snow chains

[pulser]

Any one know were in Ft collins i can get chains? Im looking for some place that might have them in stock for 32x11.50s.

[RedRunnertc]

NAPA, Autozone, CarQuest, etc should have them, maybe Discount Tire. Do a little research and get good ones that are easy to put on - not just what's in stock!

[pulser]

Yea im kind of looking arund on websites now trying to see whats best.

[ike]

how is it in the fort? I left 2 days ago to see family in philly. guess i am missing out on some snow from what i here :(

[Lysmachia]

Yeah you are missing out for sures!

[Commutacoma]

The ones I have are from Walmart and I do not recommend them. They are for size 31-33 and I have 31s. They are more irritating that anything else

[tacotoy]

The ones I have are from Walmart and I do not recommend them. They are for size 31-33 and I have 31s. They are more irritating that anything else

whats wrong with them??? i need to find some chains for my 33's and im having a bear of a time...

[Brandon]

4wheelparts will have them. most autoparts stores don't carry anything for big tires. They alson only carry cables if you want chains

[pulser]

how is it in the fort? I left 2 days ago to see family in philly. guess i am missing out on some snow from what i here :(

Side roads arund town are really bad. my parents are flying in from philly tonight.

[spindleshanks]

Why do people always mention Checker, Napa and Autozone but not CARQUEST? Checker and Autozone are retailers selling low grade products and shiny stuff to the general walk-in populus. The
CARQUEST (and NAPA, too) on the other hand, is a parts network serving professional automotive repair facilities, fleets, and farms in addition to the general public.

CARQUEST can get your chains out of their Denver dist. center for $148, part number 3229 in their Quality line. Denver has 31 sets in stock.

[tacotoy]

what size do those fit though jeremy? for 33x1250xr15 is what im looking for....

[RedRunnertc]

Sorry Jeremy - they didn't have CarQuest where I used to live, so it doesn't exactly pop in my mind. Is there one in Longmont? and if I use your name will I get a discount, or run out of the store on a rail?

[spindleshanks]

what size do those fit though jeremy? for 33x1250xr15 is what im looking for....

Those fit the 32 11.50 15s that Pulser was inquiring about. CARQUEST probably has chains for your 33 12.50 15s in store, Rich, due to the popularity of that tire size.
Troy, there is a great CARQUEST in Longmont, on 18th Ave, called BEMOR. Since they're an independently owned CARQUEST store, I don't know what kind of inventory or coverage they have on products like tire chains. And they won't give anybody a discount over there (I've tried, lol).

Are there no CARQUEST stores in Ohio? Probably lots of O'Reilly stores, though? and NAPA too? Checker Auto seems to be pretty evenly distributed across the country, although it may be named Checker, Shucks, or Kragen.

[RedRunnertc]

We had a CarQuest where I lived in Southern Ohio (Toronto, OH 43964). It was actually at the end of my street. All I ever saw in Cleveland was Autozone, Advance, and NAPA.

[Guapotaco]

http://www.westernsling.com/TIRE%20CHAINS.htm
check this out
i also have a set of swedish style tire chains that will fit a 34 ish tire,they have a diamond pattern and my buddy has some and they go way better than any cross chain style of chain,and hold some sick side hill angles because of the pattern, these are sweet but not cheap $350 , no shipping, these probably could be shortened, but i dont want to lengthen them for my 36s, so they are for sale

[Commutacoma]

whats wrong with them??? i need to find some chains for my 33's and im having a bear of a time...
Maybe I am just stupid and can't figure out how they work. They do not have any racheting feature built into them. You basically need to tighten them by hand and use some spring device to tension them. It would be better to get some black rubber tie-downs to cinch then. It also seems they are too wide for my tires.

[tacotoy]

my old chains had cam lock devices that you would twist to tighten up the chains and then to keep them on i would use a rubber chain tensioner. they overlapped the egdes of my 31's way back when a few inches. thats what kept them on the tire instead of somewhere else. but there was no ratchet mechanism. snap a pic and lets see what ya got

[Commutacoma]

see attached pics

[tacotoy]

wow there is only one cam???? that doesn't look right. i guess you could just tighten it down but thats alot of extra to leave hanging around in there.... so i guess you put that lock on as far as you can get it and then twist it to cinch it down more... mine had 4 cams like that per chain so it was easy to hook up and then just twist to tighten.... actually i still have them ( one of the crossbars is busted. and they are a little rusty) but if you want you can have them. then you at least know you have a set that function normally.

[Brandon]

Looks fine to me, all the chains I've ever used have only had one cam.

you can use a tool like this to help turn the cam so you can slip the hook over it.
http://www.wallingfords.com/icc/images/cam_tools.jpg

Just get the chain as tight on the tire as you can get it and then put the tensioners on.

[Commutacoma]

Thank you for the offer Rich, but there are others who will get better use out of them.


Thank you for the link Brandon.

[tacotoy]

not a problem.... they dont fit my stuff anymore so it would be nice to get rid of them. as for a cam tool..... i use the end of the lug wrench in the stock jack kit that comes with the truck. screwdriver end worked great

[bluetaco]

http://westernsling.com/TIRE%20CHAINS.htm

Western Sling can make to order and you can have them shipped if you don't want to drive to pick them up ...check them out they had the best quality and price when I was shopping tire chains!
Other wise look for a TUV approved set because they will be higher quality.

[fjcruzer]

Got mine at NAPA and have them on my plow truck. Also have a set for the FJ since I can't seem to stop wheelin' in the fall or wait from spring :D If you'd like pics I can s'ap some for you tomorrow. I'd tell you what brand, but I'm too lazy to get off my ass and go look in the back of the car right now :rolleyes:

[RedRunnertc]

Bump for the winter setup!

Most of us will have to search quite a bit and order chains for our size tires, so get started!

[Lysmachia]

Yeah since both sets of my chains are gone.. (Not sure where 1 set is//./ the other is in california with Nicole on accident.... ARGH! Well I wanted a better set of chains any way for my 35's

[fjcruzer]

I've still got my studded snows mounted up on steelies and reinforced chains for all 4 ready to go :D I do need a new snow shovel tho...

[TowerRigger]

I've never delt with snow chains much. I think they are illegal in Kansas??? I remember someone back home said it tears up the roads too much. I don't know. I used to have to put them on the tugs when I worked at the airport. Can't use conventional methods of de icing on a tarmac. Sand and salt kinda ruins turbine engines. Without chains tugs can pull some sweet kittys on the ice. So can forklifts, and those are cool cause it's all backwards.
I geuss you all will have to give me some schoolin on the tire chains.

[thefatkid]

I just buy mine at wallmart. The one on bowels and c470 stocks sizes up to 33" and they last pretty good. I also have a set of trucker chains that I found last year, I just have not shortened them yet.

Chaining up all 4 and going way up in the powder is way fun. This is where fat tires and way low pressure come into play.

[Brandon]

I would recommend getting the chains with the lugs (or whatever they're called) on them. They're a bit more money but I wish I would've bought those.

Thanks for the reminder, I need to order up some replacement links.

[00regcab]

The local Brighton American Pride Co-op / Ace Hardware carries a good variety of chains, i do not have funding to pick these up and store them at my house, however, i used to work at the place, and i know the managers, if we can get at least 10 sets ordered we MIGHT be able to get a price break on them.

I remember seeing multiple sets up to 33" tires, and 285/75, and im sure they can get more at special order. I do not remember the brand name off the top of my head, but ill swing over to that side of town tomorrow sometime and see if they have any in yet. And ill talk to them about price break, and brand, etc. etc. if anybody is interested?

[fjcruzer]

I would recommend getting the chains with the lugs (or whatever they're called) on them. They're a bit more money but I wish I would've bought those.

Thanks for the reminder, I need to order up some replacement links.

I have the V-bar:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w84/fjcruzer123/2800large.jpg

Make sure you have enough clearance though. I also had them on my plow truck and they ripped out the front fender well this last winter. Tire rub is one thing, but the sound of rending metal... not so good!

Make sure you get the tighteners too... still don't understand why their extra, I don't know anyone who has NOT needed them.

[RedRunnertc]

any thoughts on the straight across (like eric shows above) versus the diamond or zigzag styles?

[fjcruzer]

any thoughts on the straight across (like eric shows above) versus the diamond or zigzag styles?

I think the lateral traction would be better with the diamond or zig-zag, but as I recall they are more difficult to mount to the tire.

I got the V-bar for that reason: easy on and good lateral traction.

Also, when a link breaks on the straight links, it only effects that section of the chains and can be easily rigged or replaced.

:2cents:

[tacotoy]

vbar is good for just about every situation unless you are seriously off camber.... but how much is 1 inch or so of chain going to help you from sliding down a hill?