Chains Recommendations for tire chains on a BX?

[Mowbizz]

In my experience over the last 50 years.

You can get by without chains if you have 4 wheel drive.

4 link chains are generally the cheapest, do help a lot, though can be a bumpy ride.

2 link chains cost more, help more and ride smoother than 4 link chains.

V-bar cross links dig in a lot more than the simple twisted links.

No chains means the least potential damage.

Twisted cross chains will do less damage than V-bar cross chains.

So it comes down to, do you just want to "get by"? Go whole hog and put on 2 link, V-bar chains? Or something in between?

While people complain about "marking up the driveway", to me it's a freaking driveway, something to be used, not to sit back and look at. That said, with my gravel drive, what could possibly construed as damaged? :laughing:

I wouldn't mind just "marks" on the driveway (newly paved this past Fall) but I would mind the chains pulling up chunks of asphalt as they roll over it...that would be my only concern with chains on the BX25D. Perhaps after another season of curing the pavement would be okay for chains. I haven't needed chains for anything I do yet but if I get a plow for the FEL to push the gravel section (400') of my driveway I think chains would be needed as it sometimes gets icy due to warm and cold cycles. The only time the chains would touch the pavement is when I'm scraping a smaller snowfall or putting the BX away.

 

[thirdroc17]

Chunks? Oh yeah, I can understand that concern. I seriously doubt standard twisted cross link could gouge asphalt. The aggressive V-bar, well, that could be a maybe I suppose. Depends on the weight you're carrying, other factors. Honestly, while I read the entire thread, I don't remember exactly what you are running, and I'm too lazy to read it again. :laughing:

I've ran all the above types of chains, but only on gravel and concrete. Since you're on asphalt, I might shy away from the V-bars. They are the most aggressive, thus help the most, the offset obviously being, well, they are aggressive. 2 link with twisted cross links is probably, in my not so always humble opinion, the best compromise between cost/traction/potential damage. It's also what I happen to be running now. But then, when I bought the tractor, a BX2670, I wanted chains, and they added these to the package saying I wouldn't need them. Half way through last winter, I was putting them on, not because I "needed" them, but because I could get done and back inside out of the cold faster. Currently, I have nothing but gravel and dirt, no concrete, no asphalt anywhere, not even inside the barn. I would have preferred V-bars as I have nothing to damage, but gladly took what was "thrown in".

Just as a side note. At one time I did have a set of 4 link, V-bar chains which I ran on turf tires. Worked quite well, but oh yeah, THAT was a bumpy ride!!!

It's always a compromise....

 

[Boscoe]

My driveway to the attached garage and driveway to my big "toy box" is gravel. Both garages have slabs inside the buildings and concrete aprons on the outside. Running R4 Industrial tires on my BX25D-1 the current ladder chains get in between the lugs. That's why I want diamond pattern chains that will remain on top of the treads. I run Vbar studded chains on the ATV and they will gouge the aprons and slabs if there is slippage. The BX is kept inside the attached garage that is heated.

 

[thirdroc17]

Yeah, that is a problem with R-4's, but not nearly as bad as losing them between the lugs of ag tires. That said, I've thought about adding links between my current cross chains to tie them together to alleviate that problem, but that takes a lot of connecting links.

Maybe someday when I'm rich, I'll buy all the components needed to make up my "ideal" set of tire chains to work with the R-4's. Though it would be cheaper to just put turf tires on another set of wheels and run my current chains on them. Then swap wheels/tires.

Actually, I wouldn't mind getting rid of the R-4's entirely. For my purposes, they suck. It's not the type of tire I wanted, nor needed, it's just the tires that were on the tractor.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yeah, that is a problem with R-4's, but not nearly as bad as losing them between the lugs of ag tires. That said, I've thought about adding links between my current cross chains to tie them together to alleviate that problem, but that takes a lot of connecting links. Maybe someday when I'm rich, I'll buy all the components needed to make up my "ideal" set of tire chains to work with the R-4's. Though it would be cheaper to just put turf tires on another set of wheels and run my current chains on them. Then swap wheels/tires. Actually, I wouldn't mind getting rid of the R-4's entirely. For my purposes, they suck. It's not the type of tire I wanted, nor needed, it's just the tires that were on the tractor.

I like the idea of having a spare set of turfs with chains mounted and quickly swapping when needed. I am going to have to look into that.

 

[Boscoe]

I think turf tires and chains would be awesome in the winter time. Hopefully the Trygg "Helene" chains will be in soon. Am getting by with 4 link standard chains now but I've been using my small John Deere tractor with turf tires and chains to plow my driveway. Not too much snow to deal with this winter in Northern MN. No doubt this area will get socked in when March arrives. By then I should have the new style chains in and installed. Am anxious to try the 2767 snow plow on my BX. But if no big storms hit I won't be disappointed. Motorcycle riding fever is getting pretty strong.

 

[RaydaKub]

I like the idea of having a spare set of turfs with chains mounted and quickly swapping when needed. I am going to have to look into that.

I bet that would make putting the chains on a totally different experience. Make them kinda hard to handle, especially with fluid. But changing a tire might still be preferred by some. I have never mounted chains on anything so have no experience at all.

 

[dragoneggs]

I bet that would make putting the chains on a totally different experience. Make them kinda hard to handle, especially with fluid. But changing a tire might still be preferred by some. I have never mounted chains on anything so have no experience at all.

I don't use filled tires and my BX rears are manageable to handle. I can see a bigger wheel/tire might persuade me to think otherwise.