Because they are made of super-tough rubber and supported by steel belts, and because they are capable of manhandling turf and bearing immense weight up steep slopes, rubber tracks seem unstoppable, tank-like. Yes, they can plow through or run over almost any kind of material, but at some point you will need to repair or replace your tracks and/or the components that drive them.

The question is when.

"Track life comes down to customer expectations," says Corey Smith of the Ditch Witch organization. "If a customer wants his tracks to last longer, he'll do the things necessary to make that happen. We've seen tracks that last 200 hours or as many as 1,000 hours [of operating time]. A machine primarily used for landscape, working on soft dirt, is going to see higher-end track life. A machine doing construction work, running over gravel and bricks and rocks, is not."

Smith says there are four main things that affect track life:

   1. What you're doing. Work that requires the least amount of machine horsepower, e.g., low-impact applications such as materials handling and landscape work, creates minimal stress on tracks and other undercarriage components (lugs, sprockets, roller wheels, etc.). But heavy excavating, trenching, and other high-horsepower applications cause more stress to undercarriage components and can accelerate wear.
   2. Where you're working. Rubber tracks are best suited for soil-based jobsites with minimal rock and debris. Sharp objects such as gravel, steel shards, and broken concrete—found on demolition sites or in quarries—will damage rubber tracks and undercarriage components. Excessive operation on concrete or asphalt also will shorten track life. The type of terrain also affects undercarriage components. Flat, level surfaces cause the least stress. Consistently working on sloped terrain will accelerate wear on undercarriage components.
   3. How you're driving. Slow and steady wins the race, and also extends the life of your tracks. Fast, aggressive operation might get the job done faster, but it also creates undue stress on the drive train and tracks. Gradual turns are recommended. Also avoid spinning the tracks when carrying a heavy load, counter-rotating on concrete or gravel, and driving on slopes and over curbs, ledges, and sharp objects.
   4. When you're servicing. To maximize track life, it is imperative to keep up with undercarriage and track maintenance. Power-wash your tracks and undercarriage daily to remove foreign objects and abrasive soil from sprockets and idler rollers—more often when working in particularly muddy or hazardous conditions. Track tension should also be checked daily. When tracks are too loose or too tight, this can accelerate wear of the machine's tracks, roller wheels, and other undercarriage components. When storing your machine, keep tracks away from rain and direct sunlight.

These are just a handful of the many things you can do to extend the life of your rubber tracks. The best tip is to read and abide by every word of your machine's operator's manual. Your rubber tracks will serve you well—if you treat them with respect.