Tire Chains

kdrchuck · November 3, 2010

I drive my truck everyday, I like good gas mileage and a smooth, quiet ride. I also have to be capable in any weather including crazy ice and snow storms. I think a good ecnomical and efficient way to be prepared for anything is to run good AT tires and I always carry a set of tire chains. In the winter and anytime off pavement I also pack a come-along, tow strap and toolkit (includes plugs and air compressor). I am not afraid of any weather conditions here in WV. I feel well prepared for the freak storms and I can run the tires year round and be comfortable.

Just my 2 cents and what I do.

They also look pretty B.A.

khancock · November 5, 2010

I drive my truck everyday, I like good gas mileage and a smooth, quiet ride. I also have to be capable in any weather including crazy ice and snow storms. I think a good ecnomical and efficient way to be prepared for anything is to run good AT tires and I always carry a set of tire chains. In the winter and anytime off pavement I also pack a come-along, tow strap and toolkit (includes plugs and air compressor). I am not afraid of any weather conditions here in WV. I feel well prepared for the freak storms and I can run the tires year round and be comfortable.

Just my 2 cents and what I do.

They also look pretty B.A.

Good to see someone else prepared. I don't carry chains but I carry and use every year tow straps etc... I've been thinking about getting a set of chains; getting into the snowmobile camp gets kind of hairy at times. Any advice?

kdrchuck · November 5, 2010

I drive my truck everyday, I like good gas mileage and a smooth, quiet ride. I also have to be capable in any weather including crazy ice and snow storms. I think a good ecnomical and efficient way to be prepared for anything is to run good AT tires and I always carry a set of tire chains. In the winter and anytime off pavement I also pack a come-along, tow strap and toolkit (includes plugs and air compressor). I am not afraid of any weather conditions here in WV. I feel well prepared for the freak storms and I can run the tires year round and be comfortable.

Just my 2 cents and what I do.

They also look pretty B.A.

Good to see someone else prepared. I don't carry chains but I carry and use every year tow straps etc... I've been thinking about getting a set of chains; getting into the snowmobile camp gets kind of hairy at times. Any advice?

Get good Heavy ones. I don't have any recommendations cuz i've had mine 10 years and they came from the sawmill i worked at.

Put the opening in the links out.

Keep some good tarp straps on hand to cinch up slack over the sidewalls.

One twist can makes you think they are 10 inches too short.

They will tear your tires up if you run them on hard surfaces too long.

THEY ARE ALWAYS EASIER TO PUT ON BEFORE YOU NEED THEM. Like in the middle of a flat piece of road, instead of burried in a drift with one wheel wedged against a tree and another in the air(that one was pretty easy to get on, but didn't help much).

KMGZ400 · November 5, 2010

i dont know, i have lived in a heavy snow/ice area for years and have never seen anyone use chains on a 4X4. i have not a had a problem plowing through nearly a foot and a half of snow in my trucks with normal AT tires every single year so IMO i dont see a point in chains

now the tow strap is a very useful and safe idea. another saftey idea is to have a CB radio, i have trouble get cell service in my area.

shovel and a broom when you know theres gonna be a lot of snow is not abad idea either.

kdrchuck · November 5, 2010

Thinking about it now, for normal everyday driving I have probably only used them them twice in 10 years. I use them at least once maybe a couple times a year during bear season. I know i am never stuck with them. At $40, and an investment that gets your loved on to the hospital in a god-awful storm. Mine will be in the truck.

I live down a steep hill that is not kept through the winter. We had a bad storm last year and when i got up no one had even tried to go out. So, playing mostly, I broke the path. 8 inches of heavy snow on top of old packed tracks. It took me 30 min of digging and pawing to get up out of the steep part, and i threatened a couple mail boxes. If I HAD to go somewhere, I could have chained up in my driveway and driven out like it was July.

I

Used them last year hung up in the mud on a logging road. I was stuck. My brother and I were deer hunting, had no cell service and no family within HAM radio range. we were behind locked gates also so we would have had to walk a key out a couple miles to let someone in. Chained up and drove out.

I used them once in college for a beer. Had one of the best door parties I remember.

Melting packed ice and snow covered roads are deadly slick. It is not uncommon for us to have storms that shut down major pieces of interstate here. I'm ussually the guy pulling the troopers out of the ditch then.

I don't think you would need them if it was flat everywhere.

November 5, 2010

... gets your loved on[e] to the hospital in a god-awful storm ...

This is the one reason I plan on having them. Milk and TP can wait, medical emergencies are slightly more time sensitive.

KMGZ400 · November 5, 2010

Thinking about it now, for normal everyday driving I have probably only used them them twice in 10 years. I use them at least once maybe a couple times a year during bear season. I know i am never stuck with them. At $40, and an investment that gets your loved on to the hospital in a god-awful storm. Mine will be in the truck.

I live down a steep hill that is not kept through the winter. We had a bad storm last year and when i got up no one had even tried to go out. So, playing mostly, I broke the path. 8 inches of heavy snow on top of old packed tracks. It took me 30 min of digging and pawing to get up out of the steep part, and i threatened a couple mail boxes. If I HAD to go somewhere, I could have chained up in my driveway and driven out like it was July.

I

Used them last year hung up in the mud on a logging road. I was stuck. My brother and I were deer hunting, had no cell service and no family within HAM radio range. we were behind locked gates also so we would have had to walk a key out a couple miles to let someone in. Chained up and drove out.

I used them once in college for a beer. Had one of the best door parties I remember.

Melting packed ice and snow covered roads are deadly slick. It is not uncommon for us to have storms that shut down major pieces of interstate here. I'm ussually the guy pulling the troopers out of the ditch then.

I don't think you would need them if it was flat everywhere.

yeah those are all very legit reasons. hmm my driveway is a very very steep dirt road about quarter mile long and when its icy i cant get up it. i think i have some old chains in the shed i might play around with this winter.

leverlution · November 5, 2010

I'm thinking about it as well. My 4x4 has those crappy Wrangler ST's on it, and they are calling for another couple big storms in central MD this year. My father has 4 kinds of cancer (again) and is in a clinical trial at John's Hopkins Hospital 45min away from the house. I can't afford a new set of tires before winter, especially since everyone I call wants $800 or more for 4. I can have them put on for free through my wife, but they are still $700+ shipped, and there is no way to finance that way like if you were to go to sears/mr.tire/goodyear etc.

I have been thinking about a set of chains just in case, but really don't know anything about em. A buddy had some for a ranger, but he had one snap and tear up his bed side a while back. That really kind of turned me off of them. What should I looked for when ordering? Are they sold in sizes? Any tips dos/donts for driving with them? Will they not work well with these crappy LT tires?

kawtoy_77 · November 5, 2010

We don't get enough snow in IL to even really warrant a 4wd vehicle. I run aggressive all terrain tires year round on my 2wd, and in winter I have about 700lbs of sand tubes blocked in between the wheel wells. I don't have any problems.

It would be nice to see some snow like you guys are talking about this year, but it is highly unlikely.

kdrchuck · November 5, 2010

I'm thinking about it as well. My 4x4 has those crappy Wrangler ST's on it, and they are calling for another couple big storms in central MD this year. My father has 4 kinds of cancer (again) and is in a clinical trial at John's Hopkins Hospital 45min away from the house. I can't afford a new set of tires before winter, especially since everyone I call wants $800 or more for 4. I can have them put on for free through my wife, but they are still $700+ shipped, and there is no way to finance that way like if you were to go to sears/mr.tire/goodyear etc.

I have been thinking about a set of chains just in case, but really don't know anything about em. A buddy had some for a ranger, but he had one snap and tear up his bed side a while back. That really kind of turned me off of them. What should I looked for when ordering? Are they sold in sizes? Any tips dos/donts for driving with them? Will they not work well with these crappy LT tires?

They should work on your tires and they do come in sizes. I think I would go with either medium or heavy duty twist link chains in a parallel pattern. Thats what has worked for me and my family. I would stay way away from anything with cables and i think the V-bars are for the guys on the discovery channel.

I put mine on the front wheels with a tarp strap pulling up any slack. THen you can steer, and there is more wheight on them. They are for lower speeds and I try not to spin them. You have to check them often cuz if they slip off they can really tear stuff up.

I'm sure there are some other people on here with more experience than me. I would like to hear what recommendations and experiences.