educate me on tractor tire chains

Nobody here uses them. Do you leave them on all winter, even if there is no snow? Do they help on soft ground, or when the ground is frozen under a thin layer of mud? I see several used sets on eBay, but they only tell the length, how do I know what they fit? Thanks for the help!

Typically, they will stay on all winter. Double ring type seem to be very common. They can help on soft ground, semi/frozen ground or light to heavy snow cover and ice. Some may use them for traction all year. Some have turf tires and need them all year. I use double ring chains on ag tires and though they are not on yet this year, might not need them, but I'll use them in snow ice and or frozen ground with no snow cover, as I don't see the need to take them off for that. My tractor usually gets parked inside the heated garage, so they don't rust and when I am done with them they go into 2 separate bags, dry, clean and shiny, so in case I ever sell them, it ought to bring a little more.

These chains are great for additional traction, but by the same means you can easily churn your tires in deep with them on, if in a soft spot, the same rules apply, don't make it worse by spinning the wheels, they can and will dig aggressively, the double ring type.

You can find out what size you need, more or less, but it is an approximate art. Pick a spot on the tire sidewall where you think the side chain should come down to, usually about halfway down is where I aim for. Then measure the diameter of a circle from that point to the same point on the other side of the tire. Multiply by pi and that gives the minimum length for your side chains. The measure from the original point up and over the tread of the tire to the same point on the inside sidewall. This gives the minimum length for the cross chains. If you find a chain that you like the prie of and want to know if it will fit just reverse this procedure. Start by taking the cross chain length and seeing how far it would come down both sidewalls, then check the diameter of the circle from that point. There are different kinds of tire chains, I have had duo grip and ladder type chains and much prefer the duo grip for snow and ice. I do not like to drive on bare frozen ground or on hard gravel roads or pavement with chains on as it is hard on the chain and the tire. Once the snow goes in the spring the chains come off both tractors. I have never had double ring chains and can't comment on them.
Zach

The used sets on ebay are being advertised wrong. They should be specifying the tire size(s) they fit, not length.

Unfortunately people don't always know/remember what the chains came off of, so all they can do is lay them out and measure. I'm not aware of any easy cross-reference.

Once the chains go on, they stay on until spring thaw. It's too much work to take them on and off.

We've generally used double-ring chains, though sometimes a worn-out cross chain has been replaced with a twisted-link style because of cost. Replacement cross chains weren't cheap, and new chains were outrageous. We didn't have tirechainsDOTcom or the internet...

Hi I will help with your education! Never put in cement mixer to clean them up for paint. Ed will 0* c calm

I use the double ring style for driveway plowing and pulling out some fire wood. I usually put mine on once winter sets in forgood. the first part of the year when the groundis not frozen traction can be had easier than on frozen dirt or gravl. They can turn your machine from snowplow to ditch digger in no time if you aren't careful. On hard packed snow and a 2wheel drive machine they arent a nice to have they are a need to have item

I had to give dad a pull on Sunday while he was hauling manure over done frozen playing because we don't have a good set of chains for that tractor. The back tires both dropped in a hole, and couldn't scratch out in the frozen ground. If he had chains on I never would have had to go out there to help. Once I pulled him about 6"he was free.

Donovan from Wisconsin

IMHO double ring chains are the best style. They seem to get a better grip in snow and mud. Usually put them on when expecting snow and don't take them off until spring. Fair warning, be very careful with chains on ice. They soon turn into ice skates. Don't ask how I know.

My dbl rings go on about Labor Day and come off about 4th of July, but my tires don't have tread so much as they have vague humps on the otherwise smooth surface...... :roll:

Get the double ring ones. I have an old set of traditional chains that I use on a tractor for winter traction - it tears up the lugs. I think double ring would be better for that. I don't have any on my chore tractor but it is loaded to the gills and will spin but not get stuck. I sure wish I had a set for the mixer grinder. I have more trouble pulling that and keeping it from sliding into the vs in mud and snow. My uncle's feed truck has them on all year but it is never on the blacktop or sees fourth gear.

I've used both double ring and twisted link, and while I can't prove it with hard data, I believe the double ring give you more traction but wear out a bit faster and cost more than 'standard' (twisted link). It may depend on your needs, your budget, and your uncommon sense in not going where your tractor shouldn't go. My chains go on at the first snow fall (usually October), and don't come off until the ground firms up about late May.

Either type of chains will dig holes in a hurry, even in frozen ground. In my experience, neither type are 'easy' on tires if you're pulling hard. Then again, it may depend on how much lug you have on your tires, and how much weight.