Why do tire chains work?

[LouNY]

My oldest set is around 12-15 years old and hasn't needed much for repair so far. Occasionaly I'll have to replace a clevis were they join together.
The grip is so smooth and continuous that there is no slip and jerk which is what is so rough on ladder chains.

 

[HellBender]

So the chain is breaking the ice at every contact point, makes since. In my head it just seems like a smooth chain would be slick on ice. I'm from the deep south so I've never even seen a tire chain lol.

Thanks for the info guys!

Your not entirely wrong thinking that way. I could never get my garden tractor with front mount snowblower loaded onto my tilt trailer with it's ply wood deck. Even with a running shot, it would slide back down. Little contact area and less pressure due to the front impliment's weight, the chains couldn't claw into the wood. But snow and ice. No problem.