I was reading a blog post on snow tires and tire chains and down in the comments was one that was very informative: the commenter mentioned that he just made his own tire chains. Considering the current price for these it made a lot of sense (well over a $100 a set).So I went looking and found this page there are others. Doesn't look hard if you are, as Red Green says, handy.

Not good for high speeds above about 15 mph.

I kinda doubt Red Green’s duct tape would last long when being used as tire chains. Since chains are safety equipment, and expect them to last - especially when they’re needed, I’m fine with paying $100 or more for the right equipment.

I saw an ad recently for an emergency tire chain kit that looked like a variation of large zip ties. Again, probably wouldn't last too long but might work in an emergency.Why is someone from North Florida reading about snow tires and tire chains? LOL!

I’m not sure I’d follow the ‘instructions of a guy who obviously doesn’t know what he’s doing. Commercial tire chains use twisted-link cross chains because they lay flat against the tire and present a very closed profile against the snow or mud the tire is traversing. Standard chain is a very open design and doesn’t give anywhere near the traction. The use of quick links to fasten the side-chains is also a bad scene waiting to happen. You can’t get the chains tight enough so as soon as you start to roll centrifugal force will take up that slack and fling the cross-links outwards, when they meet your body work that $100 savings will disappear fast. If it’s mud you’re needing those chains for and you meet a rock, you will likely need those bolt cutters to get the chains back off,the threads on quick links are easily messed up by dirt or worse, a slight stretch pulling them out of alignment.If you want cheap DIY chains just take a length of 1” rope and wind it through the rim and around the tire, at least if it contacts the bodywork you won’t be in such trouble.

Well being from Florida my excuse for being tire chain ignorant is well established. Heh, I vaguely recall having a set when I spent a winter in Idaho, but don't recall using them more than once. It was cold as Nifelheim but with almost no snow.

DIY Tire chains | Good Sam Community

memtb
Explorer
Feb 16, 2018
“Unless” you have deep snow, or mud....cables are generally more practical for most of us. Cables are lighter and easier to put on. You can also drive faster than with chains. On a hard surface, the cables are much smoother...with less, bounce, shock , hammering (whatever you want to call it), transmitted to the vehicle. They work great on ice.....which is what most rv’ers will encounter with winter travel. As we do some off-roading, particularly in fall (mud or deep snow), during hunting season....we carry both!

If you are towing a trailer... it is equally to or more important to cable or chain the trailer than the tow vehicle. In a fast stop.... the “unchained/uncabled ” Trailer will likely pass the “chained/cabled” tow vehicle. It’s more about control than traction!

I’ve modified or repaired a few chains in my life. if I were starting with nothing....I would buy, rather than build.
time2roll
Nomad
Feb 14, 2018
Build my own link chains? No thanks. Although many years ago I did custom adjust some link chains to clear the struts on my small FWD car I would take skiing. Worked excellent.

The rope trick etc is fine in a jam. However I just carry the same chains I bought a decade ago just in case. Been on a few times but I generally try to avoid them.
GottaRunGottaCa
Explorer
Feb 14, 2018
Tvov wrote:
JaxDad wrote:
Seriously. LOL.

Clicky-clicky.

Well, I am fascinated by that. Now I want to go out and try that on my truck.

I learned this many years ago living up in the snow country, it also works in mud, if you need extra traction tie a knot in the middle of the tread, keep in mind that this will get you out of a jam, it will not work on speeds above 15mph.
Tvov
Explorer II
Feb 14, 2018
JaxDad wrote:
Seriously. LOL.

Clicky-clicky.

Well, I am fascinated by that. Now I want to go out and try that on my truck.
JaxDad
Explorer III
Feb 13, 2018
Seriously. LOL.

Clicky-clicky.
AllegroD
Nomad
Feb 13, 2018
JaxDad
Explorer III
Feb 12, 2018
agesilaus wrote:
Well being from Florida my excuse for being tire chain ignorant is well established. Heh, I vaguely recall having a set when I spent a winter in Idaho, but don't recall using them more than once. It was cold as Nifelheim but with almost no snow.

No excuses or apologies required friend, it’s all about learning and sharing knowledge.

In your case in particular, it’s amazing how fast sand can turns tire treads into slicks, but a length of rope spiraled around the tire and through the holes in the rim will quickly turn those slicks into paddle tires.

The same goes for snow, even just 4 loops of rope tied around a tire through holes in the rims will make a HUGE difference in traction.
jerryjay11
Explorer
Feb 12, 2018
Buy the time you spent money on a bolt cutter, chains, bungees, and the time/labor of making these it appears $100 for a real set of snow chains is a bargain.
Tvov
Explorer II
Feb 12, 2018
JaxDad wrote:
....
If you want cheap DIY chains just take a length of 1” rope and wind it through the rim and around the tire, at least if it contacts the bodywork you won’t be in such trouble.

Holy mackerel, I never thought of that! That obviously depends on your rim design if it would work.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Feb 12, 2018
Well being from Florida my excuse for being tire chain ignorant is well established. Heh, I vaguely recall having a set when I spent a winter in Idaho, but don't recall using them more than once. It was cold as Nifelheim but with almost no snow.