DIY tire chians!

[MD Fire]

Don't feel like spending a ton on studded tires?

go go go! (http://www.mtnbikeriders.com/2007/02/13/diy-tire-chains/)

I can imagine these are probably pretty heavy though.

[macdaid]

Hmmm,

Maybe a little less time than adding studs...
Something to consider if there were a way to rig it for easier on and off...

[CRAIG2]

Hmmm,

Maybe a little less time than adding studs...
Something to consider if there were a way to rig it for easier on and off...

No kidding - innovative, but it's going to suck getting a flat!

[macdaid]

Agreed.

The trick to making it a viable and convenient item, would be to devise a way to add a tensioning device to the surrounding cables; a piece of bungee with hooks, perhaps.

If it could be tensioned properly, it would negate the need for the zip ties and be easier to put on and remove...

[walsh]

My dad has a pretty good story about trying to devise snow chains for his cruiser as a paperboy in Falls Church in the early 60's. It did not end well. In addition to injuries sustained and papers damaged, I think he ended up shredding a couple of tires and being out several weeks' salary.

It looks like these guys did a better job.

[philvw]

Agreed.

a piece of bungee with hooks, perhaps.


deflate, locate, ziptie (not across the rim, but the ends of the cable together), inflate. The hardest part would be getting all the chains evenly distributed hanging just on a cable.

Thats pretty much how you do tire chains on a motor vehicle.

[wrench177]

Agreed.

The trick to making it a viable and convenient item, would be to devise a way to add a tensioning device to the surrounding cables; a piece of bungee with hooks, perhaps.

If it could be tensioned properly, it would negate the need for the zip ties and be easier to put on and remove...
Use a small, quick release cable tensioner on one side, other side uses a fixed length of cable.
Something like this maybe:
http://www.biconet.com/birds/GIFs/stealth/acc/quickRelease2.jpg

[macdaid]

Nice.

Cool. How big is that item? It would need to be sized correctly (smaller the better I would think) so it wouldn't bang around on the frame and fork.

The other issue would be how to keep the chains evenly spaced on the cable when the rig is off the wheel. As mentioned in an earlier reply, getting the chain sections properly positioned could be prohibitively time consuming if they weren't previously set in some way.

Perhaps a pair of crimps on the cable, on either side of the loop where the cable passes through the chain might keep them positioned. They'd have to be big enough so they don't pass through the loop...


Use a small, quick release cable tensioner on one side, other side uses a fixed length of cable.
Something like this maybe:
http://www.biconet.com/birds/GIFs/stealth/acc/quickRelease2.jpg

[wrench177]

Nice.

Cool. How big is that item? It would need to be sized correctly (smaller the better I would think) so it wouldn't bang around on the frame and fork.

The other issue would be how to keep the chains evenly spaced on the cable when the rig is off the wheel. As mentioned in an earlier reply, getting the chain sections properly positioned could be prohibitively time consuming if they weren't previously set in some way.

Perhaps a pair of crimps on the cable, on either side of the loop where the cable passes through the chain might keep them positioned. They'd have to be big enough so they don't pass through the loop...
No idea, I found it here (http://www.biconet.com/birds/stealthNetAcc.html) and there were no dimensions. From the size of the pins they don't look all that big. I'm sure a more in-depth internet search would yield better results. I found that pretty fast.

As for keeping the chains properly spaced, the link in the first post showed a length of chain running right down the middle. That would keep things in order I imagine. Or two off on either side.

The whole setup looks awful heavy though.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/140/389821733_29ea0987d5.jpg

[walsh]

hmmm . . . they seem to be commercially available:
http://www.theybite.com/homepage.html

[macdaid]

Yes, and it appears they crimp their cable into permanent loops where the cable intersects the chain. Looks pretty stable.

If you get the initial tension correct, you wouldn't even need a cable tensioner.
Re-inflating the tire would presumably provide all the tensioning you would need.

This is looking more and more DIYable.

[macdaid]

Or if you don't feel handy, they can be had, on sale, for $67.99 for a pair.
http://webmountainbike.stores.yahoo.net/chainformoun.html

[CRAIG2]

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/pikihs/innova_ice_husky_studded_snow_tire/pp.htm

You could just buy tires, but I know, that's not nearly as much fun :D

[MD Fire]

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/pikihs/innova_ice_husky_studded_snow_tire/pp.htm

You could just buy tires, but I know, that's not nearly as much fun :D

Very true!


The chains you can buy don't look nearly as substantial as the DIY ones but they are probably much lighter!

One thing I also noticed initially was the absense of a removal/tensioning piece. The one posted earlier looks like it would be just about perfect for the job.

I also imagine these could be made with lighter guage chain to keep the weight/rolling resistance down.