Double Ring tire chains

[dan_d]

(not sure if this would be better off in the 'tires' forum? but anyways...)
Anyone ever used these?
double ring* tire chains for farm tractors
I'm considering them or duo-grips, which are basically the same price for my 16.9-30's
DUO-Grip tire chains for farm tractors
My biggest concern is the ring cross chain sliding into the tire treads as regular ladder chains do, and obviously the duo-grips won't... but then those rings look alot bigger than regular chain links so maybe they still stick out enough? And as a bonus would the rings would rotate to increase chain life.
I've also read some of the other threads here with people complaining about the on-off-on-off-chain behaviour with the duos causing unnecessary slippage and annoyance, so if anyone wants to chime in on that front i'm all ears

Won't be doing much if any road mileage, just pushing snow with my loader+bucket and putting big round bales out for the horses

Thanks!
Dan

 

[oosik]

Dan,
I've only used the kind called V-bar. They were specifically made for tractors - were VERY heavy - and expensive. They gave exceptional traction on the one area of my mile long gravel driveway where water flooded across and created a skating rink. Being heavy they - at least the rear - were a real bear to instal and made the tractor ride as if I were driving down railroad tracks. Thankfully, now I have a larger tractor with better traction and "that" area of the driveway has a much better ditch and seldom floods across the driveway. Even though the V-bars gave exceptional traction I did not like using them. Very rough ride and the bars tore everything to ribbons.

Properly installed, the chains you speak of should have no more slippage problems than any other type. I'm sure you will notice a distinct traction advantage with the duo-ring chains.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I have duo v-bars on my front tires. They are alot better than no chain but even after tightening up the patterns, I'm not completely happy with them. I also looked at the double ring chains and because of my hills I immediately crossed them off my list even though they are economical. I run a set of aquiline talons on the rear and I'm very happy with them! They are a bit pricey but the peace of mind is worth it after I went for a ride 2 years ago.

 

[Billrog]

I've not used either stile but by looking at them there is far to much clear space for hills. When I had a 2 wd backhoe I made up a set of v bar with ice chain links in between so every other side link had a cross link for the back tires. Fairly expensive and heavy with all toughs 24" cross links but never once had a mins. trouble on any hill and my place is all hill. BTW I had spacers on the hoe so the chains would fit. Best would probably be skidder chains when all the links are connected with a cheated ring.

 

[deerseeker001]

I have the double ring chains and I love them no problem with them going off center.

(not sure if this would be better off in the 'tires' forum? but anyways...)
Anyone ever used these?
double ring* tire chains for farm tractors
I'm considering them or duo-grips, which are basically the same price for my 16.9-30's
DUO-Grip tire chains for farm tractors
My biggest concern is the ring cross chain sliding into the tire treads as regular ladder chains do, and obviously the duo-grips won't... but then those rings look alot bigger than regular chain links so maybe they still stick out enough? And as a bonus would the rings would rotate to increase chain life.
I've also read some of the other threads here with people complaining about the on-off-on-off-chain behaviour with the duos causing unnecessary slippage and annoyance, so if anyone wants to chime in on that front i'm all ears

Won't be doing much if any road mileage, just pushing snow with my loader+bucket and putting big round bales out for the horses

Thanks!
Dan

 

[RickB]

Double ring chains were the gold standard for use with R-1 tires for decades until the duo-grip and other styles came to be more readily available and "must haves". I have a set of DR chains on one tractor and DuoGrips on another because I got them cheap. The two styles are functionally interchangeable IMHO. DuoGrips may ride a little better.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

How are the double rings chains for lateral stability?

 

[RickB]

The rings are round. They don't care whether they grip fore and aft or side to side.

 

[RWK in WI]

I use both double ring and duro-grip chains on tractors in winter. I have modified my double rings so there is a cross chain on every second side link instead on every fourth as they are sold. This means the tractor is always on chain and not bouncing up and down. They are heavy to put on but work great. My euro-grips I have modified so the ends of the cross links are two in each attachment to the side chains making the spacing closer and avoiding the blank space. The double ring as I have them ride smoother and grip better on packed snow and ice.
Just my experience.

 

[skyhook]

I was thinking on welding "nipples" on my duo-grips, just arc weld "spots" on the chain using the welding rod, nothing else, just the rod, I think this would add more traction on ice. Good or bad idea.
When they wear out, re-weld some more.

 

[check]

I woul think that the v-bar chains grip better on ice than the rings, because of the sharp edges of the v's.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I woul think that the v-bar chains grip better on ice than the rings, because of the sharp edges of the v's.

I agree, but a plain pattern duo would be similiar. I just always thought the round rings would slide sideways to easily.

 

[dan_d]

Well thanks for everyone's replies, definitely some food for thought! Good to hear the double rings are tried and true technology, I'd never seen them before I found that website.

 

[dan_d]

Problem solved: can't be picky when you find a set of used Duo-grips for 2/3 price over new and only 10min from home!

Put them on yesterday, seemed to grip pretty well without me needing to use the diff lock on yesterday's melted mud over frozen ground. D*mn its a rough ride on hard/frozen surfaces tho!

Only 8 cross sections instead of tirechain.com's quoted "11" but for what i'm doing will probably be fine (after I get some proper weight on the back, and i order a set of tensioners; those cross sections are still awful sloppy) Worst case, i figure I can always order a bunch of double ring cross links next year and add them in between the existing sections to get the best of both worlds

Thanks again for the replies!
Dan

 

[Bill the Elder]

Field Test from north central WA 20 miles from the Canadian border. I have a 4600 Ford with R1 tires and double ring chains from Tirechains.com. This year we have had snow on the ground in some form since October. We have had 6 partial melt outs with refreezing since then. Basically we've got laminated ice that is like glass. Diamond pattern cross chains on a 4wd dodge with studded tires barely grip and hardly leave a mark.

Needed to try and move the tractor so I can get some hog food in, did I mention we've had snow and ice since the beginning of October? There is a slope from the pad I leave the tractor on. As I headed down I began to slide, NO GRIP AT ALL. I had a berm that had melted out to the north that I was able to steer to and that kept me from sliding down to the pine tree that would have stopped me otherwise. Once I got on the flat things were still not good. I will work things out with bags of deicer but this seriously sucks.

Those chains have worked well for me for the past 12 winters. This year's ice conditions are beyond the pale. If you live in an area that is capable of generating ice like the stuff I'm dealing with and you are depending on your tractor you will not be able work with it and this style chain. Looks like I'll be buying a pair of diamond studded chains for conditions like these.

Not sure when we're going to see the end of the ice. Looks like we may warm up a bit next week but for now, it's been a very mild, pretty dry (we haven't even had enough decent snow to x country ski), painfully long, miserable winter for moving material on a farm.

Warning given, 'nough said.