It probably makes a difference how old the tires are, of any style. I know my ten-year-old R4's are worn down some and the rubber is probably harder than it was when new.
At our old house when my tractor was new, I had the backhoe on the tractor, plus loaded rears and no chains. I never had traction problems but the driveways were almost flat, not very long, and one was asphalt.
The first two years at this house I didn't have chains either. This drive has a slope to it and it's much longer and more to clear. Plus originally this driveway had a ditch on one side and a steep drop off on the other side. Picture trying to clear with just a FEL bucket on a hog's back. :laughing:
I got tired of trying to stay unstuck, or getting stuck. One time I had to get out the chains and come-along and pull the tractor back into the center of the driveway using the nearest tree. If I would lift the backend up and swing it over with the backhoe, soon as I took pressure off the hoe, the tractor slid back into the rut I was in. Enough of that, I put chains on.
I could see sipping if the conditions are right for it to get more traction, but if it won't work on ice and work very well on everything every time, it's not very useful to me. I'm not going to put chains on and take them off all winter whenever the weather changes. I'm also pushing the snow out on a close to half-mile loop now for a place to walk the dogs. I need to be able to go and not be screwing around getting stuck. I'm too old for that. :laughing: