Snowblower Tire Chains Keeping You Safe No Matter How Rough the Road Gets
Snowblower tire chains are must-haves for some consumers who have single stage or two stage gas-powered snow blowers that they normally use on surfaces that are slippery, rough, hilly, icy, or snowy. Several snow blower models nowadays come with large all-terrain tread tires that help them get a good grip and provide excellent traction with the surface.
These snow blowers are capable of clearing snow off any type of surface. However, not all snow blowers these days offer that extra benefit. Some are still equipped with conventional tires or wheels that don’t get a good grip on the ground. Although this does not affect overall performance, it does limit you to only a certain set of applications, such as straight, paved, and smooth areas.
If you already have a snow blower, but its tires or wheels are not made to tackle tougher road challenges, you can get yourself some snowblower tire chains. This means there is no need to go buy an entirely new snow blower anymore. And since tire chains are significantly less expensive, you will be able to save a lot of money.
Ladder tire chains. The ladder tire chain is one of the oldest and most widely available type of tire chain used with snowblowers. It features a unique design that go across the tread of the tire, making the resulting effect look like a ladder. This is effective enough, but is also not perfect as the small spaces between the cross bars tend to allow certain parts of your snowblower’s tires to interact with the surface.
Despite this disadvantage, most consumers find these effective enough and since they’re easier to find, this is a very popular choice.
Cable tire chains. The cable type of snowblower tire chains come with metal strips that go horizontally across the tire’s face. These solve the problem of ladder tire chains by using rubber tighteners to secure them to the tire surface, thus ensuring that the tires do not come into contact with the surface. These are known for their durability.
Diamond tire chains. Some people prefer diamond tire chains, which, instead of going across the tire tread in a straight line, use interlocking metal strands that intersect with each other, forming a diamond pattern. This design covers a larger part of the tire and protects the tires better. Aside from that, the diamond-shaped links lessen the vibration of the machine.
Link tire chains. Link style tire chains combine the cable and diamond design.
They feature rows and rows of metal strips that horizontally cover the face of the tire. This is the best type if you want maximum traction. The only reason why it’s not the best and most widely used is that they can’t stop abruptly. Instead, they require a certain distance to be able to come to a complete stop, which a lot of snowblower users find cumbersome.
Zig-zag tire chains. Lastly, the zig-zag design, as implied, places the cable across the tire tread in a zig-zag design.
Zig-zag snowblower tire chains are known to be extra lightweight. The design is effective because it makes sure that a certain part of the cable is in contact with the road 100 percent of the time, thus providing a more surefooted, fool-proof grip on the surface. These go particularly well with snow blowers that have special traction control features.
What to Look For
You can purchase snowblower tire chains featuring either two link or four link spacing. Two link spacing means that there is a cross chain after every two side chain links. In a four link spacing, however, there is a cross chain after every four side chain links. Two link spacing is great for use on smoother roads, while four link spacing provides more benefits on hilly drives and other rougher, more challenging conditions.
If you are clearing snow off unpaved roads, you also have the option to add a V-Bar chain, especially if the ground is additionally hilly, icy, or hard packed with snow. Just don’t use V-bars on paved grounds as they will surely damage the surface.
Why Invest In Tire Chains
The main use of tire chains is to give your tires a better grip on the ground. This is more than just a functional feature. The extra traction provided by snowblower tire chains may spell the difference between safety and danger while you work. Without enough traction, you can easily lose control of the heavy machinery you are using to remove snow. This will not just affect effectiveness or hinder you from doing the necessary job, but it may also cause accidents and injuries. Tire chains for snow throwers are not expensive, so make the investment for your own good.
