back at tire chains (???)

Last thing folks,
Just got an email from a chain source that says all they have is 12.4x36 (I need 32). Is it just as simple as getting the 32's and hooking them up shorter and wiring/tying the ends fast?
Also, the sites I found only recommend the ladder type for pavement then one says they don't recommend the ladder type for new tires. Do I count my blessings(?) and save money on tires by using chains with my balogna skins or will they work OK with the needed new tires?

Thanks, Dave

YES!

I have chains for 15.5x38 and put them on 16.9x30. That's exactly what I do. I'd never trim them, I might want them for a bigger tire someday.

The only reasone for trimming would be if the cross-bars actually interfered with each other. If that is not an issue, then just tie the side chains back.

The chains will never be shorter than when they are new. You may have to take out one or more cross chains, hang them up in a place that you will forget if you ever need them. Put the chains on the tires, cut off the excess leaving about five links, just to make it easy to hook up the next time.

The less tread you have, the better the ladder type works. New or fifty percent plus tread needs one of the types that will not fall in between the bars, or has such big links that they stick up above the tread anyway. The DUO-GRIP style is the next step up, they are ladder chains with the cross chains linked in pairs so they can not fall in between the treads. They are not really too aggressive for pavement, but I wouldn't' run any chains on dry pavement continuously. What you don't want on pavement is any type with studs, bars, or other additions to the basic link.

As long as you have fender room it will work but for shortning all you would do is cut 1 link on each side of each chain for a total of 4 links and save those links and what you have removed incase you will need longer at some time and then just weld that link back together. And the reason for not ladder type on new tires is that like I think all new tires now have seperate bars with a space in metween each mar and that cross chain will slip in between the bars and therefore will not do you any good if the lug of that tire is sticking up higher than the chain laying between the links, now like some were made years ago the tread bars were all connected with no place for that chain to drop into so with that type of tread they would work on a new tire. Now you will find the cross chains are smaller on the ladder type for smother riding and that is why recemonded for road use. If you would get the ladder type and later get the new tires chances are you would have to put a little of that length back on because of a bigger diameter and at that time just get some repair links and hook each pair of cross chains together and doing that they would not drop between the bars and it sounds like you need as smooth a road ride as you can get.

Ladder chains are about useless on Ag tires. The individual bars of the chain fall between the lugs and don't do much. A set of duo-grip style chains are much much better as no matter what the chain's stay up on top of the lugs.

hi you can get the road chains with cross chains every 2 side chain links. i have seen them advertised, im also wanting a set of tire chains 12-4.24 . i will be traveling on pavement and off , depending on what and where i need to be. i like the duo style but they will tear the pavement up and wear quickly, the ladder chains are ok if you go with the links every 2 side links this keeps the chain on top of your tires.the biggest problem is the quailty and price, to me some are cheaper and made in china and others are home grown and more $$$$$$$. ethier set you choose cost TOO MUCH. my tires are fairly new and are front tires , i cant put chains on the rears , the fenders are too close etc.... still debateing i may say the heck with them.just my .02cts. have a good 1

Dave as the other guys have said the ladder chains will fall between the lugs. I have this style on my tractor that I use for plowing snow and if you don't go wide open on bare roads they don't ride too bad. As far as the size you can always cut the 36 down to fit the 32. The set that I have was for 28 and I needed for 38 I just added what I needed and it works.

I don't use chains on my tractors cause they are toys and they don't go out in the little bit of snow we get here. However I did find a new set of big truck chains laying on the shoulder of I-5 when I stopped to take the ones off the truck I was driving. They were for 11/22.5 truck tires. I needed Chains for my old GMC 2500 with 33/12.5x16.5 tires on the back. The truck chains were the correct width, just too long. I cut them for length, and now have a great set of chains that have the larger size chain on the cross links. makes for a rougher ride on Ice or pavement, but it really excavates snow when the going gets tough.
Tim in OR

I don't use chains on my tractors cause they are toys and they don't go out in the little bit of snow we get here. However I did find a new set of big truck chains laying on the shoulder of I-5 when I stopped to take the ones off the truck I was driving. They were for 11/22.5 truck tires. I needed Chains for my old GMC 2500 with 33/12.5x16.5 tires on the back. The truck chains were the correct width, just too long. I cut them for length, and now have a great set of chains that have the larger size chain on the cross links. makes for a rougher ride on Ice or pavement, but it really excavates snow when the going gets tough.
Tim in OR

Well.....maybe......all depends on the angle of the lugs.
I have been using truck "ladder" chains on my ol" WD for years and I have no problem.
This past summer I had to use the double ring chains on my WD-45 to pull the WD out of the mud after I got stuck while bushhogging. Those double rings work real good in the mud and clean themselves nicely. However, on solidly frozen ground or ice, I still prefer the ladder chains.

Stealing your thread here Dave (don't use your people skills on me!)

Will these work OK, once I move the fenders up? They are off a narrower tire and I'm hoping to use them on this tractor this winter.

Do they come down the sides far enough for safety, or will they try to walk off?


Thanks,

Bob if you can get them tight enough then they should stay on.

I think that they are too short. You will probably spin them off. Chains usually need to be a 1/4 to 1/3 down the side of the tire.

Ladder chains will not gain you much bite. I use the "h" chains on all of my tractors.

As for the size you can just wire the extra on around the tire. Just don't drive fast on the road. The tail will come loose and wipe out your fenders/lights.