In challenging terrains, especially in the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam, navigating muddy and slippery roads with trucks is a significant hurdle. To ensure safety and operational efficiency, truck tire chains have become a trusted solution for many drivers. This article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình will delve into the common types of truck tire chains, analyzing the pros and cons of each to help readers gain a comprehensive understanding and choose the most suitable option for their needs.
Popular Types of Truck Tire Chains
Based on materials and design, truck tire chains can be categorized into various types. Below are 5 common types, ranging from simple to complex, frequently used by drivers:
1. Rope Tire Chains
Pros:
- Simple: Easy to make with readily available materials, requires no special skills.
- Cheap: Lowest cost compared to other types of chains, utilizing old ropes.
Cons:
- Easy to break: Low durability, prone to wear and tear during use, especially on rocky terrain.
- Complicated to install/remove: Installation and removal are quite cumbersome and time-consuming due to ropes tightening easily.
- Limited effectiveness: Anti-slip capability is not high, especially on deep mud or rocky roads, low road grip.
2. Scrap Chain Tire Chains
Pros:
- Simple, easy to make: Similar to rope chains, easy to fabricate and install.
- Reusable: Can be used multiple times if the scrap chain is still in good condition.
Cons:
- Low friction: Relatively smooth surface of scrap chain, poor friction with the road surface, does not significantly improve road grip.
- Not very effective: Not truly effective in preventing slippage on difficult terrains, especially slippery mud.
3. Cam Chain Tire Chains
Pros:
- Better friction: Cam chains have small links, providing better road grip compared to ropes and regular scrap chains.
- Reusable: More durable than ropes, can be used multiple times.
- Popular: Widely used and highly rated for effectiveness.
Cons:
- Weak “biting” into the road: Due to small links, the ability to “bite” into the road (digging deep into mud to create traction) is limited.
- Chain intensive: Requires a significant amount of cam chain, high material cost.
- Short cam chains: Cam chains are often short, requiring multiple sections to be linked together, complicating construction and increasing costs.
- Difficult to find chain: Finding enough cam chain to make tire chains can sometimes be difficult.
4. Dog Chain Tire Chains (Nunchaku Chains)
Pros:
- (Unclear): This type of chain is less known and used, advantages have not been practically verified on trucks.
Cons:
- Uncommon: Few people use it, difficult to assess practical effectiveness.
- Difficult to construct: Design appears complex and difficult to fabricate.
5. Combined Scrap Chain and Cable Tire Chains
Pros:
- Optimal: Considered the most optimal type of truck tire chain.
- Chain-saving: Uses less chain compared to cam chains, reducing costs.
- Reusable: High durability, can be used multiple times.
- Sturdy: The combination of cable and scrap chain creates sturdiness and stability.
- Not too complex to make: Easier to fabricate than looped cam chains.
- Good “biting” into the road: The combination of chain and cable helps increase the ability to “bite” into the road, creating strong traction.
Installation:
- Deflate tires slightly before installing chains.
- Wrap the chain around the tire and connect the two cable ends together.
- Inflate tires to press firmly against the chain, securing the chain.
Conclusion
Choosing the right type of truck tire chain depends on various factors such as the type of terrain frequently traveled, budget, and durability requirements. Each type of chain has its own advantages and disadvantages. While rope chains and scrap chains are simple and cheap but have limited effectiveness, cam chains and dog chains are complex and potentially more expensive. The combined scrap chain and cable solution emerges as a balanced option, providing high efficiency, good durability while ensuring cost-effectiveness.
Hopefully, this article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình has provided useful information about truck tire chains. If you have experience using or have feedback, please share in the comments below to exchange and learn together!
