Tractor tire snow chains

[coolbrze]

Wasn't sure where to post this... Thinking of getting some tire chains for my MX5800 R4s. Anyone run snow chains on their tires & if so, what kind do you recommend?

 

[atsah]

I have bought chains for different tractors in the past from tirechain.com. They are made in China but they are made in a factory that builds them pretty well for the price, they are not as well made as say Canadian made chains but they are a pretty well made chain, I have never had them break on me and I have beat the heck out of them.. Tirechainsrequired.com is another place I have bought them and had good luck with them..

 

[LouNY]

There are numerous threads here on chains;
my :2cents: there is only one style I would consider after using just about every style made in the last 60 years.

These are conventional twist link and bar reinforced twist link on 2 link spacing, they work, kind of a rough ride on frozen or hard surfaces,


These are the best style I have found and used, excellent traction, smooth ride on pavement, the best;


These type chains are also easier on front axles as the traction is continuous not grab, slip, grab, slid they are also more money the ladder or the duo-grip type which to me have the roughest ride unless you are in mud or deep snow.

 

[atsah]

There are numerous threads here on chains;
my :2cents: there is only one style I would consider after using just about every style made in the last 60 years.

These are conventional twist link and bar reinforced twist link on 2 link spacing, they work, kind of a rough ride on frozen or hard surfaces,
View attachment 571123

These are the best style I have found and used, excellent traction, smooth ride on pavement, the best;
View attachment 571124 View attachment 571125 View attachment 571126

These type chains are also easier on front axles as the traction is continuous not grab, slip, grab, slid they are also more money the ladder or the duo-grip type which to me have the roughest ride unless you are in mud or deep snow.
View attachment 571127

I agree with this..

 

[Gordon Gould]

I also agree with Lou that chains with an "H" pattern are best. They are a lot more money though. Up hear in the NE there is no question that they are worth it if you work in the ice and snow 6 months a year. The last ones I bought were OFA brand EKO9 style chains made in Finland and put them on my M5640. I have 8 mm chains on my L3010. On hard packed snow and ice they are priceless. You should check what others in your area need for winter traction if these seem to pricey for your needs. Some with R4's use screw in studs with good results.





gg

 

[RedNeckRacin]

My l3400 is worthless with r-4 in snow. I have 2 link v bars on the fronts and do pretty well. I should get tire spacers to run chains on the rear too. The r-1 on the 5083 are just as helpless unless in deep snow. I have duo chains that are ok bUT the aqualine talon chains I have on the rears are flat out awesome. I MIGHT be able to climb a tree with them.

 

[John_Mc]

I started with 4-link Ladder style chains with V-bars. They did the job getting me up and down the icy hill in my driveway. for lateral traction (operating on sidehills) they were better than bare tires, but not good enough for my work in the woods where more lateral traction was needed.

I next tried Duo Grip chains with V-bars. They improved lateral traction significantly over the ladder style chains, and still let me get up my icy driveway. My only problem with these was the rough ride on hard surfaces (pavement, hard packed dirt roads, some frozen ground); running at higher speeds on hard surfaces was unbearable. Since I regularly run several miles over the road between two properties, I did not stay with these for long. If you are operating mostly off

I eventually settled on Ofa Eko 8 chains (larger tractors would use the Ofa Eko 9). Top quality materials and construction, excellent forward and lateral traction, and a smooth run on hard surface. I guess I knew when I decided to get rid of the Ladder chains that something like this was what I really needed. I just mistakenly thought I could get by with something cheaper.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

Don't go for the fancy new chains. Seen too many break. The old style is expensive and you can't run them on pavement much, but other than that, they will last a good long time.

 

[LouNY]

Don't go for the fancy new chains. Seen too many break. The old style is expensive and you can't run them on pavement much, but other than that, they will last a good long time.

What style chains have you been seeing break?
What was being doe to break them?

 

[Garandman]

////

I eventually settled on Ofa Eko 8 chains (larger tractors would use the Ofa Eko 9). Top quality materials and construction, excellent forward and lateral traction, and a smooth run on hard surface. I guess I knew when I decided to get rid of the Ladder chains that something like this was what I really needed. I just mistakenly thought I could get by with something cheaper.

Where do you buy them in the US?

Edit: North America | Dealers | OFA

 

[atsah]

If you want really good quality chains built to your specs call these guys, they make nice chains at affordable prices. They are in Worcester MA.
They are making some right now for my brothers Ford 7700..

| Chain and Wire Rope, Horseshoe and Bocce Manufacturer, and Tire Chains

 

[Gordon Gould]

Where do you buy them in the US?

Edit: North America | Dealers | OFA

I know of two places close by:

Windy Ridge Corporation,
Tamworth, NH 03886
Tel. 603-323-2323

Reed Supply Company, Inc. VT Inustrial Supplies – Industrial, Safety & Logging Supplies
St Johnsbury, VT

Reed delivers at a very reasonable price

gg

 

[John_Mc]

Where do you buy them in the US?

Edit: North America | Dealers | OFA

I got my Ofa Eko 8 Chains from Reed Supply in St Johnsbury, VT. They serve VT and NH. They have a regular delivery route that stops by a neighboring town, so they dropped them their for me, and I picked them up. Saved a bunch on shipping that way (cost $15 to have them delivered there, if recall).

 

[John_Mc]

If you want really good quality chains built to your specs call these guys, they make nice chains at affordable prices. They are in Worcester MA.
They are making some right now for my brothers Ford 7700..

| Chain and Wire Rope, Horseshoe and Bocce Manufacturer, and Tire Chains

From the web site, it seems they only make ladder-style chains?

 

[corl]

I have an MX5100 and use rear chains in the winter. The H pattern is good. It goes just about anywhere with these chains including the mud. I have R-1 ag tires. Can easily use the individual wheel brakes for steering in the snow. The only problem is that they are so heavy that I cannot lift them. I set them on the tread and drive them on. Once a year is enough. I put them on around Thanksgiving and remove them the end of March. Not afraid of using them to start plowing the fields.

 

[atsah]

From the web site, it seems they only make ladder-style chains?

They make per your specs..

 

[Rustyiron]

Wasn't sure where to post this... Thinking of getting some tire chains for my MX5800 R4s. Anyone run snow chains on their tires & if so, what kind do you recommend?

I'm in agreement with Lou's #3 post, BUT in Northern VA I'd just go get some "ladder" style, easy to find & install, and cheap. Your biggest issue is usually slushy wet or packed snow with warm ground temps, and the occasional heavy snow (in N VA) will usually be light (dry) snow that is easy to push.

 

[newbury]

Wasn't sure where to post this... Thinking of getting some tire chains for my MX5800 R4s. Anyone run snow chains on their tires & if so, what kind do you recommend?

I bought them for my B7610 rear turfs, about 2010. I've used them maybe 3 times in Alexandria, VA. For my usage they were a waste of money.

I'm in agreement with Lou's #3 post, BUT in Northern VA I'd just go get some "ladder" style, easy to find & install, and cheap. Your biggest issue is usually slushy wet or packed snow with warm ground temps, and the occasional heavy snow (in N VA) will usually be light (dry) snow that is easy to push.

That's the thing - what are you needing them for? Maybe 2 snowfalls a year? A 3 day ice event?

In most of NoVa if we get a snowfall that shuts down the area you are better off having a great generator and plenty of food and fuel and just hunker down and wait a few days. I've lived there since 1975. Before that I lived in Northern Vermont.

In Vermont we'd get a good 20" snowfall and maybe shut down for a day or two, several times a year. In NoVa we've had something like a dozen events since 1975.

I'm just glad I didn't fool my self into buy a snowblower.

 

[Soldier415]

I use the euro style studded ice chains from tirechains.com

I have a long steep driveway that in during early/late winter in VT turns into solid glare ice. I've never had a problem going up or down

 

[Piston]

I second (third, fourth?) the OFA studded chains. I had a set of 4 link ladder chains that were somewhat of an improvement but not very much. Easy to spin them on pavement and they didn't do much for me off pavement. I then loaded the tires and that made a good bit of difference.
Last year I bought the OFA EKO9 from Windy Ridge in NH. Those made all the difference in the world, it's incredible how much better they work. I was able to go through the woods with snow considerably deeper than my ground clearance, and with those chains on all 4 tires I was virtually unstoppable.

I had originally ordered a set of the Aqualine Talon chains from tirechainsrequired.com, however cancelled my order when I read they were made in China. (I did not fact check this). I’m very happy with the OFA chains.