: How to Choose the Right Setup for Your Terrain<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h1><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tWhen a forestry machine breaks traction on a frost-softened hillside or sinks axle-deep into a boggy extraction trail, the wrong ground-engagement setup\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0just an inconvenience,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0lost time, damaged ground, and money left in the mud. Choosing between\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/\">forestry chains and\u00a0forestry\u00a0tracks<\/a>\u202fis one of the most consequential equipment decisions a logging operator makes, yet it often gets less attention than machine selection itself.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tThis article examines the key factors that should drive that choice:\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<ul\tclass=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none text-base leading-normal list-disc ml-[1.125em] marker:text-red-700 text-black\"\n>\n\t<li><strong>terrain<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>soil<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>season<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>machine size<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>environmental compliance<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<picture\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<img\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/segment-a-forestry-harvester-finland-0044-1.webp\"\n\t\talt=\"A Forestry Harvester machine fitted with pewag forestry tracks for reduced tyre wear\"\n\t\tclass=\"object-cover object-center\"\n\t\/>\n<\/picture><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>What are the Differences Between Chains and Tracks for Forestry Work?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tBefore diving into terrain analysis,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0worth being precise about what \u201cchains\u201d and \u201ctracks\u201d mean in this context.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-chains\/\"><strong>Forestry chains<\/strong><\/a>\u202fare steel link assemblies that wrap around the tyre, adding grip elements (studs) that bite into the ground. They protect the tyre and increase traction. They are lighter, faster to install, are lower in\u00a0initial\u00a0cost and have the benefit of fitting a wide range of tyre sizes \u2013 no matter what the brand.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tpewag\u2019s\u00a0forstgrip\u00a0chain series, for example, is developed specifically for heavy forestry application including clay,\u00a0mud\u00a0and ice, combining Titan-Grip steel with proven grip elements for improved stability.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/\"><strong>Forestry\u00a0tracks<\/strong><\/a>\u202f(also called\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/\">wheel\u00a0tracks<\/a>\u202for\u00a0over-tyre tracks) are larger, more structured assemblies that envelop the entire tyre profile. They create a significantly wider and longer ground contact area, functioning more like a hybrid between a tyre and a crawler track.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tpewag\u2019s\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack\/\">bluetrack<\/a>\u202flines\u00a0represent\u00a0this category. They are engineered for demanding forestry work, with the\u00a0starwave\u00ae stub profile delivering asymmetrical traction across unpredictable subsoils.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tThese are not interchangeable products. They solve different problems, on different machines, in different conditions.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"chains-or-tracks-how-to-decide\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>Chains or Tracks: How to Decide<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<div class=\"w-full overflow-x-auto whitespace-nowrap\">\n\t<table class=\"table whitespace-normal table-fixed min-w-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<thead class=\"text-lg text-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"sm:table-row border-b border-gray-200 flex flex-col flex-nowrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTracks\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChains\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t<\/thead>\n\t\t\n\t\t<tbody class=\"text-md flex-1 sm:flex-none\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"sm:table-row border-b border-gray-200 flex flex-col flex-nowrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdding more stability to machines\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIndependent of tyre brand and wear\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"sm:table-row border-b border-gray-200 flex flex-col flex-nowrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGenerally better grip (soft terrain)\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBetter grip on hard surfaces such as ice and rocks\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"sm:table-row border-b border-gray-200 flex flex-col flex-nowrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBetter soil protection\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdapts better to uneven surfaces (traction)\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"sm:table-row border-b border-gray-200 flex flex-col flex-nowrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIdeal option for bogie axles\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReduced width and weight for easier road transport\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"sm:table-row border-b border-gray-200 flex flex-col flex-nowrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBetter tyre protection\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEasier to repair\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"sm:table-row border-b border-gray-200 flex flex-col flex-nowrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn general, longer lasting compared to chains\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLower fuel consumption\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"sm:table-row border-b border-gray-200 flex flex-col flex-nowrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGentler to the tyre\/longer tyre lifetime\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"p-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline underline-offset-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700 hover:[&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:transition\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBetter driving comfort\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\n\t<\/table>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<picture\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<img\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/forestry-machine-vehicle-stuck-in-deep-mud-1.webp\"\n\t\talt=\"A forestry vehicle tire stuck in very deep mud\"\n\t\tclass=\"object-cover object-center\"\n\t\/>\n<\/picture><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>The Physics of Ground Engagement in Forestry Applications<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tTo choose correctly, operators need to understand two competing forces: traction (the ability to drive forward) and flotation (resistance to sinking into soft ground). The relationship between them is shaped by how weight is distributed over the contact area.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-chains\/\">Chains\u202f<\/a>add grip studs that increase mechanical bite, particularly valuable on hard, icy, or rocky surfaces where the tyre needs anchor points. Tyres with chains offer flexibility on uneven ground leading to better traction, but the contact footprint does not change dramatically. On soft or wet ground, the tyre-and-chain assembly still creates a\u00a0relatively concentrated\u00a0load.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/\">Tracks<\/a>, by contrast, spread the machine\u2019s weight over a much larger surface area, dramatically reducing ground bearing pressure. This is why bogie or duo tracks are the preferred choice on soft ground: they resist sinking and rutting, reducing both soil compaction and extraction time lost to stuck machines.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tAs a general principle, the contact area of a bogie wheel track is\u00a0substantially larger\u00a0than that of a chain, which enhances machine stability under heavy loads and allows operation on terrain that would be impassable for a chained forestry machine. Further stability is\u00a0attained\u00a0through the weight of the tracks as it lowers the\u00a0centre\u00a0of gravity significantly.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>Terrain as the Primary Decision Driver Between Forestry Tracks and Chains<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h3\tdata-slug=\"hard-rocky-or-frozen-ground\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-xl md:text-2xl lg:text-lg leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>Hard, Rocky, or Frozen Ground<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tOn firm surfaces such as rocky terrain, frozen boreal soils and compacted logging trails, chains have the advantage. The chain allows the tyre to flex over uneven terrain offering better grip, whilst the studs bite into surface irregularities and provide the grip needed to haul loads without slippage.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tTracks, while excellent in other conditions, can experience greater wear on abrasive surfaces and their larger contact area offers less advantage when the ground is already capable of supporting the machine.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tFor icy or hard snow-covered ground, chains are often the tool of choice. The penetrating geometry of a well-designed chain stud finds purchase where a track\u2019s broader profile may skate.\u00a0pewag\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-chains\/\">forstgrip\u00a0chains<\/a>\u202fwere specifically developed with icy conditions in mind, alongside clay and mud applications. For very demanding conditions\u00a0(i.e. stones and rocks),\u00a0pewag\u00a0offers chains with forged parts within its\u00a0forstgrip\u00a0line which offer outstanding performance in terms of lifetime.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<picture\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<img\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/forstgrip-essential-pro-1.webp\"\n\t\talt=\"Forstgrip Essential Pro forestry tire chains\"\n\t\tclass=\"object-cover object-center\"\n\t\/>\n<\/picture><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong>NEW\u202f<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/pewag-forstgrip-essential-pro-16-mm\/4143214\"><strong>forstgrip\u00a0essential pro<\/strong><\/a>\u202f\u2013 16 mm chain with forged parts featuring newly designed\u00a0starwave<strong>\u202f\u00ae<\/strong>\u202fforged parts for enhanced traction and extended service life in heavy duty application.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<picture\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<img\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/forstgrip-pro-1.webp\"\n\t\talt=\"Forstgrip Pro forestry machine tyre chains\"\n\t\tclass=\"object-cover object-center\"\n\t\/>\n<\/picture><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/pewag-forstgrip-pro-1-field-16-mm\">Updated\u202fforstgrip\u00a0pro<\/a><\/strong>\u202f\u2013 16 mm chain featuring newly designed\u00a0starwave<strong>\u202f\u00ae<\/strong>\u202fforged parts for enhanced traction and extended service life. Thanks to the high number of forged parts in the tread net and its tighter net design, it is ideal for heavy-duty applications in rocky and stony terrain.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h3\tdata-slug=\"soft-boggy-or-wet-ground\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-xl md:text-2xl lg:text-lg leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>Soft,\u00a0Boggy, or\u00a0Wet\u00a0Ground<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tThis is where bogie or duo tracks earn their premium. Soft ground such as peat bogs, wet clay or waterlogged extraction zones can punish a chained machine. The machine sinks, spins, and tears up the ground surface, creating ruts that make\u00a0subsequent\u00a0passes progressively more damaging. Tracks\u2019 superior flotation keeps the machine moving and minimizes ground disturbance.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tThe\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack\/\">bluetrack\u00a0wave series<\/a>\u202fwith wave and wave wide (even wider cross member), with its wide contact surface, is specifically designed for wet or soft ground scenarios maximising flotation while still self-cleaning mud and debris from between its cross members. Self-cleaning is a critical and often underestimated feature: a chain or track that packs with mud loses its grip function rapidly.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<picture\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<img\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/segment-a-forestry-harvester-finland-0043-1.webp\"\n\t\talt=\"A forestry harvester in the Finnish forest\"\n\t\tclass=\"object-cover object-center\"\n\t\/>\n<\/picture><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h3\tdata-slug=\"steep-slopes\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-xl md:text-2xl lg:text-lg leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>Steep Slopes<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tOn steep or side-sloped terrain, stability and traction interact in ways that make setup\u00a0selection\u00a0consequential for operator safety. Track systems, with their larger footprint and improved ground contact due to stubs, offer better lateral stability particularly when\u00a0operating\u00a0across a slope rather than straight up or down.\u00a0pewag\u00a0tracks specifically offer the advantage of two stubs per cross member and an offset design, which deliver even greater grip.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tThe <a href=\"https:\/\/technodiversity-moodle.ibe.cnr.it\/mod\/resource\/view.php?id=189\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Swedish terrain classification system<\/a> recognises this explicitly: driving across a side slope steeper than 15\u00b0 should be avoided where possible and requires detailed planning when unavoidable. On such terrain, every increment of stability matters, and tracks tend to outperform chains.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tChains\u00a0remain\u00a0effective on steep terrain for machines\u00a0operating\u00a0along the fall line, where the primary demand is traction rather than lateral stability. For operations on very steep ground, the machine often stays closer to established trails anyway, reducing the premium on maximum flotation.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h3\tdata-slug=\"mixed-conditions-within-a-single-operation\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-xl md:text-2xl lg:text-lg leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>Mixed Conditions Within a Single Operation<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tIn practice, few extraction operations have uniform terrain. A Swedish operator working the boreal interior will\u00a0encounter\u00a0frozen ground on north-facing slopes, waterlogged valley bottoms, exposed rock ridges, and soft organic soils sometimes within the same harvesting block. This is where product selection gets nuanced.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tMany experienced operators\u00a0maintain\u00a0both chains and tracks and switch by season and site. Others choose a setup optimised for the dominant condition and accept lower performance in edge cases.\u00a0pewag\u2019s\u00a0range, from\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack-essential\/\">bluetrack\u00a0essential<\/a>\u202ffor lighter machines and retrofit applications,\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack\/\">bluetrack\u202f<\/a>as the golden middle for everything to the heavy-duty\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack\/\">bluetrack+\u00a0series<\/a>,\u00a0is designed to give operators options across this spectrum without requiring separate machinery for each terrain type.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\tForestry in Australia: Wet-Season Extremes Across a Vast and Varied Estate<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tAustralian forestry is defined by the swing between bone-dry and monsoonal wet, often within the same season. Australia has around 134 million hectares of forest, and commercial harvesting is concentrated in a handful of very different regions: Tasmania&#8217;s wet eucalypt and cool temperate rainforest country, Victoria and NSW&#8217;s mountain ash and mixed-species forests, Western Australia&#8217;s jarrah and karri stands, and softwood and hardwood plantations spread across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h3\tdata-slug=\"regional-variation-state-by-state\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-xl md:text-2xl lg:text-lg leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\tRegional Variation, State by State<\/h3><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tAustralian forestry operates under separate state-based Codes of Practice: Victoria&#8217;s Code of Practice for Timber Production, Tasmania&#8217;s Forest Practices Code, the NSW Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals, and Queensland&#8217;s Code of practice for native forest timber production &#8211; each setting its own rules on slope limits, streamside reserves, and wet-weather operating conditions.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tTasmania and Victoria, with the steepest and wettest terrain, have the most detailed roading and harvesting provisions. Victoria&#8217;s code excludes harvesting from slopes over 30 degrees outright, with only narrow, tightly managed exceptions. Western Australia&#8217;s jarrah and karri forests bring hard, gravelly ironstone country into the mix, while Queensland&#8217;s native and plantation forests deal with a genuinely tropical wet season and cyclone risk.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h3\tdata-slug=\"the-wet-season-dilemma\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-xl md:text-2xl lg:text-lg leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\tThe Wet-Season Dilemma<\/h3><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tAustralian operators plan around rainfall. Winter and spring rains through Tasmania, Victoria and the southwest of WA regularly saturate ground that&#8217;s rock-hard and fully trafficable in summer. In the tropical north, the December-to-April wet season can shut down extraction in native and plantation forests alike, sometimes for weeks at a stretch.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tState codes reflect this directly: most require harvesting operations to be modified or suspended during and after wet weather to protect soil and water values. That makes flotation, not just grip, a core operational requirement for a large share of the Australian estate not an occasional edge case, as it can be treated in more temperate climates.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<picture\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<img\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/segment-a-forestry-harvester-sweden-0001-1.webp\"\n\t\talt=\"A forestry harvester works in a Swedish forest equipped with pewag forestry tyre chains\"\n\t\tclass=\"object-cover object-center\"\n\t\/>\n<\/picture><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h3\tdata-slug=\"soil-compaction-and-environmental-compliance\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-xl md:text-2xl lg:text-lg leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\tSoil Compaction and Environmental Compliance<\/h3><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tRegulatory scrutiny of soil disturbance in Australian forestry is significant and growing. Victoria&#8217;s Conservation Regulator actively inspects coupes for slope and soil compliance, Tasmania&#8217;s Forest Practices Authority oversees an independently approved planning process, and NSW&#8217;s EPA audits plantation and native forest sites with particular attention to steep, high-rainfall areas.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tResearch on Australian harvesting operations consistently links machine traffic, soil moisture and ground pressure to rutting and compaction \u2014 and tracks are increasingly treated as a compliance tool of first resort in wet-season and streamside-buffer operations, not just a productivity choice.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>Seasonal Strategy: What Australian Operators Choose<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tIn practice, experienced Australian forestry contractors tend to use a tiered approach:<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong>Dry season, firm ground (most regions, roughly autumn\u2013early spring depending on state):<\/strong> Chains &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/pewag-forstgrip-essential-pro-16-mm\/\">forstgrip pro<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/pewag-forstgrip-essential-16-mm\/\">essential<\/a>, for grip on hard, dry, and rocky ground without paying a flotation premium you don&#8217;t need.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong>Wet season and saturated ground (Tasmania, Victoria, WA winter rains; Queensland&#8217;s monsoon window):<\/strong> Tracks &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack\/\">bluetrack <\/a>or <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack\/bluetrack-duo\/\">bluetrack duo<\/a> wave for maximum flotation, minimised rutting, and continued operation when codes of practice restrict wet-weather harvesting.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong>Steep or side-sloped terrain under state slope-limit provisions:<\/strong> Tracks, for the added lateral stability and reduced soil-disturbance profile regulators increasingly expect near water supply protection areas.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong>Rocky or gravelly terrain (WA jarrah\/karri, quarry-adjacent sites):<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-chains\/\">forstgrip chains<\/a> with forged parts, prioritising abrasion resistance over flotation.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tThis flexibility is only possible because modern track and chain systems are designed to be installed and removed in the field without specialist equipment.\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/\">pewag\u00a0bluetrack\u00a0systems<\/a>\u202fare engineered for straightforward fitting, making mid-season transitions practical rather than theoretical.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"machine-size-and-the-weight-factor\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>Machine Size and the Weight Factor<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tThe choice between chains and tracks is also influenced by machine weight and class. Lighter forwarders have different footprint-to-weight ratios than heavy extraction machines, and the\u00a0optimal\u00a0solution differs accordingly.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tFor light to medium machines,\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack-essential\/\">pewag\u2019s\u00a0bluetrack\u00a0essential line<\/a>\u202foffers an accessible entry point with good traction with two stubs per cross member in the offset design and the iconic\u00a0pewag\u00a0starwave\u00ae profile for increased grip and off-road capability at a lower purchase price, with self-cleaning performance from the reduced number of cross beams. The\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack-essential\/\">bluetrack\u00a0essential<\/a>\u202fline is also a lightweight option which offers benefits when machines are transported on road.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0also positioned as an ideal retrofit solution for operators adding ground protection to existing machines.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tFor heavy machines (especially forwarders) in demanding conditions where the machines doing the hard extraction work on steep, soft, or mixed terrain, the\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack\/\">bluetrack+ line<\/a>\u202fis designed for no-compromise performance. Two stubs with offset design per cross member,\u00a0starwave\u00ae profile geometry, high-quality forged connecting elements, and case hardening all contribute to a product designed for machines that cannot afford downtime. Increased comfort due to more cross member and better stability to increased weight and finally an increased lifetime on the\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/forestry-tracks\/bluetrack\/\">bluetrack+<\/a>\u202fwhen you think about the total cost of ownership.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>A Practical Decision Framework for Forestry Traction<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tWhen selecting between chains and tracks for a given operation, five questions guide the decision:\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong>1. What is the dominant soil bearing capacity?<\/strong>\u202fHard, frozen, or rocky ground favours chains. Soft, wet, or organic soils favour tracks.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong>2. What is the slope profile?<\/strong>\u202fSteep cross-slopes increase the value of track stability. Moderate grades on firm surfaces are well-served by chains.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong>3. What season is the operation?<\/strong>\u202fWinter frozen\u00a0or hard\u00a0ground\u00a0operations favour chains. Wet shoulder\u00a0seasons, deep powder\u00a0snow\u00a0and summer extraction in sensitive areas,\u00a0favour tracks.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong>4. What environmental compliance obligations apply?<\/strong>\u202fOperations near watercourses or on sensitive soils may require the reduced rutting profile that tracks provide.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<strong>5. What is the machine class?<\/strong>\u202fMatch the product line to the machine weight and application intensity:\u00a0bluetrack\u00a0essential\u00a0for lighter or retrofit applications,\u00a0bluetrack\u00a0as the golden middle for everything and\u00a0bluetrack+ for heavy professional and demanding work.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"the-cost-equation\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\tThe Cost Equation<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tTracks are marginally more expensive than chains. A complete set of tracks for a forestry machine\u00a0represents\u00a0a higher investment, and this may be a consideration. However, the full cost analysis includes factors on both sides of the ledger.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tTracks extend tyre life by protecting the tyre from ground contact and reducing slippage-driven wear. The optimised fit of\u00a0bluetrack\u00a0duo tracks to tyre contours prevents the machine from sinking unnecessarily, reducing fuel\u00a0consumption\u00a0and improving extraction efficiency. In addition, tracks are gentler to the tyre material compared to chains. Reduced ground disturbance means fewer trail rehabilitation costs and reduced regulatory risk. In conditions where tracks prevent a stuck machine, which can cost hours of downtime and potentially require\u00a0assistance, the productivity case for the higher investment becomes straightforward.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-12\"><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"conclusion-terrain-first-product-second\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\t<strong>Conclusion: Terrain First, Product Second<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tThe most experienced operators in demanding forestry environments understand that ground engagement is not a set-and-forget decision. It is a dynamic choice, made season by season and site by site, based on a clear-eyed reading of the terrain.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\tChains\u00a0remain\u00a0the right answer on hard, frozen, rocky, or icy ground where grip is the limiting factor. Tracks are the right answer on soft, wet, boggy, or sensitive ground where flotation and soil protection are paramount. Many serious operations need both, used at the right time and in the right conditions.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal text-start text-black [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/uk\/products\/forestry-technique\/\">pewag\u2019s\u00a0forest<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/\">r<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/uk\/products\/forestry-technique\/\">y range<\/a>\u202ffrom\u00a0forstgrip\u00a0essential and\u00a0forstgrip\u00a0chains through\u00a0bluetrack\u00a0essential,\u00a0bluetrack\u00a0to the premium\u00a0bluetrack+ line, is built on the premise that\u00a0operators\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0have to choose between performance and durability, or between protection of their machine and protection of the ground. The right setup for your terrain exists. Getting it right is how you stay productive, stay compliant, and stay ahead.\u00a0<br>\u202f\u00a0<br>For product specifications, size matching, and expert guidance on chain and track selection for your machine and terrain,\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/au\/contact-form\/\"><strong>contact\u00a0pewag\u2019s\u00a0team of experts<\/strong><\/a>\u202for\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/shop.pewag.com\/au\/products\/forestry-technique\/\"><strong>explore our range of forestry chains and tracks online<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 mt-0 mb-4 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<div class=\"grid grid-cols-2 max-sm:grid-cols-1 gap-y-4 gap-x-4\" >\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"h-20\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 wrapper-contained mt-0 mb-20 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<h2\tdata-slug=\"discover-more\"\n\tclass=\"font-display text-balance font-synthesis-none scroll-m-20 break-words hyphens-auto text-6xl md:text-7xl leading-tight text-start text-blue-900 [&amp;&gt;a]:text-blue-700\"\n>\n\tDiscover More<\/h2><\/div>\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"scroll-my-24 bg-blue-950 wrapper-contained-wide mt-12 max-sm:mt-8 mb-0 pt-0 pb-0 w-full\"\n\t>\n\t<div>\n\t\n\t\n\t<div\n\t\tid=\"featured-content-es-99\"\n\t\tclass=\"grid gap-6 grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-3 -translate-y-16 md:-translate-y-24\"\n\t\taria-live=\"polite\"\n\t>\n\t\t<a class=\"w-full md:max-w-md overflow-hidden group text-start text-white\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/au\/news\/steel-why-its-one-of-the-worlds-most-reusable-engineering-materials\/\">\n\t<picture\n\t\t\tclass=\"w-full !block bg-gray-100 overflow-hidden\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<img\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/steel-is-one-of-the-worlds-most-recyclable-materials-1024x683.webp\"\n\t\talt=\"Steel is one of the worlds most recyclable materials\"\n\t\tclass=\"object-cover object-center w-full aspect-3\/2 group-hover:scale-110 transition-transform duration-300\"\n\t\/>\n<\/picture>\n\t<div class=\"py-4 pr-2\">\n\t\t<button\tclass=\"font-sans transition duration-300 flex w-fit items-center focus-visible:ring focus:outline-none text-lg disabled:cursor-default [&amp;&gt;svg]:flex-none max-w-full leading-tight cursor-pointer [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-6 gap-3 text-left button mt-2 !text-bold !font-display [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-5\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"min-w-0 break-words hyphens-auto\">Steel: Why It&#8217;s One of the World&#8217;s Most Reusable Engineering Materials<\/span>\n\t\n\t<svg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' width='24' height='24' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none'><circle cx='12' cy='12' r='12' fill='#E20031'\/><path fill-rule='evenodd' clip-rule='evenodd' d='m13.757 6.697 4.773 4.773a.75.75 0 0 1 0 1.06l-4.773 4.774a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06-1.061l3.492-3.493H5.25v-1.5h10.94l-3.493-3.492a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06-1.061Z' fill='#fff'\/><\/svg><\/button><p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal mt-2\">\n\tSteel&#8217;s strength and durability are well known, but you may be surprised at just how sustainable it is.<\/p>\t<\/div>\n<\/a><a class=\"w-full md:max-w-md overflow-hidden group text-start text-white\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/au\/news\/the-real-cost-of-an-earthmover-tyre-blowout-and-how-tyre-protection-chains-change-the-maths\/\">\n\t<picture\n\t\t\tclass=\"w-full !block bg-gray-100 overflow-hidden\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<img\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/tire-blowouts-on-eathmovers-can-be-expensive-1024x768.webp\"\n\t\talt=\"An earth mover loads a dumper truck with quarry material\"\n\t\tclass=\"object-cover object-center w-full aspect-3\/2 group-hover:scale-110 transition-transform duration-300\"\n\t\/>\n<\/picture>\n\t<div class=\"py-4 pr-2\">\n\t\t<button\tclass=\"font-sans transition duration-300 flex w-fit items-center focus-visible:ring focus:outline-none text-lg disabled:cursor-default [&amp;&gt;svg]:flex-none max-w-full leading-tight cursor-pointer [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-6 gap-3 text-left button mt-2 !text-bold !font-display [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-5\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"min-w-0 break-words hyphens-auto\">The Real Cost of an Earthmover Tyre Blowout and How Tyre Protection Chains Change The Maths<\/span>\n\t\n\t<svg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' width='24' height='24' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none'><circle cx='12' cy='12' r='12' fill='#E20031'\/><path fill-rule='evenodd' clip-rule='evenodd' d='m13.757 6.697 4.773 4.773a.75.75 0 0 1 0 1.06l-4.773 4.774a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06-1.061l3.492-3.493H5.25v-1.5h10.94l-3.493-3.492a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06-1.061Z' fill='#fff'\/><\/svg><\/button><p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal mt-2\">\n\tA single earthmover tyre blowout costs far more than a replacement tyre. Discover the hidden costs.<\/p>\t<\/div>\n<\/a><a class=\"w-full md:max-w-md overflow-hidden group text-start text-white\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/au\/news\/shaping-a-future-of-responsibility\/\">\n\t<picture\n\t\t\tclass=\"w-full !block bg-gray-100 overflow-hidden\"\n\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<img\n\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.pewag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Hydropower-Plant_pewag-Brueckl-1024x671.jpg\"\n\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\tclass=\"object-cover object-center w-full aspect-3\/2 group-hover:scale-110 transition-transform duration-300\"\n\t\/>\n<\/picture>\n\t<div class=\"py-4 pr-2\">\n\t\t<button\tclass=\"font-sans transition duration-300 flex w-fit items-center focus-visible:ring focus:outline-none text-lg disabled:cursor-default [&amp;&gt;svg]:flex-none max-w-full leading-tight cursor-pointer [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-6 gap-3 text-left button mt-2 !text-bold !font-display [&amp;&gt;svg]:size-5\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"min-w-0 break-words hyphens-auto\">Shaping a Future of Responsibility<\/span>\n\t\n\t<svg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' width='24' height='24' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='none'><circle cx='12' cy='12' r='12' fill='#E20031'\/><path fill-rule='evenodd' clip-rule='evenodd' d='m13.757 6.697 4.773 4.773a.75.75 0 0 1 0 1.06l-4.773 4.774a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06-1.061l3.492-3.493H5.25v-1.5h10.94l-3.493-3.492a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06-1.061Z' fill='#fff'\/><\/svg><\/button><p class=\"font-sans [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-synthesis-none break-words hyphens-auto text-base leading-normal mt-2\">\n\tAt pewag group, sustainability is more than just an ambition \u2013 it\u2019s our responsibility. Our clear goal: CO\u2082-neutral production by 2030.<\/p>\t<\/div>\n<\/a>\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\n\t<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article examines the key factors that drive the choice between chains and tracks for forestry vehicles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":27751,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pewag_navigation_theme_dark_use":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[456],"tags":[],"content-types":[],"class_list":["post-27944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-forestry-solutions"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Chains vs. Tracks for Forestry Machinery | pewag AU<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wrong setup is lost time and damaged ground. pewag&#039;s guide helps you match 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