Why were my snow-chains breaking???
 

I've never had to chain up in my life until I headed for the hills west of Denver last Wednesday and chains were required. I stopped on the side of the road with all the other drivers chaining up and asked a fellow flatbedder to show me the ways of the "chain". Anyway, farther down the road, after a good bit of relatively clear driving I decided to pull off and remove the chains. Some of the lateral links were broken. I had the diff lock engaged the whole time and was driving fairly slow (<50, give or take). I just wonder if the diff lock was to blame for breaking the chains or if it was some of the dry pavement I was running across. Once I got to Vail the roads were dry, but once again, I don't know how fast I should drive on dry pavement with chains. Later on, running across Monarch Pass on US-50 on snow-packed road I had to chain up, but left the diff-lock off, and never drove over 35, even on dry pavement. Didn't have a problem with any more broken chains. What exactly was I doing wrong to have my chains break on me? I suspect it was the diff-lock.

The law is your first problem. They could kiss mine before they'd get me to chain on bare ground. Thats just begging to bust up your chains.

No problem with the diff lock, but you were driving way too fast for being chained.

This of course is all assuming your chains were on correctly and tight enough.

BOL

ETA: If I'm chained up the road is so bad you can barely stay on it so I couldn't think of a max speed, but my northern expert "source" says max 30 mph.

The problem with Colorado is the road will be icy and snow-packed for a few miles then dry a few more miles then icy and snow-packed. Yet the chain law stays in effect. The second time I had to chain up, going across Monarch, even on the dry spots I kept it slow, but still had a big truck riding my azz with no chains on at all. I'm just wondering if there any real rules regarding chains.

have your rubber snubbers on?
Maybe you had the wrong size chains for your Tires?

Is the law really 'if the sign is up you better have em on' kinda thing? Cuz we have signs...Chains must be put on HERE, but they are up all summer too? lol
I have always assumed they mean if you need em you better put em on HERE at the pull out instead of spinning out half way and blocking the road.

Could be. My company is out of Altus, OK and I mostly run Texas. I was headed to Colorado and chains were required so I picked up a set at the yard. No one I spoke to knew how to put them on. What in the h3ll is a rubber snubber? :lol:

Just found this chain-up reference page, guess we made a good call with the max 30 mph. Also has some state specific law info.
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/1608/tirechains.htm

I don't know. It's the first time I've run in an area that had chain laws. I know chains were required along I-70 from Georgetown to Eisenhower west of Denver as that's what the local radio was saying, but at Monarch Pass there was just a little sign saying chains were required. Who knows if that sign stays up all summer. Either way, I don't want to take a chance. And I don't want anymore broken chains.

Good info there. Apparently, in Colorado, I need another set of chains as I only have two. Makes sense on the dry pavement. I was trying to keep it slow, but I really had no idea how fast one could drive with chains.

be careful in colorado-they have a unwritten law and it's a big money maker for them. If you're running the Mountains without your chains on and if the DOT "THINKS" you should have them on it's a major fine. Mostly happens around Glenwood Springs. That's past that little chicken Coop on the Western Slope. Key word is "Thinks"