snow chains/cables on a lowered car...

[brian_wagner at sbcglobal.net (Brian Wagner)]

Toby,
 
Years ago when I lived in Colorado and went skiing all the time. I had a diesel rabbit with studded snow tires and cable chains. With the studded tires you can go a majority of places and when required by the local law enforcement I would use the cables. I used the cable chains with the studded tires with out a problem, what you need to remember is you can't drive normal speeds and remove them as soon as allowed. You will be fine just use your head.
 
Brian

"T. Reed" <treed2@wsu.edu> wrote:
On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 SailingFC@aol.com wrote:

> My understanding of why cable chains should not be put on snow tires is that
> the way a cable chain works is that it actually rolls around the tire when in
> use. On a snow tire, the aggressive tread pattern will not allow this
> rotation and the cable will bind up or tear up the tread blocks. A true snow chain
> (chain links) does not move around much on a tire, so I'm told.
> Drive safe and keep a safe distance.
>
> -Dick-
> 78 Scirocco
> Original Owner
> http://members.aol.com/sailingfc/

Dick,

Thanks a lot for your reply! It's got me thinking..

I had a suspicion that cable chains might be designed to roll. I don't
really understand the why's or how's, but the benefit is obvious--
vastly increased longevity through distribution of wear around the surface
of the rollers (ie. just like having wheels on a boat trailer instead of
dragging the boat along the ground behind the tow vehicle). This means the
manufacturers can spend less money building a quality product (ie.
cheaper assembly and cheaper metals).

But if the cable chains are rotating around the tire, then doesn't that
mean they're just too loose? I mean, there's friction between the little
metal cylinders (rollers) and the (rubber) tire surface and friction
between the rollers and the ground. If these forces are equal (ie.
coasting) then the rollers would have no reason to spin.

With the wheel 'burning out', or while locking the brakes, something has
to give. Either the roller sticks to the ground and the wheel spins around
inside the cables, or the roller sticks to the tire and gets the crap
rubbed out of it by the abrasive road surface.

The middle case is the one I'm not so sure about (normal acceleration or
braking). If the friction between the tire and the roller was zero, the
tire would just spin inside the cable chains and you wouldn't go anywhere.
But this isn't the case -- there has to be some friction and this is
determined by how tight the chains are. I think its possible (but I don't
know) to tighten them enough that normal, slow driving will result in the
chains not moving around the tire. I -don't- think its likely you'd be
able to tighten them enough that they won't try to spin when you're
burning out or locking the brakes on pavement.

I guess that's sort of a problem. Because with studded tires the studs are
going to abuse the hell out of the rollers if the rollers get caught
between the studs and the pavement. They may just rip the cable that the
rollers are stung on (bead-necklace style) or tear the cable out of its
crimped end.

That would be bad!

Any first, second or third-hand experiences with snow cables would be
appreciated.

Thanks

-Toby

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