• Burger, J.A.
  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
  
• Wimme, K.J.
  Stone Container Corp. Orangeburg, SC
  
• Stuart, W.B.
  School of Forestry and Wildlife Resources, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
  
• Wallbridge Jr., T.A.
  School of Forestry and Wildlife Resources, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
  

To further the understanding of logging site disturbance, a study was conducted to assess skidder performance as a function of soil moisture content, tire size, and number of passes in the same track. Tire size and pass number had little effect on skidder speed and wheel slip at a soil moisture content of 18%. Under wet conditions, at 30% moisture, performance was unchanged during the first pass, but decreased precipitously with successive passes with both tire sizes. Site disturbance and rutting was less with the wide tires, but overall skidding performance did not improve significantly.