What kind of tire chains are best

[Tiptoptune]

Looking for advice on what are best to use, chains or cables? Have 03 Silverado 4x4 Dually that I may wish to use them on the front or outer rear. Any specific brands to use or stay away from? Any tips?

Thanks for the help

[Kennedy]

I'll see if I can snag Tanker from the 5'er forum. He has an automaic tire chain system on his Sub...

[Idle_Chatter]

Tanker has the On Spot chain system. It's used on oil delivery trucks and schoolbuses. It's rear wheel only and uses pneumatic motors to lever a rubber wheel against the inside of the rear tires that rotates several short chains and "flails" them under the tire as it turns the wheel. Pretty ingenious, but I think it's designed for slow-speed occasional use only. They have a web page with photos and such, search for On Spot.

[arveetek]

Yeah, Tanker's are custom made. One of the coolest accessories I've ever seen though! I mean, automatic tire chains! :cool:

Casey

[Idle_Chatter]

Nope, Tanker's chains are not custom made but purchased from http://www.onspot.com/
As a matter of fact, I think Tanker's 'Burb is on the Onspot page as the last photo in the "Other Trucks" gallery!

[ 11-14-2003, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: Idle_Chatter ]

[tanker]

Ok, here goes. :rolleyes: I have "OnSpot" automatic tire chains on my suburban. I sell them where I work and most are installed on Fuel oil delivery trucks, and LP gas bobtails. They don't make a set for the suburban. Why? Well I had to do some modifications to the one crossmember in front of my rear axle. "OnSpot" will not and cannot tell someone to cut parts out of their vehicle, so I bought the components and installed them. They can and will fit to a pickup because they can mount the chain units behind the rear axle. On a suburban the fuel tank is behind the axle, so I had to mount them in front of the axle, relocate my exhaust pipe etc. The price is $1395.00 USD and the air kit (compressor-tank & brackets) is $365.00 USD
Do they work? Yes they are excellent on hard packed snow, ice, and black ice. A switch in the cabin is turned on, which opens a solenoid, which sends air to the two air-brake style cylinders. The cylinders push an arm with a chain wheel on one end. The chain wheel has a rubber tire on its circumferenc which makes contact with the vehicle tire, and the six chain lengths on each chain wheel are thrown under the tire for traction. You can engage them at 20-25 mph, then you can drive up to about 40 mph while they are engaged. The chains are very hard (grade-8 style) so they wear better than conventional chains. You don't need to stop, or get out to engage them or disengage them. they are always with you. I use them a lot on our lousy Pennsylvania high crowned roads in packed snow and ice, no slipping or sliding. I remove them from spring till late fall. Takes about 1/2 hour each fall to reinstall them. Hope this answers any questions anyone may have about them. (Yes they also work in reverse) ;)

[Tiptoptune]

Tanker, I have seen these auto chain systems but not up close. Thanks for the info. I have always wondered how they do not break the mount for is there not equal force against the mount and the needed traction force to propel the vehicle? I relate this to an instance I had, I was driving a pickup with a 3/4" rope tied to the metal ladder rack and the rope end blew out of the truck and went under the rear tire and made a heck of a bang that I felt in the cab while driving about 30 mph when the rope got tight. Is this not the same forces that would the auto chain mount would see?

Thanks to all, but my pocket book not that deep, although I am sure I would use them alot more if auto. Any ideas on the good ole manuals? Wondering if chains or cables are the way to go to use on both the front or outer rear dual?

Thanks Ken

[TxDoc]

We don't have proper snow clearing equipment here in Texas. You are own your own. I bought cable chains from SSC chain company. The cables ride smooth, start and stop great on ice--which seems to be what we get, ice and freezing rain.

I bought:
http://www.scc-chain.com/NewFiles/Seasonal%20Pages/Traction%20Products/szlt_products.html this Super Z LT. They come in a box that is easily stored for use. Two hookups on the tire, one inside and one out. Rubber tensioner keeps it tight, no adustment. They work fine with ABS, too.

Also read for info:

http://www.scc-chain.com/NewFiles/Seasonal%20Pages/fact_or_fiction.html

Super Z LT offers the same performance features as Shur Grip Z:

* Fastest, easiest installation of any traction product.

* Better all-around traction performance than conventional tire chains
or cable chains.

* Greater durability than conventional tire chains or cable chains.

* Better compatibility with anti-lock brakes, traction control, all-wheel drive and other electronically-monitored control systems.

* Meets S.A.E. Class "S" clearance requirements for vehicles with limited clearances.

* Low potential for damage to vehicle body and mechanical components, even when abused.

Which Winter Traction Products have the best traction?

There are many types of traction, but here are two rules that can serve as reliable guidelines:

* Products with cross member patterns that are criss-crossed or diagonal shaped will generally provide more starting, stopping and cornering traction than products whose cross members are parallel to each other.

* Ladder style link chain will generally perform better in deep snow (more than 8 inches) than ladder style cable chains.

A good way to actually see the traction provided by each traction type, is to look at the snow tracks.
Click this for patterns:
http://www.scc-chain.com/NewFiles/Seasonal%20Pages/track_description.html


Which tires should I chain up?

The vehicle's drive tires are the tires on which traction devices should be installed. On vehicles with front-wheel drive this would be the two front tires and on rear wheel drives this would be the rear tires. If you're not sure which type of drive system you have, check the owner's manual. Also, if you have four-wheel drive or all wheel drive and only intend to chain up two tires, always check the owner's manual for advice on which axle to chain up. To alleviate confusion and retain as much of the normal handling characteristics of your 4WD/AWD as possible, install traction devices on all four tires.

Under normal driving conditions, a vehicle has about the same amount of traction at each wheel, creating a feeling of "normal" control during braking, acceleration and cornering. Under snow and ice conditions this balance is destroyed. If winter traction products are installed only on the front tires, the rear of the vehicle can swing around during braking and cornering. If winter traction products are installed only on the rear tires, the steering ability of the vehicle is limited. To get this balance back, the vehicle should be completely equipped with traction devices.

Remember that traction devices are sold in pairs. Therefore, if you want to cover both axles (all four tires) on the vehicle, you must purchase two pairs.

Any NAPA auto store should have them or can order.
Good Luck.

[tanker]

Ken, I have used a few sets of V-bar chains that I had for my old suburban, I have chained up all four once when plowing snow in an ice storm. They are a pain to install, easy at home in the garage :D but sometimes you need them on the road. I never used cable chains, but I think they give more clearance, and will rride better. Not sure how they will wear on the blacktop.

[letsgo]

If the cable chains are what I think they are, be careful, they start to loosen up after a few miles, they then tend to wrap themselves around the disc brake calipers if used on the front wheels.

good luck