Tire Chains

[DaryleD]

I have a tc30 and use the valby chains on back. They are the ones that have round nubs that stick straight out from the chain links. I'm not sure if they are better or worse than the v-bar chains on ice, but I do know that they will last. They have served me very well and I'm very sure that I will never have to replace them. I have a long, fairly steep driveway, with a corner 3/4 of the way up it that makes it hard for even my 4x4 truck sometimes. I snow blow with the tractor, and have yet to get stuck or even slip with these. The only down side to these are that they are very pricey. I think I paid $600 or so. That price is just for rear chains.
Daryle.

 

[BillBee]

Well, I did chain up the rears this past weekend just in case. I'll get to the fronts next weekend. Still chipping the concrete, I'll cover the floor tire runs with scrap wood.

When I chained up, I droped the rear tire presure to about 5lbs and installed the chains (tires are loaded). When I reinflated back up to 20lbs, chains are tight, the tightest I've ever gotten them. Took it for a test drive and there's no chain slap or chain rattling. Chains remained tight even after a quick run down the driveway. Could I have installed the tire chains to tight? They don't appear to be restricting or deforming the tire in any way when inflated at 20lbs.

 

[m7040]

daryl, will the Valby chains damage pavement or do you run them on a dirt road??

 

[John_Mc]

I have a tc30 and use the valby chains on back. They are the ones that have round nubs that stick straight out from the chain links. I'm not sure if they are better or worse than the v-bar chains on ice, but I do know that they will last.

The Valby chains are better than the ladder-style with v-bars on ice. I've got the ladder/v-bars because that was the only real ice option for the R4 tires on my TC33D (no Valby or DuoGrip for my size tire). The Valby's "mat" layout keeps them from dropping down between the lugs, so more of the chain makes contact with the ground. You'll also get better lateral traction with the Valby chains... usefull if you are on a side hill.

John Mc