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Show No Problems In Using Chains On Radial Tires Users of radial tires can continue to take advantage of the safety benefits of tire chains without concern about sidewall damage to the tires. Fact or fiction? "Fact," claims Prof. Amos E. Neyhart, "in spite of rumors that tire chains may produce sldewali damage to radial tires." Neyhart is consultant on driver education, American Automobile Association, and former director of the Institute of Public Safety, Pennsylvania State University. Neyhart cited independent tests conducted by the United States Auto Club under actual highway conditions that showed that tire chains and radial tires are entirely compatible. According to the USAC report: "There was no evidence of sidewall or tread gouging on any of the radials tested, even after 150 miles at a sustained speed of 35 mph on dry, bare pavements, an exceptionally rigorous test condition." With the growing popularity of radial tires, Neyhart said there has been concern that the flexing action of sidewalls, a characteristic of radial tires, could prevent a tire chain from "creeping" and therefore result in damage to the sidewall. A properly installed tire chain creeps about the circumference of a tire during normal use he explained. The USAC tests subjected the tires to unusually severe conditions, according to Neyhart, since there was no moisture present to serve as a lubricant between the tire and the chain. "Normally," he continued, "when chains are being used, roads are covered with snow and ice which serves as a lubricant so that the chain can creep instead of staying fixed in one spot." Neyhart pointed out that it is possible, of course, to damage any type of tire by improper use of chains or any other traction device. He advised correct size, proper fit and moderate driving speeds for long life and maximum performance of both tires and chains. I le also noted that tests by the National Safety Council's Committee on Winter Driving Hazards have shown that reinforced tire chains provide far better traction, both for stopping and pulling ability on snow and ice, than any other traction device or special tires alone. "So motorists who use radial tires can continue to take advantage of the safety benefits of tire cliains for severe snow and ice conditions," Neyhart concluded. |