Chains.... how many seasons do they last?

They clean up if you use them.

 

Drive a few hundred yards with the chains on you'll find the rust will come off and they'll be bright and shiny once more, till you put them away and the air gets to them once again.

 

Drag em on a dirt road behind a pickup. Then they will look more presentable.

 

Sounds like you really just don’t want to do the winter driving. The chains are rusty, fix them by dragging behind a pick up on a dirt road or hit them with some WD-40 and a wire brush. Move towards the direction of work never away from it. If everyone stoped when there was snow on the ground we wouldn’t eat. In the last eight years, running to northern states, I don’t think I shut down more than four hours for weather. I understand that things are out of peoples comfort zones and that’s understandable but without ever pushing yourself a little you will never graduate. Just do the best you can, little by little. Strive to be 2nd to none to no other and things will fall in place.

 

Honestly a well cared for set of chains or even a badly abused set will last for many years. Your going to look for obvious thinning of the chains, physical damage, bent, damaged or missing links, tightners and so on or anywhere where the rust is excessive which will be ovious as surface rust is just rust, deep rust will have pitting, holes or soft spots and be really really obvious.

As for slipping with chains on in snow. Only time you slip with chains on is A they are too loose/the wrong size. Or B the guy was trying to accelerate to quickily. Unless of course you have a ton of black ice but even there studded tire chains at a LOW speed will keep you from losing control in MOST cases. Where they wont will be VERY obvious.

If your concerned that your chains are comprimised. Just ask for new ones. Most companys are happy to provide you with them as a set of new chains is much cheaper then a new semi.

 

I would be more concerned about black ice.

 

I don't know what my chains look like, They are still in the bag in a side box.
I carry them, but I don't use them.

 

@Tug Toy Whats the proper way to take care of tire chains ??? lol