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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!hplabs!hp-pcd!harold
From: harold@hp-pcd.UUCP (Harold Noyes)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Cable Chains - (nf)
Message-ID: <2790@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Dec-83 03:30:40 EST
Article-I.D.: hp-pcd.2790
Posted: Fri Dec  9 03:30:40 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 11-Dec-83 01:48:37 EST
Sender: netnews@hp-pcd.UUCP
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Corvallis OR
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#R:floyd:-202600:hp-pcd:2400021:000:2182
hp-pcd!harold    Dec  8 11:48:00 1983

Having grown up in Utah, I *rarely* use chains when driving on snow- 
conditions have to be either **awful** or else there is a Highway Patrol
officer sitting there enforcing Oregon's laws to use chains in the
Cascades.  I have owned (and used) both the regular chains and Sno-Treads.
(I think these Sno-Treads are similar to the Sears ones already mentioned.)

Some comments:  Sno-Treads wore out and broke *very* quickly.  They were 
thrown away befor they made it through their first season.  They also did
not provide traction as well as the regular chains.  However, they don't
destroy your wheel wells like regular chains can (especially if you have
low wheel well clearance on your car).  Regular chains *can* damage radial
tires.  If you have radials, there are basically three choices- the
plastic products like Sno-Treads, "cable chains", or a different type of 
link (P-link) "regular" chain.  This different type of chain link has been
designed specifically for radial tires and *will not* damage them. 
Based on heresay- not experience- "cable chains" work OK but wear out
faster than the new link chains.

To Summarize: If you have radial tires and *really* need chains, the new 
link chains are the best way to go- they provide greater traction and
last longer than the other two possible solutions.  I'd recommend that
you also pay the extra $5 it takes to have the store "custom fit" the 
chains to your car.

Advice: Use the chains properly!! Don't drive over 30 MPH when chains
are on.  Don't keep them on when all there is is slush or wet pavement.
Learn how to repair broken links and carry spare links with you.  All
these will save your car a lot of grief.
CASE IN POINT:  I was traveling on I-84W near Pendleton.  We had just 
come through the Blue Mountains, which were snowpacked and some people
had put chains on.  However, near Pendleton it was raining and the 
roads were bare.  I passed one guy that was doing 50 MPH and still had
his chains on!!  He had at least one broken cross-member and was 
beating his wheel wells into steel wool- sparks were just flying.

Enough of my ramblings- hope this has been of some help.

Harold Noyes
~!hp-labs!hp-pcd