Tire chains for the 29" Trac Tires

[DEWFPO]

The Bobcat dealer wants $450 for the 4 chains. Anyone find them somewhere else for less? The tires are 29x10.5x15 inch. Thanks, DEWFPO

 

[timm9]

If the quality of the chain is good that's not a bad price. I believe I paid $250 per axle for smaller chains (15's on the B series) a few years ago. Last year I went through 150 feet of hardened cross link chain repairing my existing ones. The cross link chain I use for the TC's is running over $4.50 a foot including shipping. If I were to order new chains I would go to White Mountain Chain. I got chains from them for a large loader several years back and they were top notch. This is also where I buy my cross chain for the TC's and my W11B. Hope this helps.

 

[PILOON]

The Bobcat dealer wants $450 for the 4 chains. Anyone find them somewhere else for less? The tires are 29x10.5x15 inch. Thanks, DEWFPO

How about studs?
(if traction on ice is what you are after)

Around here snow most contarctors are now using HD studs rather than chains on their tractors.

One guy I know has about 3 seasons (1200 hrs+/-) and thay last very well.
And he is rough on his equipment! Sure there are a couple missing here and there but still doing the job! All his clients have paved drives and he has a fair distance between clients.
Chains would last him barely a season (and costly).
I hear that $100 is about a standard price to stud a tractor!.

 

[timm9]

We run studded truck tires on my TC's as well. With our terrain we typically run chains on the rear all the time and only chain up the front when we have a drive that is very steep. The studded tires work well on level terrain but its not worth the risk of equipment/property damage running on studs only for the less than "level" drives.

 

[DEWFPO]

I've considered studs and chains. Nothing is flat or level around here. All the roads, driveways, land is sloped to some degree. Primarily, I will be plowing and blowing snow on a north facing paved drive that's a 12% slope and it can get very slippery. Once winter sets in, we either have ice, packed snow or deep snow during and after storms. I will also be plowing & blowing other drives that are gravel as well under a variety of conditions.

I figured if I studded the tires I'd have to have a second set of tires/rims for the winter. I've used screw in type studs on other off-road equipment but I've not seen any 'HD studs'. I'll have to perform a Google search. Can I install these myself?

The reason I was considering the chains over the studs was that the studs will work well on ice and packed snow but not so well in deep snow. The chains will work well in all conditions. The distances I will have to drive on the roads between sites will be less than 1 mile. As well they are removable and don't require a second set of wheels.

I've already been loosing traction driving up the drive with minor icing conditions and the winter snows are late this year. I'll also check out White Mountain Chain.

I appreciate the responses.

DEWFPO

 

[timm9]

I can relate all too well! Some of our contracts have driveways with slopes that are very near 50%. As much as I hate roading with chains, it is a necessity on some of our contracts. Running the chains "full time" on the rear will handle most of the steeper drives. We carry the chains for the front and can quickly install them if needed by using the boom to lift the front of the TC. There is a company that supplies very heavy duty "cable" chains that are used by our local Fire Department. I very seriously considered using them this year but the cables only work properly if you have "highway tires" without an agressive tread pattern allowing the cables to "roll" as the tire rotates. They say that you can run the cables on dry pavement for over 300 miles. The only reason I didn't use them this year was having to change out 8 tires to highway tread. Depending on how well the new stock of bulk cross links hold up, I may spend the money and try the cables next year.

 

[Mtngrancher]

Dewfpo,

I have used my Michelin Latitude X-Ice tires on my D Series twice now. I did not have any noticeable slip yet. I was blowing with my 240 blower uphill on a 12% grade. I could never do that last year with my tracked skiddy. I have a set of pewag chains in the bed to put on in case it gets tough, but not even close so far. I bought the chains from Century tire in Denver for the Michelins for $80 a pair. Century is great for tires, chains and such for yellow iron (and white/orange iron) and trucks. www.centurytireinc.com. So far, I'm really pleased with the traction on these specialty tires. They are rated for "no chains necessary" on most passes in the west.

 

[DEWFPO]

Dewfpo,

I have used my Michelin Latitude X-Ice tires on my D Series twice now. I did not have any noticeable slip yet. I was blowing with my 240 blower uphill on a 12% grade. I could never do that last year with my tracked skiddy. I have a set of pewag chains in the bed to put on in case it gets tough, but not even close so far. I bought the chains from Century tire in Denver for the Michelins for $80 a pair. Century is great for tires, chains and such for yellow iron (and white/orange iron) and trucks. Century Tire Inc., The Contractor's Tire Source. So far, I'm really pleased with the traction on these specialty tires. They are rated for "no chains necessary" on most passes in the west.

Thanks, I'll give Century a call. DEWFPO