A rubber track size looks like 300 x 52.5 x 80. Width, pitch, links. The middle number is the one most often misread, and it decides whether a track runs quietly for its full life or fights the sprocket from the day it is fitted.
Pitch is the centre-to-centre distance between the metal links inside the track. Short pitch tracks engage every sprocket tooth and run smoother with less undercarriage wear. Long pitch tracks engage every other tooth and carry roughly half the links. Whichever your machine was built for is the one to fit.
What pitch is, and where to measure it
Pitch is measured centre to centre between two adjacent metal links on the inside of the track, in millimetres. It is not the gap between the links. Measure the open space instead and you will get a number that is too small, and it will not match any track we stock.
One distinction worth knowing. The spacing of the internal lugs that engage the sprocket is what the size code refers to. The spacing of the tread pattern on the outside of the track is a different measurement. If you measure the outside of the track, you are measuring the wrong thing.
Long pitch and short pitch
These are descriptive trade terms rather than formal standards, and the distinction is about how the track engages the sprocket.
- Short pitch tracks engage every sprocket tooth.
- Long pitch tracks engage every other sprocket tooth, and carry roughly half the number of metal links for the same overall track length.
There is no fixed millimetre threshold separating the two. Anyone quoting one is inventing it. The difference is relative, not absolute, and it shows up in the link count as much as the pitch figure.
It changes ride quality and undercarriage wear. The fewer links engaged with the sprocket at any moment, the more the drive fluctuates and the more vibration reaches the machine and the operator. Short pitch spreads the load across more engagement points, which is why it generally runs smoother and wears the undercarriage less.
It does not change traction or ground pressure. Those are governed by tread pattern, track width and machine weight. Anyone who tells you a longer pitch grips better is guessing.
Same width, different pitch
Width alone never identifies a track. Our own TerraTrack Plus range makes the point:
| Size | Pitch |
|---|---|
| 300 x 52.5N and 300 x 52.5W | 52.5mm |
| 300 x 53K | 53mm |
| 450 x 71 | 71mm |
| 450 x 76 | 76mm |
| 450 x 81N and 450 x 81W | 81mm |
| 450 x 81.5 | 81.5mm |
| 450 x 83.5K and 450 x 83.5Y | 83.5mm |
Note the letter suffixes. They distinguish tracks that share a width and a pitch but differ in guide or link construction, so quoting the full code including the suffix is the fastest route to the right track.
Why the pitch has to match your sprocket
A sprocket has three dimensions that cannot be compromised: the inner diameter, which must match the final drive; the number of teeth, which cannot be changed; and the pitch, which must match the track. Fit a track whose pitch does not match and the lugs load the teeth incorrectly on every revolution. On site that shows up as the track skipping or jumping on the sprocket, premature track failure and extra stress through the rest of the undercarriage.
A sprocket cannot be measured against its own original toothing, because the profile itself is what has worn. The only reliable comparison is against an unused sprocket of the same type.
This matters when fitting tracks. Sharp or worn sprockets can cause the link to slip or jump through the teeth, and that shock loading can damage the final drive motor. A correctly specified new track on a worn sprocket will not give you the life you paid for.
Confirming the size on your machine
- Read the size moulded into the inside face of the track.
- If it is not legible, measure centre to centre between two adjacent metal links.
- Count the links all the way around.
- Check the arithmetic: pitch multiplied by links gives the inner circumference of the track.
- Measure the width across the outside of the track.
We write sizes as width x pitch x links, so 300 x 52.5 x 80 is a 300mm wide track with a 52.5mm pitch and 80 links. Because pitch and link count are inversely coupled for a given length, a long pitch track carries roughly half the links of a short pitch track of similar size. That is a useful sanity check on a count.
The Astrak rubber track range
TerraTrack
Quality rubber tracks produced from moulds using the latest robotic technology, manufactured by an OEM supplier. View TerraTrack.
TerraTrack Plus
Toughened steel links joined by continuously wound anti-rust high tensile steel cords, encased in an advanced abrasion-resistant rubber carcass, with anti-detracking technology. View TerraTrack Plus.
Non-marking tracks
A wide selection for specialist applications where the surface must not be marked. View all rubber tracks.
Widths from 180mm to 800mm, all supplied with a full 24-month warranty.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pitch of a rubber track?
Pitch is the distance from the centre of one metal link to the centre of the next, measured in millimetres on the inside of the track. It is the middle number in a size such as 300 x 52.5 x 80. It is a centre-to-centre measurement, not the gap between the links.
What is the difference between long pitch and short pitch rubber tracks?
A short pitch track engages every sprocket tooth. A long pitch track engages every other tooth and carries roughly half the number of metal links for the same overall length. Fewer links engaged means more vibration and more wear through the undercarriage, so short pitch generally runs smoother. These are trade terms rather than formal standards.
How do I measure the pitch on my rubber track?
Read the size moulded into the inside face first. If it is not legible, measure centre to centre between two adjacent metal links in millimetres, then count the links all the way around. Pitch multiplied by links gives the inner circumference, which is a useful check on your count.
What happens if I fit a rubber track with the wrong pitch?
The track will not sit correctly on the sprocket. Sprocket pitch must match track pitch, and a mismatch loads the guide lugs incorrectly on every revolution. In practice you see the track skipping or jumping on the sprocket, premature track failure and extra stress through the rest of the undercarriage.
Can two rubber tracks of the same width have different pitches?
Yes, and it is common. Our TerraTrack Plus range alone lists 300mm tracks at 52.5mm and 53mm pitch, and 450mm tracks at 71, 76, 81, 81.5 and 83.5mm pitch. Width alone never identifies a track, which is why we ask for width, pitch and link count together.
Not sure which pitch you need?
Send us the machine make and model, or the size moulded into your existing track, and we will confirm width, pitch and link count before you order.
Need help finding the right part?
Our team is here to help with expert advice and support for your order.