Simex's or chains?

Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 13:42

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bucky00

Hi all

I've got an 80 series and currently run BFG Muds for everything.

I'm looking at buying a set of Simex Extreme Trekkers as a second set to use when it's wet and miserable and hard.

BUT

I'd probably only use them only 2 or 3 times per year.

They make my car unroadworthy and uninsured.

Every surface you can drive on but mud, I'd make my car worse.

I've been thinking about doing it the old fashion way and using all round mud tyres for everything and buying a set of chains and when there's one hill every few months that I'd need Simex's for, stick the chains on.

When I'm doing medium trips a fair way from home, I can stick the chains in the back and if something gets hard, stick the chains on. It's a bit hard to drive home and put the Simex's on and come back.

Sure I'd have the headache of sticking them on and taking them off, but I wouldn't have to spend 25 min before the trip and 25 min after the trip changing my tyres and wouldn't have to drive 10 km/h slower for the trip up and back. That will save me an hour.

Please I know that chains are no good for the tracks, but I believe that I can do less track damage using all round mud tyres and sticking chains on once every now and then than I will using Simex's all the time. I make my aim to drive without revs and momentum.

Tell me, what would be better in the mud. BFG KM2 mud tyres with a set of chains,

OR

A set of Simex ET2's.

By how much, a little or a lot?

Cheers

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Reply By: Member - Vince M (NSW) - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 14:35

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 14:35

you will find that chains will be a problem (maybe) as I can only guess that its muddy & rocky tracks that your on & if you're using low tire pressure the chains will damage your tires & may be panel work as they need to be firm fit. there usable if its just mud & your using Road pressure (still not good on most wide off road tires due to the soft tire wall) They work well on a truck type tire or a old 750x16 8 ply type
I just use a couple of sets of maxtraxs & do the mtr shuffle or just winch it up the clay/ mud sections

If your close I can lend you a good h/duty diamond set that will probably fit your BFG that you can try (weight is around 35kg for this set of 4)
good luck Regards Vince

AnswerID: 464983

Reply By: CSeaJay - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 19:41

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 19:41

It sounds like a problem for you - then why consider Symex's at all?

Seriously, rathewr get a winch or lockers if you are worried about one hill per year max

CJ

AnswerID: 465012

Reply By: Robin Miller - Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 19:44

Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011 at 19:44

There isn't a clear cut answer Bucky because its surface dependant.

But I'm a really big fan of chains and simply don't go anywhere without a set of lightweight snow chains and carry 2 sets when serious. More and more now I use at tyres and have chains as backup.

There is just nothing that you can add to a car at anywhere near the price of chains that does so much.

Its almost good that they are a pain to fit , because I find it to easy to flick the lockers on and seriously get stuck , then out come the chains.

An independent government snow test once showed that muddies can improve traction by an average 70% and chains by 400%.

This is because the force per unit area on the ground is much higher with the narrow chains.

The advantage of chains in mud is less though because the Simex will sink into it and provide similar thrust.

Even in the last week I was on ice , which Simex wouldn't cut through but chains do.

There is another factor though - will the others you may be with want to wait for 20 minutes while fit chains.

Last point - track damage , this really depends on there usage, they can be bad , but I have an article somewhere describing how some places in muddy NZ won't let you in unless you fit chains because if used right the wheels spin less which translates to less damage.