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| Rud Grip 4x4 Snow Chains Evaluation Article |
Copyright 2009 Don Alexander
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Don Alexander
When roads become snow covered or iced-over, most
drivers resort to installing tire chains to improve traction.
Many areas, like our local San Bernardino Mountains,
require all vehicles to carry snow chains during winter
months, and require 2wd vehicles to install chains when
snow is on the roads, and all vehicles to install chains when
the conditions become heavy and icy. But no such
requirements are put in place for the local dirt roads and
4x4 trails.
When the trails are hit hard by snowfall, like there were this
past winter, traveling snow-covered backcountry roads and
trails become difficult at best and impossible at worst. And
just because you made it in on a road, does not mean you’ll
get out as easily. Especially in late winter and early spring,
when the roads get rutted and the overnight temperatures
freeze over the surface with a crust of ice and hard pack
snow, the roads can be relatively easy to navigate. But
when the sun rises high and the temps climb above
freezing, the crust softens and what supported the weight
of your rig in the morning, will likely encase your tires in hub
deep slushy snow in the afternoon. And those conditions
can be extremely difficult to get out of.
In the snow, good mud terrain tires help, especially when
aired down to the lowest pressure your tires will take. Wide
tires are better than narrow tires and a light vehicle will fair
better than a heavy rig. You want the least load per unit of
tire contact patch area possible in a effort to stay on top of
hard pack, crusty snow. If the snow is light, especially when
the trail is fresh and unbroken, ground clearance is crucial
to break through the snow without pushing it out of the way,
or more likely, compacting it under the front of your rig. As
the snow build up, the front tires are lifted and traction is
reduced. Even if the conditions are good, and passage is
easy on flat terrain or slight grades, when the grade pitch
increases, more traction is needed. And if the road is iced
over, even the slightest grade can reduce traction to near
zero for even the best tire, rig and driver combo.
These extreme conditions are where tire chains come in to
play. We wanted to find out just how much difference
chains make in the snow and ice. We acquired two sets of
Rud Grip 4x4 chains for the 33” tires on the Xterra Off
Road test rig. The we went to Cactus Flat, and OHV area
northeast of Big Bear Lake. Cactus Flat has plenty of snow
and a very wide slope with a grade of 15-20 degrees were
we could run multiple tests side by side on fresh,
untouched snow.
The Grip series 4x4 snow chains feature:
• Diamond pattern for better traction
• Ease of installation
• Rugged and Durable
• Affordable
Link size for the Grip 4x4 is 5.5mm which is thicker than the
class "S" clearance standards of 3.5mm.
The Rud Grip 4x4 chains proved very easy to install. After
installing one chain, it becomes easier with each
installation, taking only about 3 minutes per chain, and
even less time to remove.
To install the chains, first detach the cable from its
connectors and shake the chain so that it dangles loosely.
Then take the long thin yellow chain, making sure it is
detached from all other parts of the chain. Lay the chain on
the ground with the plastic covered cable forming a half
moon with both ends facing the car. Push one end around
the tire and grab it with your other hand so that the plastic
coated cable is now wrapped around the tire on the
ground. Lift both ends up and secure the cable at the top
of the tire towards the back of the tire. Secure the hook to
the hook ring at the top front of the tire facing you and fit
the chain along both sides of the tire. Now take the long
thin yellow chain at the bottom and run it through the brass
colored connector hole and cinch it back for tightness. Now
run the long thin yellow chain through the thin yellow metal
loop and attach the long thin yellow chain up to the blue
chain near the top as tightly as possible. After the chains
are installed, drive forward a few feet and tighten more if
possible, checking each attachment point.
Our first test was up slope with tires aired to normal
highway pressures. Progress across the flats was easy with
the snow only about four inches deep. As soon as we got to
the bottom of the slope, we stopped, then proceeded with
mild power application. Forward progress ceased within 10
feet. Our test procedure was such that once forward
progress ceased, we stopped and backed down, moving
over a few feet to the left or right for the next test.
Click here to continue
When roads become snow covered or iced-over, most
drivers resort to installing tire chains to improve traction.
Many areas, like our local San Bernardino Mountains,
require all vehicles to carry snow chains during winter
months, and require 2wd vehicles to install chains when
snow is on the roads, and all vehicles to install chains when
the conditions become heavy and icy. But no such
requirements are put in place for the local dirt roads and
4x4 trails.
When the trails are hit hard by snowfall, like there were this
past winter, traveling snow-covered backcountry roads and
trails become difficult at best and impossible at worst. And
just because you made it in on a road, does not mean you’ll
get out as easily. Especially in late winter and early spring,
when the roads get rutted and the overnight temperatures
freeze over the surface with a crust of ice and hard pack
snow, the roads can be relatively easy to navigate. But
when the sun rises high and the temps climb above
freezing, the crust softens and what supported the weight
of your rig in the morning, will likely encase your tires in hub
deep slushy snow in the afternoon. And those conditions
can be extremely difficult to get out of.
In the snow, good mud terrain tires help, especially when
aired down to the lowest pressure your tires will take. Wide
tires are better than narrow tires and a light vehicle will fair
better than a heavy rig. You want the least load per unit of
tire contact patch area possible in a effort to stay on top of
hard pack, crusty snow. If the snow is light, especially when
the trail is fresh and unbroken, ground clearance is crucial
to break through the snow without pushing it out of the way,
or more likely, compacting it under the front of your rig. As
the snow build up, the front tires are lifted and traction is
reduced. Even if the conditions are good, and passage is
easy on flat terrain or slight grades, when the grade pitch
increases, more traction is needed. And if the road is iced
over, even the slightest grade can reduce traction to near
zero for even the best tire, rig and driver combo.
These extreme conditions are where tire chains come in to
play. We wanted to find out just how much difference
chains make in the snow and ice. We acquired two sets of
Rud Grip 4x4 chains for the 33” tires on the Xterra Off
Road test rig. The we went to Cactus Flat, and OHV area
northeast of Big Bear Lake. Cactus Flat has plenty of snow
and a very wide slope with a grade of 15-20 degrees were
we could run multiple tests side by side on fresh,
untouched snow.
The Grip series 4x4 snow chains feature:
• Diamond pattern for better traction
• Ease of installation
• Rugged and Durable
• Affordable
Link size for the Grip 4x4 is 5.5mm which is thicker than the
class "S" clearance standards of 3.5mm.
The Rud Grip 4x4 chains proved very easy to install. After
installing one chain, it becomes easier with each
installation, taking only about 3 minutes per chain, and
even less time to remove.
To install the chains, first detach the cable from its
connectors and shake the chain so that it dangles loosely.
Then take the long thin yellow chain, making sure it is
detached from all other parts of the chain. Lay the chain on
the ground with the plastic covered cable forming a half
moon with both ends facing the car. Push one end around
the tire and grab it with your other hand so that the plastic
coated cable is now wrapped around the tire on the
ground. Lift both ends up and secure the cable at the top
of the tire towards the back of the tire. Secure the hook to
the hook ring at the top front of the tire facing you and fit
the chain along both sides of the tire. Now take the long
thin yellow chain at the bottom and run it through the brass
colored connector hole and cinch it back for tightness. Now
run the long thin yellow chain through the thin yellow metal
loop and attach the long thin yellow chain up to the blue
chain near the top as tightly as possible. After the chains
are installed, drive forward a few feet and tighten more if
possible, checking each attachment point.
Our first test was up slope with tires aired to normal
highway pressures. Progress across the flats was easy with
the snow only about four inches deep. As soon as we got to
the bottom of the slope, we stopped, then proceeded with
mild power application. Forward progress ceased within 10
feet. Our test procedure was such that once forward
progress ceased, we stopped and backed down, moving
over a few feet to the left or right for the next test.
Click here to continue
