Q&A · 32:59-33:49

Why heavy armoured vehicles still use tracks

Tracks spread the weight of heavy vehicles over soft ground, while wheels offer lower costs and easier maintenance.

Question

Why do very heavy armoured vehicles still use tracks rather than wheels?

Short answer

Tracks spread weight and reduce ground pressure on soft terrain, while wheels are generally cheaper and easier to maintain.

Notes

Tracks spread a heavy vehicle's weight across a long contact area instead of concentrating it through a few wheels. That lower ground pressure helps a 60- or 70-tonne vehicle cross soft terrain without sinking as readily. Large modern tyres have made wheeled armoured personnel carriers heavier and more capable, but equivalent tracked designs can still exploit the same technical progress. The choice is a trade between tracked cross-country mobility and the lower cost and maintenance burden of wheels.