Tractor tire chains still on....

[Oldpath05]

I usually have my tire chain off by now but not this year. I'm late getting next seasons firewood out so I'm still dealing with a little snow, icy spots and to make it more interesting/aggravating, mud is added to the mix. On one ice patch today, left tire goes down and if it wasn't for chains, would have had to drop 6 trees, possibly even a re-hook but the tractor clawed threw.
Might make me the winner of the last one to have chains on in the US, Thanks you all can sit back down now. I wonder when my trophy will arrive.. Probably Canadians still have their chains on. People down Florida dont know what they're missing not messing around with tire chains......

 

[zmountaineer]

I took mine off today but only bc I needed to mow the grass. Otherwise they would still be there. I've been working on clearing land and it's greasy. Father in law still has them on for the mud.

 

[motownbrowne]

Still got mine on too.

 

[Thomas]

When I use to haul my firewood out I always had rear chains on no matter the month,I like the extra bite also safety factor when it cam to breaking.

 

[Looking4new]

Mine are not coming off at all.

 

[oosik]

When I had the Ford 1700 4WD I would use chains, some winters, when the driveway iced up particularly bad. I hated installing them - they were HD tractor chains and very heavy - I didn't appreciate that they made the tractor ride like a COB - but I do acknowledge that they provided amazing traction. It was almost as though the tractor had been transformed into a tracked vehicle.

 

[Oldpath05]

I took mine off today but only bc I needed to mow the grass. Otherwise they would still be there. I've been working on clearing land and it's greasy. Father in law still has them on for the mud.

Dont know about WV but I've been to Lynchburg Va. several times and what I noticed it's the land of red dirt. What style tires&chains do you and your FIL have and is he going to take his chains off? I would think down there it would be drying out now.

 

[zmountaineer]

I have 2 link v-bar chains and my FIL has diamond pattern on at tires. We have nasty clay but the chains do come off for the summer. Mother's Day is typical for him to take them off.

 

[Oldpath05]

Mine are not coming off at all.

Not at all, wont that shorten the life of your chains even though there trygg's? I would thing in summer they shouldn't be needed, plus you miss the fun of putting them on and off......

 

[Oldpath05]

Still got mine on too.

Starting to look like I wont win this tire chain on contest with the gold trophy, might take mine off next week, maybe I'll come in 3rd place. I heard for 3rd place the prize is a new 40hp tractor....

How'd you do on syrup this year?, on your way to BahHabah this summer drop off a bottle at a TBN member discount.

 

[Looking4new]

plus you miss the fun of putting them on and off......

That is exactly why I am not taking them off. The rears are really heavy. Besides, I work in summer and don't get to play with my tonka tractor until the fall/winter.

 

[rd_macgregor]

This thread brings up a question I've had about chains. Other than the slightly rougher ride, is there anything wrong with leaving chains on all year? I never drive on pavement, so I don't imagine the life expectancy of the chain would be reduced enough by summer use to matter. Do the chains damage the tires enough for a few extra months each year to matter?

 

[Looking4new]

If the chains were properly installed/mounted then I can't see any reason why they can't be left on.

 

[k0ua]

This thread brings up a question I've had about chains. Other than the slightly rougher ride, is there anything wrong with leaving chains on all year? I never drive on pavement, so I don't imagine the life expectancy of the chain would be reduced enough by summer use to matter. Do the chains damage the tires enough for a few extra months each year to matter?

I kept chains on my old B7500 full time for about 8 years. The chains are still good, and there didn't seem to be significant tire wear. My chains for my Kioti are more aggressive and the ride is rougher so I take them off as soon as I can. They came off weeks ago, and I didn't really need them this season at all, so it was a waste of time putting them on. We did not have any significant snow this season.

 

[FatTire]

Are you guys talking rears only, or front and rear?

 

[k0ua]

Are you guys talking rears only, or front and rear?

On my old B7500, I had chains on both front and rear for 8 years. Experts will say no, but I did it, with no apparent damage and increased traction on our extreme slopes here with a small wheeled tractor. I don't run them now on my much larger much heavier, much larger tired tractor, but the little one seemed to benefit from the chains on all the time.

 

[mcfarmall]

I used to run mine year round on the C. Took them off due to lack of winter use and they were getting worn more than I'd like to see.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Just took my 4 chains off the 5083 yesterday, I sure like taking them off alot more than putting them on!

 

[fried1765]

I usually have my tire chain off by now but not this year. I'm late getting next seasons firewood out so I'm still dealing with a little snow, icy spots and to make it more interesting/aggravating, mud is added to the mix. On one ice patch today, left tire goes down and if it wasn't for chains, would have had to drop 6 trees, possibly even a re-hook but the tractor clawed threw.
Might make me the winner of the last one to have chains on in the US, Thanks you all can sit back down now. I wonder when my trophy will arrive.. Probably Canadians still have their chains on. People down Florida dont know what they're missing not messing around with tire chains......

I have a nearly new set of chains for one of my old Ford my tractors.
They are hanging on the wall in barn#1.
For me, they work just perfectly there.
Have been in Florida since Nov. 4th.
Going North in 10 days though.....sure hope it starts to warm up soon.
I lived in Minnesota for 22 years! I DO know what I am missing!

 

[arrow]

My last tractor, had chains I never took off in 20 years but once. Present tractor is 4 years old and has been chained ever since. (4 link ladder) which seem to actually get better grip wise as the years go by.