Which Tire Chains

wvrocks · Feb 2, 2007

I have a NH TC-33DA and I'm looking to get some tire chains for the rear. I have about 1/3 mile gravel drive with 2 fairly steep hills to plow. With small snows I don't have any problem in 4wd. Once it gets packed down and icy or if I have to move a lot of snow I have problems with the back of the tractor "crabbing" around. I use a 7' rear blade and drive forward to plow. Tirechain.com has 4 styles that will fit my 15x19.5 R4's. 4 Link Ladder, Link V-bar Ladder, and 2link Ladder/Vbar ladder. I think i'm going to go with the 4 link version because of cost but can't decide on the V-Bars. I store the tractor in a garage with a concrete floor and not much clearance through the door. I don't want to tear up the floor but I'm not sure if the standard ladder chains will solve my sideways traction problems. Any thoughts?

daTeacha · Feb 2, 2007

The V-bars will increase your traction on ice more than regular chains and also give you an extra dimension of wear surface. However, as you might note, they will add a bit to the overall height. Why not just fold the ROPS when you park it? As far as tearing up your floor, a couple pieces of OSB could serve as a sacrificial surface while you have the chains on. Just lay them where the rears will roll.

wvrocks · Feb 2, 2007

I have a canopy on the ROPS that really makes it tough to fold. Actually it would probably be taller with it folded. I thought about the OSB on the floor and that would probably work fine inside but the apron outside would still take a hit. Still kind of leaning toward the v-bars though. I was plowing the edges of our road back the other day and slid right of the road. Not a very steep bank but enough that the tires just spun in the snow. I had to use the loader to walk myself out.

GaryM · Feb 2, 2007

I just received a set of Duo-Ladder chains from those folks. This is for R4 tires on a JD 4100. I also ordered a set of two link ladder chains for the front tires.

I considered the V-bars but didn't think I really needed that feature. I might be wrong, time will tell.

The folks at Tirechain.com were very helpful and the chains arrived in three days.

talltale · Feb 2, 2007

I bought a set of H pattern w/V bars for the rears and ladder chains for the front on my first tractor (Kubota L3830) from tirechains.com. The chains worked okay, but with R1s I couldn't keep them on top of the lugs no matter how mounted or tensioned them. I have 2 miles of mountainous gravel road to plow and had to resort to pushing snow down the mountain in reverse with my 7 foot rear blade. Otherwise, I was constantly being sucked off the road.
To give my neck and back a break I've upgraded to a bigger tractor, front mounted AnBo snowblade, weighted tires all around, and Trygg flexi chains front and rear. I think you'll find if you're doing serious snow removal you need serious chains designed to stay on top of the lugs, give you good side traction, and last a long time. Be prepared to drop around $1000.00, though.

George in Spokane · Feb 3, 2007

I've got the V bars on my 2wd Ferguson TO-35 and they are amazing! I am almost able to plow up hill.

They do chew up concrete so I have to hand shovel the pad infront of my garage.

knute_m · Feb 3, 2007

wvrocks said:
I have a NH TC-33DA and I'm looking to get some tire chains for the rear. I have about 1/3 mile gravel drive with 2 fairly steep hills to plow. With small snows I don't have any problem in 4wd. Once it gets packed down and icy or if I have to move a lot of snow I have problems with the back of the tractor "crabbing" around. I use a 7' rear blade and drive forward to plow. Tirechain.com has 4 styles that will fit my 15x19.5 R4's. 4 Link Ladder, Link V-bar Ladder, and 2link Ladder/Vbar ladder. I think i'm going to go with the 4 link version because of cost but can't decide on the V-Bars. I store the tractor in a garage with a concrete floor and not much clearance through the door. I don't want to tear up the floor but I'm not sure if the standard ladder chains will solve my sideways traction problems. Any thoughts?

WV,

Your driveway sounds exactly like mine -- except I'm in balmy Hampshire county.

I've got a smaller tractor and a 6-foot blade.

I've been using standard ladder chains for at least 30 years. For my present tractor, with R4s (loaded rears), I've got an old set of car chains for the front. For the back, I bought an old set of 4-link ladder truck chains on e-bay for about $30 -- but that was in the summer.

I've always had steep driveways. Over the years I've found that it doesn't take very much to greatly add traction when chains are added to loaded tires.

On my last tractor, I just used front chains, and it did amazingly well, pushing or pulling up the hill.

I found that all chains will really tear up concrete. My former garage had a lot ridges right at the apron where I backed in.

Keep warm.
Knute

gerard · Feb 3, 2007

I use the duo chains on ag tires which work fairly well for the cost and they don't tear things up too bad as long as your careful and don't spin the tires. As mentioned in a previous post to really do what you want you're looking at $1000 for a set of diamond pattern logging chains with carbide tips. Lot of chain and looks like a net so the chain doesn't drop between the tire lugs. All depends on how much snow you get and how deep your wallet is!

Oleozz · Feb 3, 2007

I just plowed my drive, R1's for tires, four link chains on the front, as telltale has said they ride down in the lugs and you don't get maximum grip from them. If I had it to do over, at least for Ag tires, I would pay the extra bucks and get the 2 link chains.

wvrocks · Feb 3, 2007

Thanks for the help everyone, I ended up ordering a set of 2 link ladders from tirechains.com. I'm hoping the 2 link set up will give me better coverage and when combined with loaded tires, better traction. Should be here on Tuesday. I was going to go with the duo's but the guy told me they can't be made for a 15x19.5 tire. Has to do with the spacing of the cross chains.

Egon · Feb 4, 2007

Your back may also thank you for a smoother ride. 4 link chains can be a rough ride on hard surfaces.

Catman1 · Feb 5, 2007

I have a 3/4 mile steep driveway. My old Ford 535 would not go up and down the road after I took the backhoe off and with standard chains on the rears. Back is too light and the Ford is 2WD. The tires would just spin and I would slide backwords (not fun!!). I had to go ask my neighbor with and old 1930's tractor with steel wheels (18 HP?) to pull me back up the hill. Very embarrassed.

SO I am getting a Kubota 4330 4WD and that should work better. We have had about 90" of snow and have not even got to Mar ans Apr which are our snowier months. When the wind blows 40 mph across the road (at 0 degrees F), I get 2 foot hard packed drifts. Hope the Kubota does it well.

Looks like the "diamond pattern logging chains with carbide tips" would be a good choice. Does anyone have a link or a source?

Oleozz · Feb 5, 2007

Welcome to the forum Catman. You either live up North or out West!! I bet your Kubota will do a fine job with the snow. Maybe Gerard will be able to help you locate the chains you are looking for.

JoeL4330 · Feb 5, 2007

my 4330 has turfs and so ladders on back and ladder v's on front work fine for me on .3mi uphill driveway ...blower on rear, buck on the front ...makeshift "cab" (golfcart cover on tufftop) ...pretty unstoppable

Catman1 · Feb 5, 2007

Thanks guys. We are in Colorado. Need to add that to the post heading.

I did have a question. I have to add tires to the order. I thought I would use the Industrial tires as described in the Kubota brochure. But are these R1's or R4's. I am confused now about that nomenclature. From other posts many say R1's have much more traction in the snow and work well with chains.

What should I consider for tires?

JoeL4330 · Feb 5, 2007

tire choice might depend more on what else you will be doin' w. the tractor after the snow is but a memory ...if you are gonna be in the muck, then R1 (those big V-shaped lugs ...i.e., the "real" tractor tire") might be right for you ...if you are workin' a loader hard, R4 industrial tread might be your favorite, and is more compatible with chains than R1s ...if you are mowin' lawn, then turf's do the least damage and are actually most "chain-friendly"

...again, depending, chains provide extra traction in mud, wet leaves, etc. as I posted above, my choice is "turfs" and they are loaded to counterbalance my FEL ...and, they work quite well in the snow, but for hills and ice, chains are my answer, as I posted above

tommu56 · Feb 5, 2007

The farmer that I use to live next too used old conveyor belt on floor to protect it all short scraps if you had a hight problem just use thinner belting at door or use 2x8 inside on each wheel track it will hold up better than wafer board.

tommu56

Catman1 · Feb 5, 2007

Thanks. I will probably get the Industrial R4's as I use the loader a lot in the summer. No grass cutting anytime. There will be some mud and a lot of snow work on 10 to 12 degree hills so I will opt for the chains, most likely the V's.

MikeyB · Feb 5, 2007

Catman1,

I too live in Co. outside Parker in Elbert county. We have had alot of snow as well, probably 75" or so this year. I have R4 tires on my JD 3320 and got some 2 link ladder chains from tirechains.com and am happy with them. Some of the cross links sit between the tire lugs but with the 2 link cross spacing enough of the cross chains stick out to give me traction. For us now, its the wind that is creating havoc. I get the driveway cleared and then it drifts in again with the blowing snow. Oh well, it's a great excuse to use the tractor!

Regards,
Mike