How do you put your tire chains on ?

[pat32rf]

Been There -When I made my chains I made a point to have them come farther down over the sidewalls as I find myself in deep snow (icy crusts) and mud and I do get traction from the side chains when I am up against snowdrifts, rocks and logs.
I also think that the shorter side chains keep things centered better as they have farther to go to climb up to the tread. They do make for a lot more weight by the time you add up the longer cross-chains however.
There has been more than once that I have hooked my tow chain/rope to a cross-chain and used it to winch myself out-SLOWLY!

 

[beenthere]

With the shorter cross chains (those are where the wear is at) and longer side chains, it keeps the cost down. When cross chains are long to reach the side chains, they only wear about half the length. But if you like the apparent extra traction, then that is the way to go.
Properly fitted and hand tightened, there is no worry that they are going to climb off.
Another reason (actually the main reason) they are built this way, was to not encroach on the narrow space between the fender and the tire. These chains fit into the scallop at the end of the tire bars.

And note, there is no way the cross chains are hiding between the bars. So often we read where there is a fear that the cross chains will get lost in the lugs and not work.

 

[Gizmo2]

There has been more than once that I have hooked my tow chain/rope to a cross-chain and used it to winch myself out-SLOWLY!

Now that is interesting.

 

[newbury]

My chains are here, probably wont see any more snow this season.
I have ladder chains from Tire chains .com. I put them on this morning (never had to put chains on before) I placed them on the ground and drove on to them and lifted them up onto the tire. would it be easier to put them on from the top first or drive on to them? Also the chains maybe a little to big as one cross section overlapped the other end. Not going to cut just yet, making sure I have them on right first. I also got the spring tensioner, After tightening everything the still seem a little loose. Any suggestion would be appreciated as I never had to install chains before.

I'm probably going to get chains for my ride for mud when I move south. But I've years of exeprience with chains on trucks and cars in northern VT and a few times here in Va. There I always laid them down, crept forward so I could wrap the chain and tighten. Then drove a little and tightened.

With my present ride I'd probably just just lower my stabilizers and wrap the chain.

 

[EMS503]

Thankyou everbody for your replies. I will have to redo the right side as it is hitting the inside of the fender, but now I have a good idea how this is to be done. I will probably remove one cross section but I will wait for warmer weather so I can make sure I do it right. Again thankyou all.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I don't have chains on either of my tractors right now, but when I put them on trucks and such I always jacks the tire up when installing them in the shop. If I have to do it along side the road I carry a block of wood that will fit between the 'ladder' of the chains to get the tire up off the ground. I lay the chains out, place the block in the second ladder opening and drive up so the tire is on the block. There is plenty of room to pull the chain back and forth and side to side with the tire up on the block. I then wrap the chain all the way around the tire so I make the connection down low and not having to lift and hold the chain while connecting them.

 

[Royboy]

How much slack should there be in the chains? How much slack CAN there be? I have been trying put my new ones on for the first time todayand it has been tough considering I am working alone and have never done it before. I guess what I need to know is how just loose they can be before I have to resort to cutting links out to modify their size?

Thanks!

 

[Nuru]

Hmmm, anyone thin these might be worth a try?

Autosock Item Information

much more expensive

YouTube - Onspot Automatic Tire Chains

 

[beenthere]

I hand tighten mine (no tighter), and have no slop in the side chains or cross chains.

I would cut the inside side-chain to just the length needed, and the outside side-chain to leave just two extra links for easier hand tightening.

Then there is no need for any tighteners strung between the outside of the tire to take up slop. IMO

 

[atgreene]

Trygg says you should be able to put a fist between the tire and the side chain. That's about where i run mine, seems to be a good fit, and no, I don't use tighteners or rubber straps either.

Those auto chains are ok. I had a set on a plow truck a few years ago. Not great, but better than nothing. We also run them on all our fire apparatus and ambulances and most oil trucks and school busses around here have them. Again, handy in a pinch, but not as good as real chains.