But here’s the good news: there is a way to stop power hop. At NTS Tire Supply, it’s one of the common issues we help farmers fix. In this article, we discuss a procedure that you can use to eliminate power hop on your 4WD or MFWD tractor(s). And we’ve also included some tire buying tips that can help prevent power hop from making an appearance in the first place.

Avoid this Quick “Fix” Because it Doesn’t Fix Anything

The typical quick “fix” for power hop involves two steps:

1. Drop down a gear.
2. Lift your implement out of the ground a little bit so it pulls easier. 

Simple fix, right? Wrong. It’s not a “fix” at all. No one wants to work slower or perform poor-quality fieldwork. Your time is valuable and so is healthy soil. Problem is, power hop usually crops up during the busiest times of the year, so it’s tempting to rely on this quick fix and “deal with it later.” However, if you follow the two steps above, you’ll only increase your operating expenses and decrease your efficiency.  

To fix power hop the right way can be time consuming. We get it. But because it is potentially dangerous and bad for your bottom line, you want to take the time to address it correctly. 

We’ve heard from growers who were to the point of selling a tractor because of power hop. Even if your tractor suffers from severe power hop, you can fix it by following the steps we’ve outlined below.

The Real Formula to Fix Power Hop: Weight + Balance + Pressure

The correct fix for power hop involves three factors you can control: tractor weight, weight distribution (or balance), and tire pressure. Why does your tractor hop in the first place? The pitching motion develops as the sidewalls of your tires flex and recoil as they gain and lose traction under load. Power hop occurs most often in dry soil conditions or when working in loose, dry soil with a hardpack underneath. Pulling up hills and working at or near your tractor’s pulling capacity will also make power hop more likely.  

How to Fix Power Hop on 4WD Tractors

At NTS Tire Supply, we advise customers to use the following procedure to fix power hop on 4WD tractors. If you need to solve power hop on a MFWD tractor, skip down to the next section. 

1. Find Your Correct Tractor Weight

Ballast your 4WD tractor so that it weighs between 95 and 110 pounds per engine horsepower. For example, a 620-hp tractor should weigh between 59,000 and 62,000 pounds.

2. Distribute the Weight Correctly

‍Next, make sure the weight is distributed between 51–55% across the front axle and 45–49% across the tractor’s rear axle. You may need to add or remove suitcase or wheel weights if your tractor wasn’t set up this way from the factory. If you can’t add iron weights to your tractor’s rear to achieve the optimal weight distribution, you can add liquid ballast to your rear tires and fill all to a maximum of 38%, or with the valve stem at the 4 or 8 o’clock positions. 

3. Inflate Your Tires to the Correct Pressures

‍Inflate your front and rear tires to the minimum pressure required for your load and pulling conditions. Some tire manufacturers have online inflation calculators you can use to calculate your ideal tire pressures. If you’re unsure of the correct pressures for your situation, give NTS Tire Supply a call and we’ll help you optimize your tire pressures.

After you’ve properly inflated your tires and checked your tractor’s weight and balance, test the tractor in the field for power hop. If these steps have fixed the problem, you’re good to go.

If You Still Have Power Hop After These 3 Steps, Proceed to Step 4: 

4. Add Air to Your Rear Tires

‍If you’ve used the procedure above and are still experiencing power hop, you’ll need to add air to your rear tires. When we send a service truck to help a farmer correct power hop, we add air in increments of 2 PSI and then retest. However, this may be impractical for you if you’re having to chase between your yard and the field to retest the tractor. So add air in increments of 6 PSI to save time. If the increase in air pressure in the rear tires hasn’t fixed your power hop problem, you can add an additional 6 PSI and retest. If necessary, you can continue increasing the pressure in 6-pound increments until you reach the maximum PSI listed on the tire’s sidewall.

If you’ve gone through these steps and are still experiencing issues, call NTS Tire Supply for further assistance.

How to Fix Power Hop on MFWD Tractors

1. Find Your Correct Tractor Weight‍

Ballast your tractor so that it weighs between 130 and 140 pounds per PTO horsepower. For example, a MFWD tractor rated at 310 PTO HP should weigh between 40,300 and 43,400 pounds.

2. Distribute the Weight Correctly

‍Next, make sure the weight is distributed between 30–35% across the front axle and 65–70% across the tractor’s rear axle. You may need to add or remove suitcase or wheel weights.

3. Inflate Your Tires to the Correct Pressures

‍You want to inflate your front and rear tires to the minimum pressure needed for your load and pulling conditions. Some tire manufacturers have online inflation calculators you can use to calculate your ideal tire pressures. If you’re unsure of the correct pressures for your situation, give NTS Tire Supply a call and we’ll help you optimize your tire pressures.

After you’ve properly inflated your tires and checked your tractor’s weight and balance, test the tractor in the field for power hop. If these steps have fixed the problem, you’re good to go. 

If These 3 Steps Haven't Solved Power Hop, Proceed to Step 4:

4. Add Air to Your Rear Tires

‍When we send a service truck to help a farmer correct power hop, we add air in increments of two PSI and then retest. However, this may be impractical for you if you don’t have an air compressor in the field. So you can add air in increments of 6 PSI to save some time. If the increase in air pressure in the rear tires hasn’t fixed your power hop problem, you can add an additional 6 PSI and retest. If necessary, you can continue increasing the pressure in 6-pound increments until you reach the maximum PSI listed on the tire’s sidewall.

2 More Steps for Stubborn MFWD Power Hop 

If power hop is still rearing its ugly head, there are two more strategies you can experiment with:

5. Remove your tractor’s front ballast weights and retest.

‍If power hop still persists, proceed to step 6:

‍6. Add liquid ballast (75% fill with valve stem in 12 o’clock position) to all front tires.

‍This will stiffen the tires and help absorb some of the pitching motion while putting your power to the ground. Liquid ballast should always be a last resort because it will affect how your tires flex, which will change your tire’s footprint and lead to irregular wear.

Stop Power Hop Before it Starts with the Right Tires

Whether you operate 4WD or MFWD tractors or both, choosing the right tires for your machine and its main job can help you stop power hop before it starts. 

1. The “right” tires are unique to your operation.

‍We’ve said it again and again, but choosing the best tires for your machine and the job(s) they perform is one key to increasing your productivity. Avoid tires that are too small or too big. (Yes, tires can be too big, too.) You need to find a balance between weight and tire size to create a long footprint. (Longer is better than wider.) You should equip your tractor with tires that maximize your footprint while exerting enough downward force on the soil to get the most traction possible. Tires that are too small will increase compaction and have less traction due to their smaller footprint. 

Want to buy the best tires for your unique needs? Talk to one of our tire experts at NTS Tire Supply. We’ve helped over 7,000 farmers solve their traction issues. 

2. Consider Switching to Low Sidewall (LSW) Tires

‍If your tractor suffers from severe power hop and attempts to fix it have been unsuccessful, you may need to consider a switch to low sidewall (LSW) tires. These tires have shorter, stiffer sidewalls, which give you a more stable rolling circumference. However, even with LSWs, you may still need to employ some of the strategies we’ve outlined in this video to control power hop. LSWs are never a replacement for correct weight distribution and air pressure.

Fix Power Hop and Drive Your Farm Forward

We know that power hop can be a time-consuming problem to fix. However, it’s better to invest the time to fix power hop the correct way. Otherwise, you’ll waste time and fuel indefinitely as it slows you down each day. 

If you’ve tried our process to fix power hop and are still having trouble—or if you simply want help choosing the best replacement tires for a tractor or implement—talk with one of the traction experts at NTS Tire Supply. We also offer on-site farm tire service for a wide range of performance issues, including power hop. NTS Tire Supply will provide you with the right tires and wheels to drive your farm forward.