Tirechains.com - Anyone else have such a bad experience with customer service?

[GPintheMitten]

I just did a quick search and found this company that makes chains in Maine, USA.

Canadian Chains [Home]

 

[SARG]

Just further information for the benefit of all here.

I bought a set of 25x12x12 ...2 link chains from this place on Ebay for $25. and I see they have more sizes left.

ICC SNOW HOG SNOWBLOWER & LAWN & GARDEN TIRE CHAINS - eBay (item 280377053670 end time Dec-22-09 09:26:47 PST)

New in the box ..... You'll never beat this price on the larger chains. I haven't even put them on yet cause I may not need them .... but at the price I grabbed them just in case.

 

[Loren49]

Received my 11.2 x 24 double ring chains and tensioner from tirechains.com and installed them today. I purchased their tool for installing tensioner but shouldn't have - it didn't have enough range to do the job. I used a piece of line and a 2 to 1 wrapping and it worked well. My springs look larger to me than the ones in your photo - but not sure. I stretched them quite a ways and they all worked fine.
I never used a tensioner on my farm tractors years ago, but the clearance between my tires and fender on the new tractor seems too small to avoid contact.

Good luck,
Loren

 

[PBinWA]

Up until about a year or two ago, tirechains.com was the only place that had a decent website, inventory, and ordering system. I've bought four sets of chains from them that have all performed well. Of course, I haven't had to test their customer support.

I've always used black rubber bungies for tensioning. Something about springs that make me skeptical of their durability.

 

[schmism]

sounds to me like you got a bad batch of springs.

still doesn't excuse tirechains.com from replacing the bad ones (which they probably already know about)

but then again, if your happy with the chains and liked the price, perhaps sourcing aftermarket "good" springs is what its going to take to make them work for ya. (at least less headache then dealing with poor customer service)

 

[jobguy]

I just went to the site on eBay will the (33 X 12.5 X 15) work on my 33x12.5-16.5 tires? I left a message but may have to wait a couple of work days for a reply.
Also I want to pay by credit card over the phone so asked if that was possible.
If I can actually speak with someone I will buy a set right now.

 

[RickB]

I just went to the site on eBay will the (33 X 12.5 X 15) work on my 33x12.5-16.5 tires? I left a message but may have to wait a couple of work days for a reply.
Also I want to pay by credit card over the phone so asked if that was possible.
If I can actually speak with someone I will buy a set right now.

Those chains will probably come up short, unless they run longer than they have to be to fit the 15's.

 

[gerard]

I bought rear duo grips from them and use bungies. (11.2 24 R1 tires) About two years ago I bought a front set and they came with springs. The springs were VERY tight to put on but I didn't have any fail. Like you, I used baling twine to pull them over the link. One thing I can say is if you put more chain on the inside of the tire, you conversely get less chain on the outside, where the springs attaach. This also may cause a larger radius than those springs were designed to be stretched. You CAN overstretch a spring to the point of losing the coil and you can do that with any coil spring, regardless of quality.

 

[ChuckinNH]

I just received my v-bar duo grip chains from tirechains.com the other day. They seemed to be a bit long, so I emailed them, and received a very prompt reply. I wasn't crazy about having to shorten them (move a couple of cross links up the chains a bit, but it worked out OK. I did find that a round tapered "alignment punch" worked much better than the cold chisel they recommend, and you are a better man than I if you can reclose that 3/8" chain with a pair of pliers. ( I used a 2lb hammer) They are on, and tight now. I haven't installed the tension springs that I ordered because all the chains on them need to be shortened too. I doubt that any tires my size 12 X 16.5 are big enough to require the extra foot, and a half of chain I have. By the way, I sure found these chains to be very rough riding on any kind of pavement, but they sure work well in the field. If I were doing it again, I probably would just buy the 2 link v-bar chains.

 

[RickB]

One thing to bear in mind is that off-road tires of differing brands and like tread styles can and do vary in overall circumference, sometimes by quite a bit. There will be instances when new chains from any source need some modification to fit properly. The worst thing a supplier can do is ship a set of chains too short to fit at all. Anyone fitting chains to partially worn tires should plan for the eventual replacement of those tires and not cut the side links too short.