Tire Chains

[Don87]

I did get a lot of good advice since last winter from TBN while researching chains. I know they will tear asphalt up. Also a member advised that these aggressive chains will gnaw my concrete garage floors. I have some heavy duty interlocking rubber horse mats I'm going park the tractor on. We, and all the neighbors, have gravel driveways. They may tear up the yard a bit. I'm also going to purchase a ballast box.

Weight and chains can do a lot of damage(quickly) to asphalt or concrete, plan accordingly.

 

[RoyJackson]

The people at Tirechains.com also mentioned putting down plywood wherever you are going to park the tractor on asphalt or concrete. Depending on how often you have to use the tractor it should last a winter or so I would think.

And that's a good idea.
I'm planning on using horse matting, if I can find some.

Weight and chains can do a lot of damage(quickly) to asphalt or concrete, plan accordingly.

As long as the ballast box is lowered when parked, it shouldn't contribute to any damage to the concrete or asphalt (although I'd put plywood under the box too especially if it's setting on asphalt).

 

[Don87]

And that's a good idea.
I'm planning on using horse matting, if I can find some.



As long as the ballast box is lowered when parked, it shouldn't contribute to any damage to the concrete or asphalt (although I'd put plywood under the box too especially if it's setting on asphalt).

I was just meaning about the 'backing in/pulling out' part. Parking itself will cause litle damage.

 

[Don87]

I was just meaning about the 'backing in/pulling out' part. Parking itself will cause litle damage.

Maybe I should elaborate here a little.........
Agressive chains are just that........."aggressive"..........they "dig in", IE: "cut in".
While sitting still, the will "cut in"..........But, it's the constant moving over the same area that causes the most damage, kinda like a "spider web" effect(if ya know what I mean).
And especially in a garage, we tend to follow the same path, but the chains follow a slightly different path, which adds to the 'cutting effect'.
Aggressive chains act like a glass cutter, an apparent 'slight score' leads to major damage.

 

[Gods Country]

Another happy tirechains.com customer here.

 

[whistlepig]

I ordered the Aquiline Talons from Buy Tire Chains & Snow Chains from the Traction Specialists© last Monday. They said I should get them by mid-September.

 

[Code54]

Are you all chaining the fronts as well as the rears? If not how is the steering without chains (I have HST so it is a little tough to brake steer)

 

[whistlepig]

For right now I am not chaining the front for a couple of reasons. I have read that chaining the front tires can cause damage the the front wheel drive system. Most of what I have read advises against chains on the front. Also there is virtually no side clearance on the front tires of a B7800 for mounting chains without reversing the rims. I don't want to try this at this time. You have a point about the the steering. With the hydro pedal and brake pedals where they are brake steering would be a PITA. Tiny steps here. My tractor was sliding sideways in the snow on level ground before I even put the loader on the ground last winter. We'll see what happens with the chains and a ballast box this winter.

 

[joeyd]

I will be using chains on all 4 tires on my TYM 353 HST. My fronts have the clearance and I will be using p/u truck type chains. A neighbor of mine has been using them on his fronts (Montana) for a few years now with no problems. We have a steep road to deal with (snow blowers) and when it gets icy look out!

 

[mrutkaus]

I keep my tirechains.com chains in a covered pail of used hydraulic fluid when they are not being used. Messy but keeps them in good shape.

Mike

 

[WVGreenhorn]

What type of chains are most running on the R-4 Industrial style tires? I know the ladder style are bad about getting stuck between the large lugs on the Ag style tread and becoming nearly usless. Just not sure if they would do the same thing with the larger, wider Industrial lugs. Probably be safer to just pay the extra and go with the Duo-Grips?

Thanks,
The Greenhorn

 

[Ford tractor]

What type of chains are most running on the R-4 Industrial style tires? I know the ladder style are bad about getting stuck between the large lugs on the Ag style tread and becoming nearly usless. Just not sure if they would do the same thing with the larger, wider Industrial lugs. Probably be safer to just pay the extra and go with the Duo-Grips?

Thanks,
The Greenhorn

No they aren't the same as on Ag tires ... they're worse.

Run an H-bar, net or ring design.

Secure Online Shopping for all of your Tire Chain needs

Prices are much higher than the "economy" brands that use poorly tempered fragile china soft iron chain. With chains, you get what you pay for. If you've never had to replace fenders or repair implements because the broke tire chain got into it and beat it to death, you may not understand what your buying with the higher price...

If you want cheap, fine. If you want long lasting quality, click the link.

 

[WVGreenhorn]

No they aren't the same as on Ag tires ... they're worse.

Run an H-bar, net or ring design.

Secure Online Shopping for all of your Tire Chain needs

Prices are much higher than the "economy" brands that use poorly tempered fragile china soft iron chain. With chains, you get what you pay for. If you've never had to replace fenders or repair implements because the broke tire chain got into it and beat it to death, you may not understand what your buying with the higher price...

If you want cheap, fine. If you want long lasting quality, click the link.

So your saying the best chains for my 26hp, 1500lb. tractor pushing snow out of my driveway would be a set of $700 skidder chains?? :confused2:

I'm thinking "overkill" here...

The Greenhorn

 

[k0ua]

I ran a set of H chains on my B7500 with R4 for 8 years. never took them off. Yes they get stuck between the bars. but these chains still stuck out a little between the bars, and some were on top of the bars. and they made a tremendous difference. They really helped on ice/snow, but made a big difference on the dirt too. Just a bad ride on pavement. Tried to stay off of pavement. They must have been made of good metal, because they still look pretty good. They are in a bucket now. Wont fit the bigger tractor, and I dont think I need chains now anyway. with the much bigger heavier tractor, and loaded tires.. sure dont need it on the dirt, I have loads of traction now, and time will tell in the snow.
James K0UA

 

[Ford tractor]

So your saying the best chains for my 26hp, 1500lb. tractor pushing snow out of my driveway would be a set of $700 skidder chains?? :confused2:

I'm thinking "overkill" here...

The Greenhorn

"overkill"? Maybe. I personally know people with 35-45hp tractors that had the cheap chains break and cause a LOT of damage. One wrapped around the fender and ripped it off twisting part of the deck off with it, the other was sucked into a mower and beat the snot out of the deck while shooting links into the side of a building. You may be fine with your lawn machine. Still, the local guy selling chains thinks the China stuff is no stronger than swing set chain. He could be biased, but he has to warrant the stuff so maybe he knows something. Maybe.

Buy what you desire and can afford. I would rather buy the overkill but only buy once, others have differing opinions.

 

[joeyd]

Well the chains have been on since November, we have had about 60+ inches of snow since then and some thaw and freeze cycles and I am very happy with the way the tractor has performed with the chains. I didn't initially put them on the fronts but after blowing my driveway and parking area I noticed the front end was getting pushed around on the slope. I installed the front chains and that has stopped. I am running 4 link v-bars on all 4 tires. I have R-4's and there is no problem with them falling in between the lugs, a portion of each cross link crosses the lug for traction.

 

[whistlepig]

I put my first set of chains on this November also. Well worth every penny I payed for them. It has reduced my plowing time by at least 60% and the effort to do it by that much also.

 

[TractorBob1529]

Looking to buy some chains for my Massey. Gravel/Mud driveway with steep grade. Doing some light snow removal here in Western NC...spun out, got stuck with R4 tires with the ice cover snow. Late in the season to be thinking about buying chains. Tirechains.com are out of stock for the V-bar chains. I would like to know if the ladder style chains will be enough or wait to get the V-bar chains.

 

[whistlepig]

The V-Bar or studded chains are going to do better on ice. I held out until the studded chains were available for my tractor. I like the studded chains.

 

[TractorBob1529]

I though that would be the best bet. Now the waiting game...called tirechains.com and they said to check often, that they might be getting in a shipment of V-bars. Never know what you need, till you need it.