How to figure out size of tire chains

How to choose a chain. Complete guide. Types, features and examples of use of

A chain is a flexible long product made up of links connected in series and movably. This ingenious invention of mankind in modern realities has not lost its former popularity and is widely used on ships, in ports, in logging, in cargo transportation, in production, in the mining industry, agriculture, everyday life, interiors and landscape design.

Chains are distinguished by purpose, design, material, link size, strength and many other features that determine the scope of their application. Among the huge variety of link structures, four main groups can be distinguished.

General Purpose Chains

This group includes steel round link chains of normal strength with a caliber from 2 to 16 mm with welded links. They are manufactured in accordance with DIN 763, DIN 5685 Form C (long link) and DIN 766, DIN 5685 Form A (short link) from grade 2 mild steel. and non-lifting loads. In the household, they are used to tie animals, raise well water, make swings. Chain branches, consisting of long links, have better mobility, but are inferior to analogues with a short link in strength.

Comparison between short link and long link general purpose chain

Load and haul chains of normal strength

These are products with quality class 2, 2.5, 3.5, 5, 7, 8, with a stress at a minimum breaking load of 240 to 800 N/mm². They go to the manufacture of chain slings and are used as part of various lifting and transport machines and mechanisms. With their help, overall and heavy loads are attached to water and land transport. They are mainly used with blocks and winches, for tying, suspension, lifting and holding loads; traction - for moving goods. Manufactured in accordance with GOST 2319or TU (manufacturer's internal standards).

Heavy Duty Load Chains

This group includes high-strength hardened chains of class T(8) with a tensile strength at breaking load of 800 N/mm² and above. They are made from a round steel bar with a section diameter of 4 to 20 mm from high-alloy steel. The place of closure of the rings is welded by electric welding and processed from the burr. Finished products undergo high temperature quenching to improve load capacity, fatigue strength, resistance to abrasive materials and excessive friction. Calibration of each link guarantees high accuracy of shapes and sizes and allows them to be used for work on sprockets of load-lifting and traction devices. Technical requirements for them establish standards GOST 30188-97 and GOST 25996 (for mining equipment).

Decorative chains

This group of products impresses with a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and materials used, which implies many options for their application. Thanks to various coatings, they perfectly imitate non-ferrous and precious metals, which allows you to realize any creative idea in interior design and landscape design. Decorative chains are often used by designers of costume jewelry, clothes and haberdashery. Plastic chains with links of bright signal colors are used for zoning public spaces, parking lots, sports grounds.

What is the chain pitch and gauge

Step is the measurement of the internal length of each individual link. Manufacturers may use the letter "P" or t to indicate the pitch, for example P = 24 mm or t = 24.

Caliber is the nominal diameter (d) of the section of the round steel from which the links are made. Often, gauge refers to the size of the chain, such as 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, etc. More often, however, the size designation includes caliber and pitch separated by a multiplication sign. For example: 6x19mm, 8x24 mm, 14x50 mm.

Classification of welded round link chains

Depending on the pitch to gauge ratio, the chains are divided into:

• short link (type A)
• long link (type B)

When choosing a chain for certain applications, consumers often ask themselves: - "What is the difference between a short link and a long link chain, other than the obvious size of the links?"

The short link design (P/d < 3. 5) makes the chain easier to handle, less prone to tangling when stored in a storage container, but not as agile as a long link chain. Its main advantage is in terms of strength: with the same caliber, a chain with a short link can withstand greater loads than with a long link. It is more difficult to damage when tightening at sharp corners. Short links are tighter on the gripping hooks, so there is less risk of them slipping off.

Long link design (P/d ≥ 3.5) has a large degree of freedom in all directions and is better suited for fastening, extension, shortening. It is easy to make a loop out of it by threading a link into a link. But its main advantage over the short link is in less weight and price, since there are fewer rings per meter.

Conclusion: The type of chain must be selected depending on the tasks assigned to it. If mobility and weight are less important criteria than strength, then you should opt for a short link. In hoisting mechanisms with blocks and drums, only short-link chains are used for operation in order to prevent the occurrence of a large bending moment.

Important: When purchasing, make sure that the internal dimensions of the link are sufficient to pass a hook or other connecting elements (shackles, rings, carabiners, eyelets, etc.) through it.

Round link chains are divided into:

• calibrated (version 1)
• uncalibrated (version 2)

What is the difference between calibrated chains and uncalibrated chains?

The calibrated chain is made of round calibrated steel and has a high accuracy of execution within the specified strict tolerance for pitch, section diameter, link width, external and internal length. The maximum deviation from the regulated dimensions is ± 3%. Calibrated chains after heat treatment are necessarily subjected to tension by a calibration load in order to obtain the specified maximum deviations of the pitch and length of the segment.

Uncalibrated chains have a rated tolerance of ±10%, therefore they are designed to work on smooth drums or in static fastening systems.

Where are calibrated chains used?

A calibrated chain is used as a flexible lifting and traction body for chain conveyors, elevators, winches, hoists and other mechanisms with gear drums or chain sprockets. It works as part of bucket conveyors, lifting equipment, traction and lifting mechanisms with manual and mechanical drives. Sprockets or drums are usually designed and manufactured to ensure compatibility with a given chain size and gauge for optimum engagement.

Note: Both types of chains can be used as load chains.

How to choose a chain that will not stick or slip on sprockets?

It's not enough to get the gauge and pitch right, it's important that the chain is calibrated to tight tolerances or it will "bounce" under load. When the link pitch has deviations from tolerances of more than 3%, this is difficult to determine visually, but is easily confirmed in practical tests. A slippage or sticking problem usually occurs after the chain has gone through a few turns under load.

How to check chain calibration?

If you are looking for a calibrated winch chain and are unsure of the quality of the sizing, there is an easy way to check that it matches the tolerance limits for your winch drum.

To do this, you need to buy a meter length of the chain branch and measure the length of 11 links. Why exactly 11 links? – because it is a generally accepted standard length. Use a ruler to measure the distance from the inside of the first link to the inside of the last link. When doing this, make sure the chain is taut to ensure an accurate measurement.

Important! The maximum pitch deviation for a calibrated chain must not exceed ±3% of the specified value!

Table 1. Normal measurement results for a calibrated short link chain DIN 766

Caliber, mm	Pitch mm	Length 11 links, mm
6	18. 5	203.5
7	22	242
eight	24	264
ten	28	308
12	36	396
13	36	396

Tip: For European-made anchor winches, choose calibrated DIN 766 short link chains as they will fit perfectly on the drums mounted on them.

Strength rating of round link chains

In the characteristics of the product, manufacturers indicate three types of load. The maximum working loads are based on proof tests and should never exceed the rated working loads suggested by the chain manufacturer, individual specifications or testing agency for the chain size and grade in question.

Working load (carrying capacity) - the maximum load that the product can be subjected to during operation. It is the breaking load divided by the safety factor. This coefficient varies from 3 to 8 depending on the purpose of the chain and the manufacturer. Usually it is 4, in which case the working load is a quarter of the breaking load.

The proof load is the reference tensile test load that was loaded on the specimen at the factory during the test procedure. Typically, it is twice the ultimate working load, which is half the breaking load. This is a very important test, proving that each link has been welded well.

Breaking load is the ultimate tensile strength of 4 times the working load limit. Standards require a specific level of breaking load for each chain size, gauge and grade. For some manufacturers, it may exceed the minimum standard, which is reflected in the test certificate.

Circuit calculation example:

When choosing a welded round link chain for the lifting mechanism, a simple calculation is performed for a given load and safety factor.

For example: For a manual hoist, the size of the calibrated chain must be selected. Assumed maximum working load: S = 12 kN (1200 kgf).

In accordance with the standards of Gostekhnadzor, we accept a margin of safety equal to 4.5: 1.

We calculate the breaking load according to the formula P = 4.5 x 12 kN = 54 kN (5400 kgf) .

According to table 2 (source: GOST 2319-81), we select a short-link calibrated chain of size 13x36 mm, for which the tensile strength is 66 kN (6600 kgf).

Table 2. Dimensions and loads for load and haul chains, type A, version 1

Caliber, d mm		Pitch, p mm		Width b mm		Previous deviation section length l=11p	Load, kN
nominal	prev. deviation	nominal	prev.deviation	nominal	prev.deviation		trial	destructive
5	±0.4	18.5	±0.5	17	±0.5	+1.5 -0.5	5.0	10.0
6		18.5 (19)		20 (21)	±0.6		7.0	14.0
7		22		23	±0.7		9.0	18.0
eight		23 (24)	±0.6	26 (27)	±0.8		13.0	26.0
9	±0.5	27		32	±0.9	+2.5 -0.8	16.0	32.0
9. 5		27		31	±1.0		17.0	34.0
ten		28		34	±1.1		20.0	40.0
eleven		31	±1.0	36	±1.3		23.0	46.0
13		36		44 (43)	±1.6	+3.8 -1.3	33.0	66.0
16	±0.8	45 (44		53 (54)	±1.8		51.0	102.0
eighteen		fifty		60	±2.0		63.0	126.0
twenty		56	±1.5	67	±2.3	+5.5 -1.8	80.0	160. 0
23	±1.0	64		77	±2.6		100.0	200.0
26		73	±2.0	87	-	-	126.0	252.0
28		78	-	94	-	-	150.0	300.0
thirty		84	-	101	-	-	170.0	340.0
33	±1.5	92	-	112	-	-	200.0	400.0
36		101	-	122	-	-	250.0	500.0
39		109	-	132	-	-	280. 0	560.0
42		118	-	142	-	-	340.0	680.0

What is chain quality grade?

Quality class is a characteristic that allows you to evaluate the strength of the chain. It depends on the mechanical characteristics of the finished product, and not on the ultimate strength of the alloy used for its manufacture. The quality class is usually indicated by numbers from 2 to 12. Some standards, for example, GOST 29996-97, establish the letter designation of the class - B, C, D.

Chains of normal strength (cargo, traction and general purpose), depending on the mechanical properties, have the appropriate quality class - 2; 2.5; 3; 3.5; 5; 7, and high-strength (lifting) class 8, 10, 12 (T8, T10, T12).

Table 3. Strength values ​​for chains of various quality grades

Quality class	2	2. 5	3.5	5	B	7	8(C)	10(D)
Test load stress, N/mm	75-120	120	240	315	500	600	640	800
Tension under breaking load, N/mm	150-240	240	360	500	630	750	800	1000

With the same nominal diameter of the links, the load capacity of the chain of the 8th quality class is 50% higher than the load capacity of the chains of the 5th quality class, and the load capacity of class 10 chains is 25% higher than that of products of quality class 8. Accordingly, the load capacity of class 12 is 25% higher than class 10.

The use of high-strength chains in lifting and rigging operations allows you to reduce the weight of chain slings. With equal load capacity, the weight of the chain of the 8th quality class is 30% of the weight of the 3rd class. The higher the quality class, the higher the surface hardness of the bows and the higher the wear resistance and susceptibility to damage from sharp edges.

Effect of Temperature on the Load Capacity of High Strength Chains

Their carrying capacity remains stable when operating in the temperature range from -40 to +200ºС. With an increase in temperature to +300ºС, the workload drops by 10%, and when it rises to +400ºС, it decreases by 25%. If the threshold of +400ºС is exceeded, operation is prohibited.

What chains are used on car tires?

To ensure the stability of the car when driving on ice, loose soils and snowy winter roads, snow chains are used. These are ready-made chain products that are put on the wheels of cars and make it easy to overcome even the most impassable areas. For their manufacture, high-strength hardened galvanized steel is used, which guarantees special resistance to abrasion, reliability and durability.

The range of snow chains covers almost all possible wheel sizes. The special pattern of the ladder, diamond or honeycomb chain tread provides optimal grip and comfortable movement.

How to choose wheel chains?

On finished chain protectors, manufacturers indicate the size of the tires and the type of vehicle for which they are intended. For those who plan to make wheel chains with their own hands, we recommend using the following gauge and link pitch:

• for cars: 3.5x12 mm
• crossovers, SUVs, commercial vehicles: 4.5x16 mm
• trucks, buses and special vehicles: 7x24 mm

Chain consumption depends on the wheel diameter, tread width and profile height of the tire, as well as on the selected pattern. For example, to “shod” two wheels of a passenger car in lugs with a “ladder” pattern, approximately 15 meters will be required.

How to choose an anti-theft chain for a bicycle or motorcycle?

One of the most reliable ways to protect an unattended motorcycle or bicycle from theft is a bike chain lock. It's easy to do it yourself. To do this, you will need a piece of chain and a padlock (with a key or combination). You should not look for an old chain in the garage or purchase it at a hardware store. For an anti-theft chain-lock, you need not an economic, but a high-strength solid hardened chain.

The anti-theft chain is made of thermally hardened steel and has an increased strength class T-8. It is difficult to cut it and it is almost impossible to bite even with a powerful bolt cutter. And not every thief carries hydraulic scissors or a grinder in his pocket. The chain links are firmly welded, so they cannot be unbent with wrenches. Even experienced hijackers will have to tinker with such a chain, and this will give you time or the attacker will look for another, less secure candidate for hijacking.

What is the optimal length and gauge of an anti-theft chain?

Leaving a two-wheeled "horse" in a temporary parking lot, it must be fastened to something immovable and indestructible (pole, tree, fence), and the chain must wrap around not only the wheel, but also the frame. Otherwise, a surprise will await you in the form of a lone chained wheel. Depending on what you will fasten your bike or motorcycle to, the length of the chain can vary from 60 to 120 cm. As for the diameter of the chain bar, it can be 8 mm, 10 mm or 13 mm. As practice shows, the larger the caliber of the link, the less chance the hijacker has.

If the chain is not in doubt about the reliability, then the weak link in this anti-theft device may be the lock. Time is important for a thief, so he is unlikely to start poking around in the castle when you can just bite his shackle. Therefore, the locking shackle of the lock must be no less strong than the chain links.

The assortment of the Krepkom store always has hardened chains of any caliber and chain locks with a high degree of protection against opening, breaking, sawing and corrosion. Instead of a bow-shaped bracket, the locks have a thick locking pin made of extra strong hardened steel. It is difficult to get close to it with wire cutters, a mount or a hacksaw, which makes it difficult to break in by force.

The Krepkom store offers a wide range of chains for various purposes and finished products from them (household, sanitary, decorative chains, knot, ball, anti-skid chains, for tying livestock and slipway repair, etc.). If you have any questions when choosing, our specialists are ready to advise you by phone: +8 (800) 333-21-68.

Chains, slings, rigging Updated: 08/02/2022 13:17:31

Maxim

Specialist in the field of fasteners and rigging products. More than 10 years of work in the field of construction, repair and equipment.
— "We try to convey to you only relevant and reliable information, we will be glad to hear your feedback regarding this article"

The author of the article

Maxim

Specialist in the field of fasteners and rigging products. More than 10 years of work in the field of construction, repair and equipment.
— "We try to convey to you only relevant and reliable information, we will be glad to hear your feedback regarding this article"

The author of the article

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Use of snow chains in Europe • Autotraveler.

In view of the fact that winter or even studded tires are almost universally used in Russia in winter, snow chains are not widely used. Except, maybe, areas of complete impassability.

Contents

Whereas in Europe, on the contrary, few people use studded tires. And when traveling to ski resorts, on some roads you may encounter a mandatory requirement to use snow chains.

You will be informed about this by the relevant road sign. And the fact that you can have winter tires installed will not matter. So for peace of mind, it's better to have chains in the trunk.

Will the chains fit your car?

New vehicles are often offered with different wheel/tire sizes. Some of them may not be suitable for fitting snow chains.

The problem is that installing chains adds a few centimeters to the width and diameter of the tires. This means that with some wheel/tire combinations, the snow chains will hit the body, suspension or parts of the braking system, which can lead to serious consequences.

Circuits can also interfere with the correct operation of electronic sensors mounted on the steering wheel.

The vehicle manual must clearly state which wheel size the manufacturer allows snow chains to be used with.

If the chains cannot be used with the wheels installed on your machine, then your only option is to buy a second set of wheels/tyres.

When to use snow chains?

You should only use snow chains where the road surface is completely covered by compacted snow or ice.

If signs require the use of snow chains, they must be fitted to all vehicles. Including those equipped with both winter and studded tires.

If you attempt to use the chains on a road that has been cleared of snow, you risk damaging the road surface and the vehicle. If you damage the road surface, you may face a large fine.

Therefore, as soon as you reach a section of the road free of snow or ice, you must select a level place and remove the chains.

Practice at home first

It can be quite inconvenient to install or remove chains, for example when the wheel arches are filled with snow and your gloved hands are wet and cold.

So when you buy chains, don't just throw them in the trunk and forget about them. The practice of installing them at home when the weather is warm and dry, and you feel much more confident when you have all the necessary tools at hand, will help to cope with them in more difficult weather conditions.

How many pairs of chains to use - one or two?

At least one pair must be used on the drive wheels. But two pairs are better, especially if you spend a lot of time in conditions where snow chains are a must.

As a general guide:

• A front wheel drive vehicle with chains fitted to the front wheels only will tend to oversteer.
• A rear wheel drive vehicle with chains fitted to the rear wheels only will tend to oversteer.
• A four wheel drive vehicle must have chains fitted to all four wheels.

Driving with chains installed

As a general rule, traction control (a system that controls the amount of slip on the vehicle's drive wheels to prevent them from spinning during acceleration) should be disabled when snow chains are used.

It is important to drive carefully with snow chains fitted. For cars with chains, different countries have their own speed limits. Reduce speed when cornering and avoid sudden acceleration and braking.

A few tips for using chains:

• Some chains are designed to require you to stop after a few meters to check and adjust the tension.
• Tension the chain carefully - a poorly tightened chain can damage the suspension or steering if it catches on a hidden stump or stone.
• Stop immediately and remove the chains if they are damaged or broken.
• Check chains for damage when you remove them. Look out for worn or broken connections and connectors.

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