http://tirechaindealer.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:28:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/2008/11/grip-4x4-peerless-auto-trac-and-laclede-alpine-comparison/#comment-1626 Mike English Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:10:11 +0000 http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/?p=74#comment-1626 I made the mistake of buying cables for my front wheel drive car. First, let me say that I do not like FWD cars in snow. They get poor traction due to weight transfer toward the rear, even in the rain. In addition, with no power to the rear wheels, the rear end tends to wander easily & cannot be controlled with the throttle as with a RWD car. Finally, they tend to plow in corners, especially going downhill, even at relatively low speeds. This last tendency is greatly increased by cables since they have poor lateral stability. They do, however, have decent, but not great, straight line traction. Thus, one night when descending a mountain road in California after a day of skiing, the front end began sliding on a corner at a relatively low speed (I was driving slower than most of the other vehicles, mostly RWD SUVs & trucks, which seemed to anger them into dangerous passing maneuvers). I found myself sliding front first toward a medium sized snow bank on the opposite, mountain side, of the road. I felt certain I would plow through the snow bank & into the rock wall. Taking advantage of the cables straight line ability, I hit the throttle with the wheels still cranked right. This pulled the car around enough that I was almost sideways when I hit the bank & although the car was sliding, I now had some forward momentum almost parallel with, but still angled somewhat toward, the bank. I hit the bank & went partway into it, then emerged heading down the road, albeit on the wrong side. The impact shattered the plastic inner fender well so that it is no longer attached to the fender & the valence. Needless to say, I slowed down even more the rest of the way down which irritated the other drivers even more. I was raised in Northern Michigan so I have had extensive experience driving in snow. In fact, I learned to drive on snow since winter set in a few weeks after my birthday. I do not know how cables feels on RWD, having used only conventional chains with them, but I believe cables will increase a RWD’s tendency to come around under power on slick surfaces. Anyway, that is my experience with cables. I have now purchased a cheap 4x4 SUV for trips up the mountain & I will carry diamond style chains since I will only need to chain up in the very worst of conditions & I want both the job to go quickly & have the best combination of lateral & straight line traction when I need it most. I made the mistake of buying cables for my front wheel drive car. First, let me say that I do not like FWD cars in snow. They get poor traction due to weight transfer toward the rear, even in the rain. In addition, with no power to the rear wheels, the rear end tends to wander easily & cannot be controlled with the throttle as with a RWD car. Finally, they tend to plow in corners, especially going downhill, even at relatively low speeds. This last tendency is greatly increased by cables since they have poor lateral stability. They do, however, have decent, but not great, straight line traction. Thus, one night when descending a mountain road in California after a day of skiing, the front end began sliding on a corner at a relatively low speed (I was driving slower than most of the other vehicles, mostly RWD SUVs & trucks, which seemed to anger them into dangerous passing maneuvers). I found myself sliding front first toward a medium sized snow bank on the opposite, mountain side, of the road. I felt certain I would plow through the snow bank & into the rock wall. Taking advantage of the cables straight line ability, I hit the throttle with the wheels still cranked right. This pulled the car around enough that I was almost sideways when I hit the bank & although the car was sliding, I now had some forward momentum almost parallel with, but still angled somewhat toward, the bank. I hit the bank & went partway into it, then emerged heading down the road, albeit on the wrong side. The impact shattered the plastic inner fender well so that it is no longer attached to the fender & the valence. Needless to say, I slowed down even more the rest of the way down which irritated the other drivers even more. I was raised in Northern Michigan so I have had extensive experience driving in snow. In fact, I learned to drive on snow since winter set in a few weeks after my birthday. I do not know how cables feels on RWD, having used only conventional chains with them, but I believe cables will increase a RWD’s tendency to come around under power on slick surfaces. Anyway, that is my experience with cables. I have now purchased a cheap 4×4 SUV for trips up the mountain & I will carry diamond style chains since I will only need to chain up in the very worst of conditions & I want both the job to go quickly & have the best combination of lateral & straight line traction when I need it most.

]]> http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/2008/11/tire-chain-comparison-rud-grip-4x4-and-leclede-alpine/#comment-244 2008 Grand Vitara - Suzuki Forums: Suzuki Forum Site Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:20:30 +0000 http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/?p=34#comment-244 [...] I've only used them on the back wheels, and have never had a clearance problem. This review: Tire Chain Dealer Blog Archive Tire Chain Comparison - RUD Grip 4×4 and Laclede Alpine Sport Ti... indicates the RUD chain is very similar, but is thicker than the Alpine. So I can't say for 100% [...] [...] I’ve only used them on the back wheels, and have never had a clearance problem. This review: Tire Chain Dealer Blog Archive Tire Chain Comparison - RUD Grip 4×4 and Laclede Alpine Sport Ti… indicates the RUD chain is very similar, but is thicker than the Alpine. So I can’t say for 100% [...]

]]> http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/2008/11/grip-4x4-peerless-auto-trac-and-laclede-alpine-comparison/#comment-47 Pete D. Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:29:06 +0000 http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/?p=74#comment-47 I don't know about the other ones, but I have the European version of the Auto Tracs, and those chains are pretty awesome. You *have* to read the instructions before install, and make sure the chain hooks aren't caught as you install (you are right about the whole thing falling behind the tire if you aren't careful). But the set-it-and-forget-it is very nice! I don’t know about the other ones, but I have the European version of the Auto Tracs, and those chains are pretty awesome. You *have* to read the instructions before install, and make sure the chain hooks aren’t caught as you install (you are right about the whole thing falling behind the tire if you aren’t careful). But the set-it-and-forget-it is very nice!

]]> http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/2008/11/grip-4x4-peerless-auto-trac-and-laclede-alpine-comparison/#comment-24 admin Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:23:43 +0000 http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/?p=74#comment-24 I think that there is a place in the market for tire cables. But as a general rule, diamond pattern chains will give you better traction, easier installation, and longer wear than tire cables. Always check the owners manual for your vehicle as it may give more guidance on this topic. I think that there is a place in the market for tire cables. But as a general rule, diamond pattern chains will give you better traction, easier installation, and longer wear than tire cables. Always check the owners manual for your vehicle as it may give more guidance on this topic.

]]> http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/2008/11/grip-4x4-peerless-auto-trac-and-laclede-alpine-comparison/#comment-23 Frank Galloway Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:39:42 +0000 http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/?p=74#comment-23 What is your opinion on snow cables? What is your opinion on snow cables?

]]> http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/2008/11/tire-chain-comparison-rud-grip-4x4-and-leclede-alpine/#comment-8 Tire Chain Dealer » Blog Archive » Grip 4×4, Peerless Auto Trac and Laclede Alpine Comparison Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:28:52 +0000 http://tirechaindealer.com/blog/?p=34#comment-8 [...] Once again at the beginning of this post I feel it is important to point out that I sell the Rud Grip 4×4 tire chains. I do not sell the Peerless Auto Trac and I do not sell the Laclede Alpine Sport. Nevertheless, in order to better know the competition, I went to Walmart today and purchased a set of the Peerless Auto Trac. Last week, I already wrote about the Laclede Alpine. [...] [...] Once again at the beginning of this post I feel it is important to point out that I sell the Rud Grip 4×4 tire chains. I do not sell the Peerless Auto Trac and I do not sell the Laclede Alpine Sport. Nevertheless, in order to better know the competition, I went to Walmart today and purchased a set of the Peerless Auto Trac. Last week, I already wrote about the Laclede Alpine. [...]

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