Chains Can I add cross links to my chains?

[hazmat]

Bob,

Did that smooth out your ride? What size are your tires - overall diameter? How many cross links did you start with? How many did you add?

Thanks!

 

[Bobvt]

Yes, It did smooth the ride out, but I have double rings on the front which makes for bumpy ride. My rear tires are 16.9/30s and the fronts are 11.2/24s.

Bob

 

[John_Mc]

Hazmat -

I would not remove the the cross-link ties as someone suggested. That's the whole point in getting the duo-grip chains in the first place. As you noted, they do provide better sideways traction, which can be a big plus on side hills.

I think the best suggestion you've seen here is what BobVT did. If I understood him correctly, he relocated each duo-grip section (I'm calling a "section" a pair of cross links attached to each other by a pair of ties). By moving the sections closer together (so that they share a chain hook where they join to the side chains) you close up some of the gap between sections. You'll have to add a section or two, but it should help the ride for 2 reasons: you've closed some of the gap between sections, and you should now be able to fit the chain to the tire better. If you end up with an odd gap left (too big to just leave open, but too small for another duogrip section) then just add a single cross-link there to help fill the gap.

John Mc

 

[Rowski]

Hazmat

Adding crosslinks would help but I think you will still get a rough ride. Granted your void (no chain contacting the tire) will be reduced you still will have a small void. The thing to do is to get some chains like Boondox has. That way you are alway on chain and never on rubber. Smooth ride and awseome traction.

BTW.... Jay Peak got 79" of snow since Monday!!!

 

[normde2001]

John, the "duo-grip" cross-link ties across every 2nd or third lug are what is causing his problem, (rough ride). Unless he has one across every lug, which would be some help, or removes them, he will still have the same rough ride.

 

[avclay]

Hazmat,
I noticed your tires appear to be parked on concrete. What kind of damage, if any, do they do to the floor? I want to buy chains for my tractor but its parked inside my garage bay (concrete floor). I don't want to line boards or plywood on the floor as it would disrupt pulling other vehicles in and generally would be a pain....

 

[Deerlope]

Keep in mind that tire chains are not meant to give a smooth ride. they are meant to dig and grab. I have a pair simaler to yours but on a 14x24 tire that are made by Valby for working in the woods. they do what they are supposed to but do ride a little rough on hard surfaces. www.valby.com

 

[AndyMA]

Deerlope

I think you may have meant www.valbysales.com

Andy

 

[normde2001]

That is my point exactly. He either needs a crosslink tie across every lug, as yours are, or remove all of them, to get a smoother ride.

 

[John_Mc]

Norm -

But if he removes all of them, he looses the whole advantage of duo-grip chains... they give better side-to-side traction than the straight "ladder" style chains.

If I understand your other suggestion correctly (cross-link ties across every lug), he would be approaching what you see on log skidders around here. They look like a diamond-shaped mat.

John