Tire Chains and Rated Chain

“Chain” covers two completely different worlds, and confusing them gets people hurt. One world is tire chains — sized to the exact tire and matched to the traction job. The other is rated steel chain — graded by strength and split hard between securement and lifting. Get either wrong and you’re either stuck in the snow or watching a load drop. Here’s how to choose right.

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Tire Chains: Fit Is Everything

For most Montana acreage owners and farm operators, tire chains are the main event. Snow removal, slope control, traction on an icy driveway — a garden tractor or snow blower needs bite when winter sets in.

The first rule: tire chains are a strict fitment product. Start with the tire size printed on your sidewall, then narrow the choices by vehicle type, tread style, clearance, road surface, and how the chains will be used. Garden tractor and snow blower chains come sized to exact tire dimensions — figures like 16x5.50-8, 16x6.50-8, or 8.0-16. They’re sold in pairs (2 chains) and will cover two tires.

Pattern is the next decision, and it’s where Montana terrain matters. Studded chains are usually the most aggressive choice for ice. V-bar chains are often the next choice for strong bite on ice, hardpack, hills, and demanding winter use. For snowed-in driveways and pitched rural lots, that bite is the difference between working and spinning. Ladder/twist-link chains handle general traction. Cable chains, diagonal cable chains, Alpha Trax style chains, smoother ladder chains, and some diamond chains are usually better choices for road use when the vehicle has clearance.

Then there’s link spacing. For 2 link chains, cross chains occur every other side chain link giving consistent ride with less grip-slip like a 4 link chain. A 4-link layout uses less chain. The 2-link gives more frequent grip — generally the better call when consistency on ice matters.

One trap worth flagging: tire type. The Grizzlar GTU-252 and similar turf chains are for turf tires only. Deep lug tires call for net style chains like the GTN-500 instead. Match the chain to the tire’s tread style, not just its dimensions.

Construction quality is real, despite the “commodity” label. Heavy Duty Tire Chains are made of thicker cross chain and thicker side chain and fasteners. Compared to lower priced offerings, heavy duty chains are significantly thicker with deeper case hardening for durability and traction. Regular-duty carbon steel works for lighter jobs; heavy-duty earns its keep on hills and hard pulling.

If you want traction without tearing up a finished surface, rubber chains exist. SoftClaw rubber tire chains are made for lawn mowers, lawn tractors, and similar-sized vehicles. They are not approved for cars or trucks.

Tire chain factor	Options
Sizing	Match exact sidewall dimension (e.g., 16x5.50-8, 16x6.50-8, 8.0-16)
Pattern — ice/hills	Studded (most aggressive), then V-bar
Pattern — general	Ladder / twist-link
Pattern — paved/smooth	Diamond / cable
Link spacing	2-link (consistent grip), 4-link (less chain)
Tire type	Turf chains for turf tires; net-style for deep-lug
Duty	Regular carbon steel vs. heavy-duty (thicker, deeper case hardening)

Rated Steel Chain: The Lifting-vs-Securement Line You Don’t Cross

This is the part nobody should improvise on. Rated chain is sorted by grade, and grade tells you what the chain is legally and safely allowed to do.

The split: Grades 30, 43, and 70 are for securement and load binding only — never overhead lifting. Grades 80, 100, and 120 are the lifting grades. Grade 100 offers 25% higher capacity than Grade 80, and Grade 120 provides further strength improvements. If a load is going up in the air over someone, it rides on Grade 80 or higher. Period.

For securement work on a Montana farm or job site, the lower grades cover the field:

• Grade 30 Proof Coil Self Colored Chain has no finish — plain steel. A general-purpose chain for all ordinary applications.
• Grade 30 Proof Coil Chain that’s hot dipped galvanized is resistant to corrosion. Suitable for marine environments. That galvanized finish is what you want against moisture and road-salt exposure through a wet-freeze winter.
• Grade 43 High Test Chain is a higher strength carbon steel, zinc plated. Can be used for lumbering, construction, binding and load securement.
• Grade 70 Transport Chain has a yellow dichromate finish. Primarily used for load binding in the transport industry. It can also be used on farms, lumbering, towing, and construction.

Western Building Center carries proof coil in a range of diameters — Grade 30 zinc-plated in 3/16”, 1/4”, 5/16”, and 3/8” by the foot, plus a yellow-finish Grade 30 3/16”. The straight-link, double-loop, and single/double jack chains round out the lighter-utility side for plumbing, sash, and general fastening work.

Matching Hooks, Binders, and Fittings to the Grade

Your hardware has to match your chain grade. A Grade 70 chain with a mismatched hook is only as strong as that hook — that’s your weak link, literally.

• Grade 43 Grab & Slip Hooks are hot forged, heat treated and tempered, and attach directly to welded chain. They have a clear protective finish to resist rust. Made for use on all high-test grade 43 chain.
• Grade 70 Grab & Slip Hooks are designed specifically for grade 70 transport chain, with matching working load limits. Higher strength to weight ratios than grade 43.
• Grade 70 weld hooks can be welded onto farm buckets, loaders, and skid steers. Handy for setting up dedicated tie-down points on equipment.

For pulling loads tight, binders do the work. Ratchet Load Binders are turnbuckle style ratchet binders with all steel, drop forged construction. Made to bind difficult loads. Lever Load Binders are designed to prevent the clevis from spreading from the handle of the binder. When it comes to shackles, load matters — load rated shackles feature oversized threaded pins and easy-to-read sizes with working load limits in tons on each piece. Read the tonnage stamped on the piece and don’t exceed it.

Cable and Wire Rope

Wire rope handles winch lines and railing. General Purpose Wire Rope is commonly used for winch lines, plus industrial, agricultural, marine and consumer uses. Aircraft Galvanized Wire Rope is coated to protect against corrosion. That corrosion coating earns its place anywhere moisture and salt are in play.

If you need more strength in the same diameter, swaged rope delivers. Swage ropes are produced by reducing the diameter of a round rope by compacting it. By packing more steel into a smaller diameter, the swaging process produces breaking strength up to 23% higher than traditional rope.

For railing cable, the grade of stainless depends on exposure: Type 304 for inland and dry areas, Type 316 for coastal or salt-exposed environments. Across most of Montana, 304 covers it. And on swaged connections, always use a hydraulic crimper.

Install and Maintenance

Tire chain installation follows a simple sequence. Lay the chains flat on the ground. Drive your tractor onto the center of the chain set. Wrap chains around the tire and connect inner and outer hooks. Adjust tension as needed. Then get them tight — to ensure maximum life and performance, tire chains must be installed as tight as possible. Tensioners are usually sold separately but worth it: while not included, tensioners or adjusters are highly recommended for ensuring a tight, secure fit. They reduce the chance of chain movement and extend the life of your tire chains.

Expect some fiddling. Because of tread depth and brand variations across garden and lawn tractors, minor adjustments during installation are common and expected.

Maintenance is short and matters more here than most places, given Montana’s wet-and-freeze cycle. Clean chains after use, especially when exposed to salt or mud. Hang chains to dry before storage to avoid rust. Inspect links for wear or breaks before each use. Salt left on steel over a thaw will pit it fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the right way to find a tire chain size? Read the dimension printed on your tire’s sidewall — something like 16x6.50-8 or 8.0-16 — and match it exactly. All of the numbers of your tire size have to exactly match, both the number and the order in which the numbers are listed, with the application list. When the actual tire runs larger than standard, extension kits can adapt the chains.

Which chain pattern is best for ice and hills? For the most aggressive ice grip, studded chains lead. V-bar chains are also strong for ice, hardpack, hills, and rougher conditions. For pitched rural driveways and snowed-in slopes, those two patterns give the bite you want.

Is Grade 70 transport chain safe for overhead lifting? No. Grades 30, 43, and 70 are for securement and load binding only. Overhead lifting requires Grades 80, 100, or 120. Using a transport grade overhead is a serious safety failure.

What’s the difference between 2-link and 4-link spacing? For 2 link chains, cross chains occur every other side chain link, giving a consistent ride with less grip-slip. A 4-link layout uses less chain across the tire. The 2-link generally wins for steady traction on ice.

Do tire chains come with tensioners? Sometimes. Some sets, like the Grizzlar GTU-252, include tensioners in the package. Many others are chains only, with tensioners or adjusters sold separately but highly recommended. Check before you buy.

Which chain finish resists rust best in Montana winters? Hot-dip galvanized. Grade 30 Proof Coil Chain that’s hot dipped galvanized is resistant to corrosion and suitable for marine environments. For wire rope, the aircraft galvanized version is coated to protect against corrosion. Either way, clean off salt and let everything dry before storing.