deep snow&ice traction

[virtual"x"]

good day eh!
i am about to put on my new set of tires (33x9.5x15 big o xt's) and will be needing a new set of tire chains. Of couse i will be putting them on all four
any way what do you recomend??? i have used the alpine chains before (they are like an /-/\-\/-/ patern). I hate chains that leave a huge section of the tire bare :roll:
Also can you modify or add to a chain??
thanks

 

[Crankcase]

I don't think you can change a tire chain in any way...It might even be illegal. Do you have lots of snow up in PR?

 

[Mbrooks420]

I have seen normal straight link chains lengthened. They make add in links, and even extra cross chains so you add enough chains to where you only have a short amount of tire between them. Whitestars are nice chains. Another nice chain is the Diamond.

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto, I have added links between, and repaired chains. Since I got my 4WD's though, I try to have a dedicated set of snow tires to mount.
If you are going to be just on road, not in woods, ditches, etc., you might look at the Bridgestone Blizzak tires. They have many different types, some are full ice tires(DM-Z3), and some are more for cars(high speed, handling). I love the 245/65/16 Blizzak DMZ3's that I bought two years ago. My AWD would barely brake the tires loose on a packed snow road. I've started to look for a 235/65/17 size to replace my 15" studded tires.
Good luck,
DonW

 

[glfredrick]

NOOOOOO... Not the Big O tires! :thumbdwn: :thumbdwn:

You can do much better for your money than Big O...

As for the chains - modify away - they are just hunks of chain that fasten around your tires.

I had to run tire chains for almost 4 months a year when I hauled bulk milk in western Wisconsin - and I like the ones with the agressive V-links.

You can add links - but realize that you are also adding a LOT of weight to an already heavy object hanging on the outside of your tire. I've never found that added links offer any additional traction myself. They might run a tad smoother becasue of the frequency of hitting a cross bar decreases, but that would be about all, and in an off-road situation, that wouldn't matter all that much.

Back to the Big O tires - yes, they come with that funky road hazard warranty - but you'll need it. I've seen SO many sidewalls punched through on those tires that I would never recommend them for 4x4 trail use. Get the Truxus, Pro Comp MT's, Kuhmo MT's, or BFG's instead. You'll be glad you did.