Tire chains - love em or hate em
Spent all morning trying to get 60+ sets of tire chains in Oklahoma City.
I hate tire chains, they tear up more stuff, like wrapping around the axles, coming off hitting fenders, etc,etc.
If it were left up to me I would not waste my time on them, but, Hey I dont own this place.
Called every swinger in the yellow pages.
Ended up with 3 sets for the trucks and set for the forklift.
Thats all there is in OKC, period.
The ones for the forklift are really funny looking.
They are light coil springs over the tires with bungi cords holding them on the wheels.
Bunch of non-drivers here.
Walte
I hate tire chains, they tear up more stuff, like wrapping around the axles, coming off hitting fenders, etc,etc.
If it were left up to me I would not waste my time on them, but, Hey I dont own this place.
Called every swinger in the yellow pages.
Ended up with 3 sets for the trucks and set for the forklift.
Thats all there is in OKC, period.
The ones for the forklift are really funny looking.
They are light coil springs over the tires with bungi cords holding them on the wheels.
Bunch of non-drivers here.
Walte
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I had to put mine on on Tuesday when Portland OR got hit with a bit of a snow storm. I had the nice chains with the quick connect on the back side but I still managed to get one twisted and had to take it off and correct it.
But they work great! I had no chance of making it back up the hill to my home. Slid down twice trying. Put on the chains and walked up that hill like it wasen't even there. Passed all the 4x4s that were spinning out of control, quite a fun experience.0 -
Back in Brooklyn, NY I would keep two or three strap chains in the trunk just in case my car got stuck in a snowmound by the curb. Aside from getting my pants knees wet and dirty, they were easy on, easy off and worked well until the strap got soaking wet and stretched out.
Only drove with full sets of chain twice over the years but they worked great and got me through a near blizzard and another nasty freak snowstorm.0 -
I hate chains and won't use them. I can get around just as well by lowering the air pressure in the tires. 0 -
Get em tight and use stretchers! And be sure your tires have the tread (claws) to keep them from spinning around on the tire!
OH and do not think you can drive 60 mph with them on. [:D]
Take your time.
Studs are just about as good (better on ice) But for deep snow (or mud) nothing beats a good set of chains! (the ones with the little bars aross the links)
Saw someone mention 4x4's. Front wheel drive will take you places on the street where 4 wheel drive will just get you deeper in the ditch!
imho
Does anyone know or ever heard how to steer out of a skid with front wheel drive?? Or is it possible to skid one? I've slid one on a iced up parking lot by slamming on the brakes but couldn't get it to go into a skid. Got it to dig sideways a bit but thats all. (couldn't get up enough speed in reverse either) [8D]
Allen0 -
quote:Originally posted by minitruck83
Get em tight and use stretchers! And be sure your tires have the tread (claws) to keep them from spinning around on the tire!
OH and do not think you can drive 60 mph with them on. [:D]
Take your time.
Studs are just about as good (better on ice) But for deep snow (or mud) nothing beats a good set of chains! (the ones with the little bars aross the links)
Saw someone mention 4x4's. Front wheel drive will take you places on the street where 4 wheel drive will just get you deeper in the ditch!
imho
Has anyone know or ever heard how to steer out of a skid with front wheel drive?? Or is it possible to skid one? I've slid one on a iced up parking lot but couldn't get it to go into a skid. (couldn't get up enough speed in reverse either)
Allen
As per the collaborative work of the experts who create the various texts and programs used by schools and DMV's:
With front wheel drive, steer into the direction of the skid and give it gas ever so gently to help pull the car out of it. Don't brake. Don't punch the peddle. Don't coast.0 -
...minitruck...+1 on taking your time. When I was young, I put chains on Dad's '66 International PU, and thought I could drive 55+. Wrapped 'em around the axle and snapped both brake lines.
...They're great on the tractor for snow plowing, especially if there's ice underneath.0 -
[/quote]
As per the collaborative work of the experts who create the various texts and programs used by schools and DMV's:
With front wheel drive, steer into the direction of the skid and give it gas ever so gently to help pull the car out of it. Don't brake. Don't punch the peddle. Don't coast.
[/quote]
Thanks! Kinda makes sense. (same as rear wheel drive) I couldn't get a fwd car to skid by trying to and was curious. When much younger I used to play on frozen rivers and got fairly good at it. (nothing like open water coming up fast to give you incentive) [:0] And always try to find out how a car will perform in an emergency. Hope to never have to use it but it's kinda nice to know ahead of time what a car is going to do.
Allen0 -
When I was a child in the 60's, my dad had a van he used for his burglar alarm business. We were driving at about 35 mph from Limon to Sterling, CO in a vicious snowstorm. He had chained up in Last Chance and I settled in the back to try to take a nap. I was curled up with my head resting on the fender well when the chain came off the tire and beat a furious tattoo on the sheet steel under my noggin. I haven't had much use for them since. If the weather requires chains be used in this tiny town, I walk. 0 -
[8D]-I've had 4wd wehicles since the 60's--
--never had chains-never needed chains--
--Like Sir Nunn says-lower air pressure and you can go anywhere--
--[xx(][xx(]--JIMBO0 -
After 16 years of driving truck and alot of that pulling double trailers with a single drive tractor, if my 4 wheel drive won't get me there I ain't going.
Any of you try hanging 3 sets of chains to fit a big truck? And 1 of those sets being a 3rail chain that covers 2 tires at one time.
I have done it more times than I can begin to count.
I don't do chains anymore!0 -
Don't use them very often but when I do I prefer cables over chains, tuff to find for truck sized tires. 0 -
Carry chains in my truck always. So far I have not had to put them on in 25 years, but they are ready. No fun to put on, but nothing gets you through as well. 0 -
I hate 'em too, but when you absolutely have to be mobile, such as an emergency response vehicle, sometimes you have to go with chains in my part of the country.
We rarely get much snow, usually just sleet and freezing rain. Lowering tire pressure can work with a layer of snow over ice, but down here if we get anything it's usually just smooth ice. With this being an irregular occurrence our street/highway departments aren't really equipped to keep the roads clear. If you have to stop or slow significantly on even a slight grade or well crowned road in this stuff you're completely up the creek.
I've seen a many a northerner griping about how these screwed up southerners can't drive in winter conditions, then end up either in a ditch or totally immobilized on the road. Then you hear them griping about how screwed up southern winter weather is. [:D]0 -
I lived in Alaska 5 yr.s and only had to chain up once when we got 18" over night. And then I only had them on for 100 yd.s till I hit the main road. They have snow plows going 24/7 during that time of the year. Tire chains are nothing more then strap-on speed bumps! They keep drivers from driving like it's July on clear roads! And that's the only good thing about them. (TRICK) get your car up in the air and let all the air out of your tires, then put on the chains, as tight as you can, THEN air the tires back up! The chains will be on rock hard! And you wouldn't have to worry about throwning them! Good Luck!! 0 -
Last time I chained up, I twisted the drive shaft in two. 0 -
I have a steep gravel driveway that is 1/2 mile long. I have had some real adventures on it in ice and snow. For 9 years I had a two wheel drive truck. I had to put 12 concrete blocks in the back and put on the chains. Sometimes, I had to chain up front and back when going downhill, so I could steer.
I got real sick of chains.
Now I have a 4 wheel drive truck. I have two sets of wheels. In November, I go to the tire store and have them put on my studded snow tires. No more chains, thank God.0 -
Looked all over creation for a set of chains.
Found them.
Never used 'em. I dread the day...0 -
Before they became illegal where I lived, tight chains were the best followed by studded snow tires and lastly plain snow tires. Good chains had no springs or straps. You could confidently go anywhere with them but not at today's highway speeds.
Firestone had a herringbone pattern snow tire that worked well.
They advertised "You go in the snow or we'll pay the tow".0 -
A $5.00 set of chains from yard sale got me to work in the 80's & 90's quite of few times in southern Indiana to make $200.00[:D] 0 -
I'm like allen griggs and live off the road with a steep driveway. I put chains on my tractor every fall to clear my driveway. If I don't have them, it just sits and spins. Had to use it for the first time this week. Threw off my left chain, and had to put it back on. What a pain. I hate those chains but don't know what I would do without them. 0
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