I have been looking at tire chains for about a month now and they haunt my dreams. I am stuck between a set of V-bar or diamond chains. I almost got stuck twice last year and I would rather not repeat that. I don't plan on needing them much as I live in Olahoma City but I drive to Nebraska and Colorado quite a bit. What chains seem to work the best on the four corners of CTD? If anyone has and advice I would appreciate it.

 

When I bought mine, I looked for the "strongest" chain I could find that wasn't ridicules in price, could stand up to driving on the road if I had to, and wouldn't destroy my tires in the process. Square cross link chains was what I got and they work great. I only have a set for the back and I've been in at least 1' of snow with a flat bed trailer and did just fine. If I had a set for the fronts too then I probably be able to go just about anywhere I wanted in any snow bound condition.

 

I picked up a set, sometimes you need them in the vehicle to go over the pass. I choose the V bar type, with double cross chains. A bit more expensive, but if needed will have more traction, and should be smother to ride on as you are on a chain, rather than going over one.

 

Where I live gets a heck of a lot more snow than OK but I haven't needed tire chains since I started getting my tires siped.
Been over ten years, had to chain up only once when it was required on the interstate in in California.
What a joke, the road was better than any Montana road is for 4 months every year.

Siping> http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tireSiping.dos

 

I made my own chains. Went to a local truck stop and they gave me all the chain I needed (pieces from broken big rig chains). I then made my own custom fit set for all 4 tires. I use them almost every year when hunting in Colorado and they are great!

I too had to put them on coming over Donner summit one year. "What a joke" I agree 100%. But then I know how to drive in snow where as 99.9% of the people in Ca don't have a clue (I figure the other .1% are reading this post).

 

So you've all discovered that Californians cant drive in the snow. Well at least thats what the highway department thinks. At the first sign of snow, they shut down I-5 north of Redding. Kind of a joke. Just because we dont get snow or ice on a regular basis like some states, that doesn't mean every Californian is inept to drive on anything but warm 4 lane asphalt.

 

http://tirechaindealer.com/catalog/p...roducts_id=124

Think i am going to go with a set(4) of these.

 

Ah...i might have read this wrong, but if you have a four wheel drive truck and only one set of chains put them on the front first. Traction for drive and steering then, not just drive. But i may have read your comment wrong.

I personally picked mine up used, and ended up with three sets. One set only fits my summer tires (wide 265/75), one set only fits my winter tires (235/85), and one set sorta fits both. That way i can chain all the way round any time of year and i dont think i have more then a 20 or two into it.

Chains work well in mud too...and i have seen snow as late as July 4th...thus summer chains two

Ah but of course that was a year or two ago...two years in Germany, one year in Iraq...and my father driving/storing/pilfering my truck...who knows what i have now.

Anyway...hope it helps
Rob

 

I keep a set of the flat chains in my truck, but have never needed them.

They are "premium" chains for ice driving. I have a set of v-bars for the Tahoe, but have never ran them either. Across the NW they aren't as strict if you have good tires and 4x4.

Get a good set and use short rubber holdzit straps crisscrossed to hold them and you won't have any loose chain beating your fenderwells!

 

Don't need them often in OK but when you do they are a life saver!
I use the plain old medium twisted link kind myself. I keep 2 sets on hand along with repair parts.
Just got back from CO. where we chained up and drove every day Elk hunting, chain adjusters are a lot handier than using a bunch of bungy straps. I bought my spare parts at tirechains.com , they were good to deal with.

 

I have V-bars for my dually and they work very well especially in the deep snow and ice. I've pulled my GN trailer out twice in blizzard conditions with them.

I can usually put them on in 10-15 min in the snow.

You really need waterproof gloves with insulation as you get wet and cold.

It is also a good idea to make sure all the links are straight before you need them. Nothing like trying to straighten bent hooks in a blizzard.

I thought it was a good idea to have a tapered 2 x 6 about 3 feet long to drive up on the inner duals. Bad idea in the snow it flew 6 feet just inching up on it. Burned it for firewood. haha