Driving With Chains--Is It a Rough Ride?

[CarbonSteel]

Ladies/Gents,

Apologies in advance if this is somehow a silly question/topic...

We see very little (if any) snow/ice in the Houston area (in fact, only 4 times in my lifetime thus far), so I have zero experience with chains, but I am betting you folks that live in the northern areas have more than you would like.

When driving with chains, do you "feel" them as you drive and turn? I realize that you cannot drive very fast with them and you are on some ice and snow (that may cushion the ride), but I am curious as to how they make the car drive and ride.

Thanks for your thoughts...

 

[Brons2]

depends on how soft the snow/ice is, I live in Texas also, but I make at least one ski trip a year, and I am from Oregon originally.

In soft snow they are hardly noticeable. On hardpack/ice, you can feel the vibration in the wheel some, but it's really not that bad.

As far as driving, it's not really that bad, just need to remember that ABS is ineffective with chains, so you need to manually pump the brakes.

 

[hardcore302]

It's so so, until the snow clears. It's horrible lster

 

[eljefino]

I've never had to use chains. Only see them on snowplows and sometimes UPS trucks.

They seem like a temporary solution where there's LESS snow, eg those california mountain passes. And or a crutch for where they expect the typical motorist to not be able to handle snow: again, mountain passes.

Even studded tires are about as annoying as one would imagine. Floaty on dry pavement, LOUD, bad on gas, and if you peel out you leave a permanent mark on asphalt.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

It depends on a lot of different factors.

"Way back when" I used to have a 1959 Ford pickup as one of my first vehicles when I grew up on the farm. In order to get out of our rarely plowed gravel road I chained it up with some home made chains on the rear tires. Being a 3/4 ton, even in deep snow it was a rough ride-imagine a washboard gravel road. It would have been almost impossible to drive on a hard surface road. When I needed them I'd put them on before leaving, and then take them off when I finally hit plowed roads. With about 300 pounds of cement blocks in the bed and chains on the old truck was almost unstoppable.

I've also ridden in semi tractors that have needed to chain up, and it depends on the type of chains they use as well as the suspension on the tractor. Some older day cab tractors with leaf spring suspensions are pretty rough, but more modern tractors with air suspension aren't so bad, but you still know the chains are there.

I plow our long rural drive with a Ford 2N tractor (no suspension), and have loaded rear tires along with Duo Link chains. You do indeed feel (and hear) them in snow, and it's not drivable at all on hard surface roads beyond turning around at the end of our drive. However I have yet to encounter a drift big enough to stop it with the loaded tires/chain combination, and I've blasted through drifts higher than the hood.

Chains or cables made for more modern vehicles are significantly smaller, and modern cars and pickups have much better suspension and tires than my old '59 did, but I still wouldn't want to use them longer than needed.

 

[Bluestream]

I don't think chains have any place for road use on a modern vehicle. I have chains on my Garden Tractor that I use to clear my drive, and the thought of driving a vehicle on the road with chains seems too bizarre. I could see using them in an emergency maybe, but in 35 years of winter driving, I have only once or twice seen conditions that would warrant their use.

 

[Bill in Utah]

There are times frequently here where you have a choice,

A. use chains and proceed slowly
B. Do not proceed and turn around.

If you have a 4x4 they (UHP or County Sheriff) *may* allow you if your tires are sound and the conditions are fair.

How often here? Try yesterday. (and just looked on the road conditions there are 5 roads where chains are required or 4x4 and 9 where its advised)

Plenty of times I've had to use chains in the passes. And I run dedicated snows in the winter with 2 vehicles.

I use cable chains as they are easier to put on and IMO work better than *true* chains. The ride is better and in some vehicles you don't have enough clearance.

I think the last time I used a *real* set of chains was back in the late 80s.

Bill

 

[Chris142]

How do chains help to give you traction? I have tossed the idea around in my head for years and still don't get the idea.They look too small to work like a paddle tire does in sand. plus every time it has snowed here I see fwd cars with chains on the rear and rwd cars with chains on the front wheels. That was a guy in a mustang and he was having trouble staying on the street!I just went around him in my stock jeep w/o chains

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
I don't think chains have any place for road use on a modern vehicle. I have chains on my Garden Tractor that I use to clear my drive, and the thought of driving a vehicle on the road with chains seems too bizarre. I could see using them in an emergency maybe, but in 35 years of winter driving, I have only once or twice seen conditions that would warrant their use.

Despite what you "think", there are some areas that require their use, such as Colorado mountain passes.

Originally Posted By: State of Colorado Chain Regulations


Colorado chain law applies to every state highway, federal highway and interstate throughout the state. When the chain law is in effect, drivers will see signs along the roadway indicating which vehicles should chain-up. In some areas of the state, lighted variable message signs will also alert drivers of the chain-up information.


Chains Only

When this level is in effect, use of conventional, steel-link chains is required. Four-wheel drive vehicles are permitted to operate without tire chains when four wheel drive is engaged.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
How do chains help to give you traction? I have tossed the idea around in my head for years and still don't get the idea.


Think about it-every road grader moving snow or serious piece of snow removal equipment uses chains in snow. They're terrible for hard surface roads, but the chains dig into the soft snow far better than tires alone. If they didn't work you wouldn't see them being used on equipment in places like North Dakota, where they get real snow.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Quote:
Utah's Chain Law Requirements

Utah Chain Requirements: UCA 41-6a-1636(c) tire chains of reasonable proportions on a vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

Vehicles likely to encounter conditions requiring chains must carry sets for at least one driving axle.


IF you are traveling in a area that you *MAY* need them they will have a check point depending on conditions and ask if you have them with you. If you don't you will not be allowed to proceed.

If you get into a pass without a set and get stuck you will be cited when the trooper comes up (or you come down after a road crew gets you unstuck) and its a moving violation.

To answer how they work. They put down a very sharp edge on the ice or snow to ice and provide excellent traction. Better than studs or AWD/4wd IMO. IF you have to use them on a 4x4 with only one set then the front axle is the one that gets them.

Of course with a FWD or RWD the axle with power gets them.

Bill

 

[Trav]

Put it like this, if you have false teeth or like to wear a hat chains are nothing for you.
The hat will be down over your ears and your teeth will out.

 

[MysticGold04]

To answer the OP's question - not really. I had to use chains on a few occasions, and you do feel a slight vibration, but they really help improve traction and grip.

Last year we took a trip to Spokane, WA to visit family. When we got there, no snow - when we left, there was about a foot of snow on the ground and more than a foot in the driveway the day we left. I was fine all that prior week driving around with FWD and no chains, but when we loaded all the luggage and kids in the car I couldn't get the car to budge without putting the cable-chains on. Once I did that, it seemed like there wasn't any snow on the ground... they do work that's for sure!!!

I had to use them on my 2WD truck too one time.. that was interesting for sure. On the truck they did help because there was a grade and it was slick with ice. The chains helped dig into the ice.

 

[Coprolite]

In the time I lived up north and did extensive amounts of driving on pavement and gravel, I rarely used chains and used 4wd just slightly more. The most common uses of chains was on muddy roads or mountain passes where it was required.

We would often chain up our big trucks and not chain the pickup when driving on snow covered access roads.

What brings up this question? Chaining up in TX doesn't exist...

 

[Scum_Frog]

I have lived all my 38 years here in the Ottawa Valley and to be honest I have never driven with chains, let alone see anyone driving with chains. The only exception is in a very remote area's.

 

[UG_Passat]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Ladies/Gents,

Apologies in advance if this is somehow a silly question/topic...

We see very little (if any) snow/ice in the Houston area (in fact, only 4 times in my lifetime thus far), so I have zero experience with chains, but I am betting you folks that live in the northern areas have more than you would like.

When driving with chains, do you "feel" them as you drive and turn? I realize that you cannot drive very fast with them and you are on some ice and snow (that may cushion the ride), but I am curious as to how they make the car drive and ride.

Thanks for your thoughts...


It's quite a rough ride and you can feel it through the steering wheel.

 

[Bluestream]

Originally Posted By: Scum_Frog
I have lived all my 38 years here in the Ottawa Valley and to be honest I have never driven with chains, let alone see anyone driving with chains. The only exception is in a very remote area's.

Driving with chains seems to be a US thing, as I have never seen a vehicle in Canada with them, In fact I am sure they would be illegal here, as you can't stop very well with them. We rarely get more than 2 feet of snow at one time anyway; I assume in Colorado or Utah they get more than that. In my area, the roads are always clear due to an efficient snow removal fleet as well.
Snow removal is something we are well prepared for and roads are cleared with a few hours.

 

[Seguino]

Tire chains are illegal in Ontario, so that's why you never see them. Here in BC they are required to be carried on trucks, and cars not equipped with winter tires, from Oct 1 to Apr 30.

 

[UG_Passat]

Driving with chains is also a european thing also. They are used to supplement snow tires where necessary.

 

[weebl]

Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: Scum_Frog
I have lived all my 38 years here in the Ottawa Valley and to be honest I have never driven with chains, let alone see anyone driving with chains. The only exception is in a very remote area's.

Driving with chains seems to be a US thing, as I have never seen a vehicle in Canada with them, In fact I am sure they would be illegal here, as you can't stop very well with them. We rarely get more than 2 feet of snow at one time anyway; I assume in Colorado or Utah they get more than that. In my area, the roads are always clear due to an efficient snow removal fleet as well.
Snow removal is something we are well prepared for and roads are cleared with a few hours.

I think you see them where there is real winter conditions, and real mountains. Seen them around lots in very bad, mountainous conditions. I have a set, but have never had to use them, the winter tires always did just fine with lots of room to spare.