Are Spider Bungie Cords for Tire Chains Useless?

bungies are not for tightening the chains down. Bungies are to pull the chains outward if they break, so they don't get wrapped around your axle and other such things.

cables are not legal in colorado. autosocks are, but they get torn up really fast if it's just wet/pavement down at the bottom of the pass.

 

I used auto socks for the first time this morning. I was doing a drop and hook in 3 inches of heavy wet snow, and I couldn't get out from under my trailer. The previous driver of my truck had left a full set of auto socks in it. As I was going to pull out my chains, I remembered them. I though that they seemed a lot less work than chains to just get out from under a trailer. So what the hell. Well they got me out... Had to spin them just a little, but they worked. Way less work than chains, and ultimately saved time. But for on highway I think ill still opt for REAL chains.

 

I’d like to try a set of those. But the cost is way too high to play with. Chains work, at half the cost.

 

I would never have bought my own set without having tried them at least a couple times... Just so happened that this set had been left in the truck. I'll keep them around for situations just like the one today. When they wear out then thats it.

 

Forget it.

I carried a set of cables and it's the barest compliance with winter chain laws. But we knew ahead of time never to depend on them for anything at all. They quietly rusted inside the storage mount.

 

Supposedly the cable chains I have are legal in Colorado. They have a bigger diameter cross link. If this isn't true someone please let me know.

 

from CDOT's page

Commercial vehicles operating on I-70 in either direction between mileposts 133 (Dotsero) and 259 (Morrison) from September 1 to May 31 must carry sufficient chains at all times to be in compliance with the Colorado chain law.

Chaining Up
Metal chains must consist of two circular metal loops, one on each side of the tire, connected by not less than nine evenly-spaced chain loops across the tread. Commercial vehicles that have four or more drive wheels must chain four wheels. Dual tire chains are acceptable.

Alternate Traction Devices (ATDs)
Approved ATDs in Colorado are wheel sanders, which carry enough sand to get the vehicle through the restricted area; pnuematically driven chains, which spin under the drive wheels automatically as traction is lost; and textile traction device (TTD), a fabric boot which encompasses the tire. Currently, the only TTD that has been approved for use on Colorado state highways is the AutoSock. TM

Tire Cables
With only two exceptions, Colorado chain law rules do not permit tire cables as alternate traction devices. The exceptions are: 1) tire cables with high strength steel cross member rollers 0.415" or greater in diameter, which can be used on all commercial vehicles except single drive axle combinations; and 2) on a tandem power drive axle commercial vehicle, where any type of cable can be used only if there are chains on the two outside tires of one of the power drive axles and cables on two or more tires of the other power drive axle.

 

That's what I thought. Mine meet that standard. And I have a set of regular chains also in case there's any question.