Tire Chains

[TinmanPT]

We got the snow dumped on us last weekend and there is more on the way. I cleared out 17 driveways in the neighborhood with my 425 but with the turf tires, I spend a lot of time slipping around.

I was looking at some of the TerraGrips rubber chains to put on while taking it easy on driveways. My question is, can I get away with putting chains on just two of the four tires? If so, is it recommended for front or back wheels?

My understanding is that the front-left wheel is on the same hydraulic circuit as the rear-right, and front-right on the same as rear-left. If you were to lose traction on one wheel, does that cause loss of power to the other wheel on the circuit?

I tried searching but couldn't find a definitive answer. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[MossRoad]

You are correct about the cross-corner wheels being in series.
Left front and right rear.
Right front and left rear.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT...
(I put that in caps because many times, I understand things different than actual reality!)

If the left front starts to spin, it will pass fluid more quickly to the right rear. That causes an increase in back pressure to the left front if the right rear has traction. So the left front will not spin much faster than the right rear can pass fluid. If the right rear has traction, the left front can't spin much faster than it. And the same goes for the opposite circuit. And the same goes for forward or reverse, at any speed and direction.

Anyhow, that's how I understand it, but am not certain that's how it works, so I'll gladly take a better explanation. :thumbsup:

 

[jfh28]

I don't have any problems with traction/spinning wheels when I'm plowing......its the crabbing that gets me.......I have chains only on the rear wheels and it eliminates the crab for all but the deepest or heaviest snows.......I generally don't let the snow get deeper then 12" before plowing.......I also have absolutely no clue what mr just said.....:laughing:......Jack

 

[MossRoad]

....I also have absolutely no clue what mr just said.....:laughing:......Jack

That makes two of us! :confused2:

:laughing:

 

[TinmanPT]

I order just the one pair to put on the rears. If I understood Moss right, then losing traction on one of the front wheels will not cause me to lose all of movement mojo assuming the rear can get traction. Thanks for the info guys.

These are the ones I ordered if anyone is interested.

https://www.amazon.com/TerraGrips-Tire-Chains-23x10-5-12-ST90008/dp/B009SMU9MK

I'll take advice from another thread (probably Moss's input) to let the air out, get the chains nice and tight, then fill them back up again. Hopefully these make a difference.

 

[SpringHollow]

Those do not look like they will do much on ice. But they probably help dig through snow.

 

[oosik]

When I had the Ford 1700 I had heavy V-bar tractor chains on all four wheels. Expensive, heavy & difficult to instal, rode like a cob, absolute MAX traction. I'm glad the weight of my M6040 doesn't require chains.

 

[TinmanPT]

Those do not look like they will do much on ice. But they probably help dig through snow.

Watching / reading the reviews on these chains, they seem to do great on everything but straight ice. I like helping out the neighborhood, but I don't want the liability of chains damaging driveways. If it's too icy out there for me to get traction, then it's every neighbor for themselves at that point.

 

[johara1]

The reason it crabs so much is that the blade is too far in front of the wheels and it has a lot of leverage. I chained up the front wheels and it was like day and night, in fact I have them hanging in the shed if any one wants them. They have a cross chain every other link. I don't need them with the Ventrac..... Jim

 

[TinmanPT]

I got the chains on and was able to give them a test run. I put them on the rear wheels, thinking that would allow me to keep traction when putting down pressure on the blade. It is absolutely a night and day difference. We didn't have any ice. These will maintain traction to where it would stall before it would spin. Very happy with the purchase.