DIY Tire Chains

I needed some tire chains for my 33x12.5 tires. These instructions can be used to make chains for other sizes as well.

1.Buckets of 1/4 chains (We used 3 buckets from harbor freight, 35 ft long)
2.5/16" quick links
3.Tire off vehicle or a spare of the same size
4.Measuring tape
5.3/16" quick links
6.Bolt cutters
7.Tool box or bag to store completed chains in
8. Two heavy-duty screw drivers to pry open the links you will be cutting with your bolt cutters
9.Way to grind on the 5/16s quick links
10.Bungee cords or something similar to hold chains tight when installex

I laid the chain on the tire and marked the link I wanted to cut with a marker.

Use bolt cutters to cut the link that was marked and use the screw drivers to pry apart that link until you can remove the cut link.

Count the number of links on the chain you just cut. Write down this number.

I used a measuring tape to measure the width of the tire from the inside sidewall across the top to where it would meet the chain on the outside sidewall. For my tire, it was about 18.5 inches.

Now measure that same length on your chain and cut the chain to this length. Make sure to take into account the length of the quick links on each end, usually this means you can cut your chain about 2 links shorter. For our 18.5 inch sections, it was 11 links long plus one quick link on each end.

Next, you will need to decide how many cross sections you want. I decided on 8. Now you have to mark where each of the cross sections will attach to the long chains. Our long chains were 64 links long, which means the cross sections will be attached at every 8 links. (64 links divided by 8 cross sections= a cross section every 8 links).

Add the 3/16" quick links to each end of the cross sections that you just cut and attach the cross sections to the long outside chains, at the links that you marked in step 3. You can tighten these quick links with a crescent wrench to make sure they don't come loose.

Now that you have all of the cross sections attached to the long outside chains, you will be attaching the 5/16" quick links to one end of the long outside chains. I found that I had to grind the sides of the 5/16" quick links so I could more easily slip the chains on and off.

Put the chains on as a dry run to make sure they fit the way you want them too. Make adjustments as needed. Mine were a little too loose so we ended up cutting two links off our cross sections to make them fit more snugly. This is because we forgot to take into account the length of the quick links when we cut our cross sections.

Most chains have bungee cords to pull them tight across your tire. I ordered the bungee cords in the picture off Amazon, but black bungee cords can be bought at harbor freight for pretty cheap.

Once you're satisfied with the way your chains fit on the tires, place into storage box or bag until needed!!!