I wonder how long they last with wear/tear and possible corrosion. It would suck to have a piece fly off and through someone else's windshield.
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-- Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. --
Posts: 17699 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: October 14, 2005
we use them on our ambulances and fire trucks in Maine. They are very tough and no they don't fly off. With maintenance and replacement of the wear parts they can last the life of the truck. work pretty well for something that needs low speed traction enhancement on demand.
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
I can see these being useful in cold tier states with weeks of snowpack and no slush to ice them up. While their map of "dealers" hints they do well down to the Arkansas line, I'm thinking no, not so much. The biggest problem we've had with 8" of snow the last week is slush and building up the chunks on everything sticking down near the roadway. Including the steps, bumpers, spares, etc.
Don't see that on the vehicles in the video.
Looks like a great snow state alternative for trucks that must be on the road running all day or emergency use. The Post Office might be too cheap but UPS/FedEx could benefit.
Down here we need mud traction in three seasons and that means mud treads and lockers. Good enough for the little snow we get.
While I appreciate the novel idea, I’d like to see independent testing on this setup versus actual chains including braking. I have no experience with either, but it seems to me that having conventional chains locked to the tire adds a component of traction in that the tire can’t just slide over the chain.
Posts: 11818 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007
independent testing on this setup versus actual chains including braking
Huh? Tell me when in your emergency run to the hospital you can stop to put on chains. Or when you can remove them because you no longer need them and want to fly on a decently cleared highway. Different market, different criteria than an individual mounting chains before heading to the mountains to ski. These permit use when you need and retract instantly when you don't with no corresponding speed restrictions. They are very very good with few tradeoffs (but they do need maintenance annually).
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
I have my doubts they rotate totally underneath the tire. It looks like they have some potential for beating up the sidewall. For emergency use, though (ambulance, fire board, LEO, etc) they could be a good choice in areas where full time chains are not warranted.
When in doubt, mumble
Posts: 10887 | Location: South Congress AZ | Registered: May 27, 2006
