Editing Continuous track (section)

{{short description|System of vehicle propulsion}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2023}}
[[File:Caterpillar track shingle.JPG|300px|thumb|Continuous tracks on a [[bulldozer]]]]
[[File:Dumptruck - Kanagawa - 2024 Jan 26.webm|thumb|A [[dump truck]] with continuous track wheels crosses a river and dumps its load in [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]], [[Japan]].]]
[[File:John Deere tracked tractor-2.jpg|thumb|right|An [[agricultural]] [[tractor]] with rubber tracks, mitigating [[Soil compaction (agriculture)|soil compaction]]]]
[[File:ГТ-СМ at Vankorskoe oilfield.jpg|thumb|A Russian tracked vehicle designed to operate on snow and [[swamps]]]]
[[File:Challenger 1 suspension.jpg|thumb|A [[British Army]] [[Challenger 1 tank]]]]

'''Continuous track''' or '''tracked treads''' are a system of [[vehicle propulsion]] used in '''tracked vehicles''', running on a continuous band of treads or track plates driven by two or more wheels. The&nbsp;large surface area of the tracks distributes the weight of the vehicle better than steel or rubber tyres on an equivalent vehicle, enabling continuous tracked vehicles to traverse soft ground with less likelihood of becoming stuck due to sinking.

Modern continuous tracks can be made with soft [[Belt (mechanical)|belts]] of [[synthetic rubber]], reinforced with steel wires, in the case of lighter [[agricultural machinery]]. The&nbsp;more common classical type is a solid '''chain track''' made of steel plates (with or without rubber pads), also called '''caterpillar tread''' or '''tank tread''',<ref name="stith" /> which is preferred for robust and heavy [[Heavy equipment|construction vehicles]] and [[military vehicle]]s.

The prominent treads of the metal plates are both hard-wearing and damage resistant, especially in comparison to rubber tyres. The aggressive treads of the tracks provide good traction in soft surfaces but can damage paved surfaces, so some metal tracks can have rubber pads installed for use on paved surfaces. Other&nbsp;than soft rubber belts, most chain tracks apply a stiff mechanism to distribute the load equally over the entire space between the [[wheel]]s for minimal deformation, so that even the heaviest vehicles can move easily, just like a train on its straight tracks.

The&nbsp;stiff mechanism was first given a physical form by [[Hornsby & Sons]] in 1904 and then made popular by [[Caterpillar Tractor Company]], with [[tank]]s emerging during [[World War I]]. Today, they are commonly used on a variety of vehicles, including [[snowmobile]]s, [[tractor]]s, [[bulldozer]]s, [[excavator]]s and [[tank]]s.
The idea of continuous tracks can be traced back as far as the 1830s, however.