Snow Equipment Owning/Operating new tires or chains?

[Pks]

How does everyone feel about chain tensioners?

 

[RoyJackson]

How does everyone feel about chain tensioners?

I use 'em...you can get chains as tight as possible, but they will slop around during usage (centrifugal force).Tensioners, be they commercially available ones, or just a number of bungee cords, keep the chains nice and tight against the tire.

There are a couple of TBNers who swear up and down that properly fitted chains don't need tensioners. Maybe so...if one keeps them fitted as a tire wears.

 

[leonz]

How does everyone feel about chain tensioners?

I will not operate without them, you can tighten
the chains right up and have zero issues all
winter long.


___________________________________________________________________
once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:

 

[Pks]

The way I did it was to deflate my tires, put the chains on, tighten them as best I could and then reinflate the tires. That brought the chains REAL tight.

 

[tcreeley]

On my scrapped together chains I never used tensioners- just never seemed to be in the right place at the right time. The chains slipped around a bit on one tire but easy to readjust. The sound of a slapping chain was like company talking in the background. I never let them slap against the fender.

 

[RoyJackson]

On my scrapped together chains I never used tensioners- just never seemed to be in the right place at the right time. The chains slipped around a bit on one tire but easy to readjust. The sound of a slapping chain was like company talking in the background. I never let them slap against the fender.

According to what I've read on the internet (when I was researching chains) and what the folks on tirechain.com told me, loose chains will wear faster.

 

[SensibleNick]

I tension mine: only way to make them stay put, and I'm not such a fan of listening to them jingle all the time.

As Roy ^^ says.. loose chains will wear faster.

There are many many ways of tensioning them though: lots of fun to play with

 

[Don87]

I tension mine also.

On my SCUT, I use one rubber tarp strap for each wheel, and 3 S-hooks. :thumbsup:

 

[whistlepig]

Once you have tried chains you will never go back. I like the tensioners. I like things snug and tight and not rattling around.

 

[Pks]

Hi Whistlepig, how's the ride with those chains of yours? Do you ever drive on a paved road with them? I live on a paved road and I would think that style of chain would produce an extremely rough ride. What are your thoughts?