Tire Chains - best style

[Jay4200]

What would give better grip climbing hills: a duo-grip or 2-link ladder chain?

I'll be climbing a gravel driveway that has a fairly steep section with my 4x4 Kubota (w/ turfs), and will be pushing a 650# snowblower in reverse. I'll probably put chains on both front and back, but hope to get a freebie set of truck chains that I can kludge onto the front wheels. I was originally planning on a 2-link ladder chain for the rear, but saw the duo-grip chains which look pretty cool and are cheaper, although they don't appear to have as many cross-links as the ladder.

41-14-20 Tire Chains

I've never bought or used chains on my tractor before, so any other relevant advice is appreciated.

thanks - JayC

 

[Gordon Gould]

I would definately go with an "H" pattern like the "duo-grip" with either v-bars or studs. Mine has welded studs and they make my tractor virtually unstoppable on ice and snow. Good in the woods to but not for asphalt.
They are made in Norway. Brand name is Tellefsdal and were less money through my dealer than any internet chains I could find.
Here is a picture I had from this spring. Blow it up to get a good look at the chains.

 

[Jay4200]

Hey Gordon -

Yup - those chains ARE nasty alright. Nice road grader too - is that a DIY?

I tried to find distributor/dealer information for Tellefsdal chains in the USA, but had no luck. Do you have any contact information I could try?

What do you suppose those chains would do to concrete? I park my tractor in a concrete-floored garage bay.

JayC

 

[JerryK]

I have chains simular to the Duo-grip with bars. The bars really chip up the concrete in the pole barn. Since I park in the barn, if I ever bought new chains, I would go without the bars. But, heh, that is just me....

 

[JCB]

2 link ladder chains on my truck are pretty awesome and I'd recommend them for anything, but gordon's chains look nasty and probably have even better grip.

That said even standard chains are a huge improvement and if you are parking on concrete pay heed to what Jerry said.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I bought my chains through Desmarais Equipment in Orleans, VT.
802-754-6629. Andy is a good guy to talk to. There is a distributor in Manchester, NH. Will have to get back to you on info there.
I also park in garage. I put down an old piece of plywood on concrete floor.

 

[lungdoc]

The two link chains may be smoother on hard surfaces. I use 4 link V-bar front and Duo-ladder combination chains on the rears. Work very well in anything I've encountered. The V-bars do dig in a lot. I cover concrete with some old plywood (and just move a couple of pieces to drive out) to prevent damage.

 

[jonsstihl]

since we are on the subject of protecting concrete. just thought I would share my experience.

I used to work at a ski hill driving the snow cats grooming the trails and they had carbide ice picks on the tracks that would shatter the concrete so when we pulled them into the garage for maintenance we drove them up on sections of old conveyor belts from a quarry. That saved the concrete.

I suppose those horse stall mats or rubber mats for stairs would work also. the conveyor belts where only about 3/4 inch thick but they did the job and looked cleaner than a bunch of plywood lying around.

although plywood is cheap if you have some scraps lying around

 

[arrow]

Any chains will help a great deal. I have 4 link regular chains on all tires and even these made my tractor virtually unstopable when pushing snow or skidding logs in snow and ice. I have ags on my tractor and found the chains to fall nicely into the ground as the tires rotated. I do not snug up the chians any more tightly than I can by hand meaning I do not use a leverage device.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Could not find the info on the distributor in Manchester, NH. Sorry. It was an old e-mail. I e-mailed a question to Norway and the response came back from Manchester.

 

[Chilly807]

I've got the same chains Gordon does, mine are branded "Norse", but are made by Tellefsdal.
Very well made chain, I drove a fair bit on pavement this past winter keeping a friend's driveway clear, and there is virtually no wear on the studs.

As someone else mentioned, they are meant to be run loose.. the instructions say that the chains should rotate around the tire 30 cm after driving 1 km. Mine do that, no problems with them coming off or slapping the fenders once they're adjusted right. You should be able to get a clenched fist between the sidewall and the side chains.

If you do get them, use the roll pin link fasteners instead of the twist-lock joiners, they come with both.

They really impressed me with traction, very little slippage on ice and snow, both on finished surfaces and around the woods during the winter.

Sean

 

[Jay4200]

I bought my chains through Desmarais Equipment in Orleans, VT.
802-754-6629. Andy is a good guy to talk to. There is a distributor in Manchester, NH. Will have to get back to you on info there.
I also park in garage. I put down an old piece of plywood on concrete floor.

Thanks for the info. I sent an e-mail to Norway today, so we'll see what comes back. I also sent a note off to Desmarais.

Plywood on the floor is a good idea. Not only will it save the concrete from chain damage, my tractor is pretty old and is getting a little seepy in a few spots - a little plywood will keep the oil spots off the floor .

JayC

 

[crusty 1]

I,ve used old carpet on the cement floor to protect it,works good and always available free:thumbsupave

 

[Gordon Gould]

I,ve used old carpet on the cement floor to protect it,works good and always available free:thumbsupave

Thats a great suggestion. My son is an installer and I use old carpet pieces for lots of stuff but never thought to use it to protect the floor.

 

[Chilly807]

I'm not sure if the carpet would protect the floor from the hardened studs.. they're long enough they may punch through.

I have to get something for my floor this year, the chains chewed it up a bit last winter. I'd like to find something that won't hold water from melted snow.

Sean

 

[atgreene]

I bought a set of the studded ones last year. Also have a set front and rear on another tractor we use. They are awesome.

FWIW, Windy Ridge, Rt. 25 in Tamworth had the best price anywhere.

 

[Jay4200]

I bought a set of the studded ones last year. Also have a set front and rear on another tractor we use. They are awesome.

FWIW, Windy Ridge, Rt. 25 in Tamworth had the best price anywhere.

What is the cost (roughly) of those chains? I haven't gotten any responses from my pings yet. I also just sent an e-mail to Windy Ridge - thanks for the tip.

Incidentally, I don't think they are helping much in picture #1 .

JayC

 

[atgreene]

What is the cost (roughly) of those chains? I haven't gotten any responses from my pings yet.

Incidentally, I don't think they are helping much in picture #1 .

JayC

Lol, nope. Winch hooked a stump, logs behind the winch wouldn't allow me to back up, mud in front got soupier and soupier. Had to drop the winch, go get the excavator and lift the winch out. Ugly mess.

Windy Ridge was roughly $600 or $680 for 14.9x 28. My father was there this week and priced 9.5x20's for my front end and they were $300. Same style.

 

[atgreene]

Here's the chains manufacturer website: TRYGG SMT Flexi | Trygg

Windy Ridge had a small website, but I can't get it to open.

Labonville has good chains, same style, but was over $100 more last winter. Tractor, Grader & Loader Studded Chains - Labonville Inc. They have stores in Gorham Conway etc.... etc

Windy Ridge was the best to deal with that I have found thus far, # is (603) 323-2323.
.

 

[Don87]

All great suggestions, but, keep in mind that the OP was asking about chains for turf tires............ ladder chains on 2 link spacing should be all he will need.