Tire Chains + Air Down Tires

[aktundra]

Anybody with experience airing down tires AND using tires chains ?

Tires chains assume a certain tread width and side wall size. Do they fit/stay on, when a tire is aired down?

Is the side wall more prone to be shredded?

Does the increased bite from the chains, counter the increased floatation from the airing down the tire?

 

[mister]

I have quite a bit. Just air down first then put on chains. That way you get proper tention of chains. Drive a bit and check for adjusting. You may have to move a cross link. Not sure all chains are not the same. I made all mine out of heavy duty truck chains with ice breakers. Setting them up to be used with a inflated tire and aired down. Placing cross links where they were not a problem with adjusting. Never had a problem with sidewall. But I ran heavy duty tire. The side wall will get more of a beaten reguardless of airing down or not. Nothing to be concerned about if chains are installed right. I've run them on 33", 35", and 37", all aired down.

 

[nuclearlemon]

not on an 80, but i routinely ran the swampers on my 40 at about 12 pounds with chains. same thing as above, i aired down first, then installed chains and rechecked after a short spin with with. never had any issues.

 

[retrofive]

Yep like said before aired down first, then chained up. No issue TMK.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Yep, aired down first. These were cable chains. Not sure what you mean by that last question. To me, conditions requiring chains also favor floatation so one factor does not REDUCE the other as your question implies. They work together to help traction.

DougM

 

[badmuthatrucka]

If you're really worried about the chains staying on, you can always find some rubber tarp straps, or some other things that you can use as tensioners. Check at a hardware store, local not Big Box, or at a truck (semi) shop. They should be able to hook you up. Good luck!

 

[Tapage]

I never air down to run my chains .. ( in my case are for mud ) coz I got I have all the traction and don't want to loose any clearance ..