How to Purchase Tire Chains

[Welshmom]

I need to get a set of chains for my utility tractor to do the driveway. A few hours on my sloped driveway after a 15 inch snowfall have convinced me!

I have never bought chains before, and am not sure what to look for. But boy, they are expensive! I don't want to get the wrong ones. I have 16.9-30 tires. I looked at this site
http://www.tirechain.com/16.9-30.htm

and they have several styles. I would need them for snow clearing.
What do you guys recommend? And will I need any special tools to get them on or off, or adjusted? I assumed I'd just drive over the chains and hook them on.... any other words of advice?

[foxtrapper]

Frequently Walmart carries tire chains for lawn tractors. Much cheaper.

Conventional ladder chains tend to roll in between the tread blocks of the tire, and then no longer touch the ground. Kinda defeats the purpose. Cross linked chains (this source calls them "duo") hold the chains so that only some of it can drop between the tread blocks. So you have chain on the ground, giving traction.

Chains come in various link types. The more edges you have, the better the dig in traction will be. What they call the v-bar is a very good example of this, with a welded on cross bar on each link. Digs in nicely in hardpack and ice. Their double d-ring is at the other end of the chain spectrum, and not as well suited for ice. Though it would probably work better than the v-bar is grassy mud.

[Sawmill Jim]

A 16.9-30 isn't a lawn tractor size might check for used chains from places that have logging equipment or used parts as they are the same size

[Minelson]

Thanks for posting this Welshmom, we just realized from this past blizzard that we need tire chains for our tractor too ...so any information passed on is greatly appreciated.

[Micheal]

If you think the cost of the chains are outta sight wait till you see what it will cost for freight. If it was me, I'd try logging suppliers or agriculure dealers for what you're looking for.
I bought mine way back in the 60's for my first tractor, an 8N, used them on the Ford 3000, and they are now being used on my TN-60.
In fact I just put them on 3 days ago, took about an hour; between the weight of the chains, cold/numbing hands, and tractor fenders it does take a while to get them on and adjusted so they won't roll off the wheel.
Mine require nothing more than "effort" to install as they have their own locking end that goes through the chain and folds back on it's self locked in place by a slip-ring.
They are a double ring style and personally I've not had any trouble on any type winter surface be it snow or ice.

[fantasymaker]

You might try a local farm supply house, some thing like Rural King , fleet and farm or tractor supply. On ice I dont worry alot about the cross bars falling between the tire lugs. It seems like when they do they sort wedge into the edge of the lug when the tire starts to spin.
In emergancys I have taken a chain and wrapped it around the tire and thru the wheel, works passably

[SFM in KY]

Originally Posted by Welshmom

And will I need any special tools to get them on or off, or adjusted? I assumed I'd just drive over the chains and hook them on.... any other words of advice?

I've never had a lawn tractor so only chains I've dealt with have been pickup chains.

As for putting them on, I was always taught to drape them over the top of the tires, bringing the fasteners down to the bottom, and you fasten them as tightly as possible at the bottom. Once all the chains are in place and fastened, you drive forward a half tire roll so you can get to the area where the fasteners. This will let you snug the chains up tighter, refasten and the chains will be tight against the tire.

It may be different with a lawn tractor, I'm not sure, but no special tools are necessary to put pickup chains on, though I've occasionally used fencing pliers to break ice away from the fasteners when necessary.

[Gianni]

There used to be a set of strap on chains for larger tires that held 2 lengths of chain and the strap went through the wheel rims slots to lock. I don't know if they are still made but 3 sets per tire were all we needed growing up.

[artificer]

The duo-grip V-bar chains are fantastic on ice. I use our JD310 backhoe to plow our tractor road/driveway. Before the chains, I couldn't drive up the road. (fairly steep...had to crab walk using the back hoe) After the chains, I can go almost anywhere, even on glare ice. Not to be used on pavement, however. Whats nice about the backhoe is I have that instantly adjustable ballast on the back. I can almost float the front wheels, so excellent traction for a 2 wheel drive tractor.

Shipping a couple of years ago was something like $60/chain to Wisconsin.

The web site has installation instructions, as well as optional tools to use.

Michael

Edit: I used bungee cords to tension the chains. 4-6/side, if I remember correctly

[Welshmom]

Thanks for the replies! Yes, this is not for a lawn tractor, this is an ag tractor. I don't know if I should spend the extra for the v-bar - I wonder if regular chains will do the trick? My driveway is gravel/lawn, but I do take some bucketsful of snow and dump them across the road, which is pavement. (Especially in these very heavy deep snows, I run out of space near my garage/parking area to pile it up) I assume th v-bars would be bad for the road then?

[artificer]

The V-bar chains can have limited use on good road material. On driveways or other lighter duty surfaces they cause problems. Unless you have problems with ice, the V-bar's aren't necessary. Constant use on the road could chew it up over time. Our county snow plows have the v-bar chains, if I'm not mistaken.

Any of the tire chains are better than just the tires. If you have turf tires, the dou chains aren't needed either, just the ladder style. As others have said, the dou style keeps the chains from disappearing between the lugs on ag tires.

For my backhoe, I wanted the most nasty, highest traction chains I could get for a reasonable price. In your case, I would probably spend the extra $78 and get the dou's instead of the ladder style. The extra $195 for the v-bar is probably overkill.

Michael

[highlands]

This shows the chains we have:

http://sugarmtnfarm.com/blog/2009/01...tor-wheel.html

They were $800 for the pair and after eight and a half years they're still doing well. I leave them on year round for traction and they protect the tires which cost $1,000 each. I wish I had the chains on the front sometimes.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
Save 30% off Pastured Pork with free processing: http://SugarMtnFarm.com/csa
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project: http://SugarMtnFarm.com/butchershop

[lonelytree]

Pewag tire chains are some of the best made.

[Welshmom]

I checked around several places locally, the prices varied wildly. I finally found one of the local IH dealers who checked in back and found a used pair in exactly the right size - and for only $195

I put them on tonight, not too much trouble, and they seem to work great. Put some bungies on to keep them tightened, got them all tightened on.... I think I'm good to go! I tried them out tonight a bit, was able to plow right through an area that made my tires spin last week yay.

[fantasymaker]

If ya decide you really need bar type chains you can always have the highschool ag class weld some bars on yours for the practice valude.

[ronbre]

anyone considering them for road traffic, check your state regulations..some states they are illegal..

[farminghandyman]

you could check Ebay,

I have seen if you have holes in the rim to put a section of chain around the tire and through the rim and bolt it on,
just one loop at a time, if you can get 4 or 6 loops of individual chain on it can help,

(it is not really tire chains) but will help on ice and other where it needs to cut into, and considerably cheaper,

another place is military surplus, many of the 5 ton trucks use a large 14 20" tire that is about the size of a tractor tire,

IF you know what your looking for length and width I have seen some chains for big trucks that may be able to work,