Can anyone tell me if 30.5x32 tire chains will fit on 29.5x32 tires without too much mucking around? The tire dimensions seem very close-for new ones that are made for 29.5x25 are about $8K but think I can pick up new 30.5x32s in an upcoming auction for a fraction of that.
I don't know the answer to this specific question, but I use chains on my 235 pickup truck tires that originally came off 10R22.5 heavy truck tires. I had to cut some length off them but it was not much trouble at all. I'm sure you will have to cut some too but just make sure you have enough slack if you ever buy new tires so that they will still fit, and also consider where the end hooks land in relation to the cross bars. Or whatever the equivalent is on the style chains you will be buying. It might be a bit of work but for $8k you can spend a little time.
Are you looking at chains on all 4 corners or just the front axle..? If the latter make sure that the front tyres are well worn so that after fitting chains the O/D over the chains is somewhat similar to O/D of the tyres on the rear axle. Otherwise you could experience severe stressing on the driveline. Machines like this don't have a centre differential.
Thanks guys-yes will be on all four tires-quite bit of ice to travel over...
Not sure if there is a method of restricting the rear axle oscillation on a 980G like there was on other larger G-series models so that chains on the rear axle do not foul the chassis at full rear axle oscillation angle. After fitting the chains try jacking the machine up from one side to make sure the chains don't foul, and remember to leave a bit of room on top of that to take account of the fact that the chains will "throw" away from the tyre a hair.