Abstract: A cable type tire chain has traction sleeves on the cross members located only adjacent to the shoulders of the tire. The center portion of the cross members adjacent to the middle of the tire tread is free of traction sleeves. The traction sleeves are spaced away from the middle of the tire tread by either a coil spring through which the cross member cable extends or by beads attached to the cable. The cross members are attached directly to the side members of the tire chain by flat profile hooks formed from rectangular strips of metal, so that the cross members lie close to the sidewalls of the tire. The invention provides improved traction and reduced wear of both the tire and the tire chain.

Abstract: A cable tire chain in which traction sleeves of the cross members are of the type in which a sleeve is formed by bending a generally rectangular metal strip into a generally cylindrical shape so that a pair of opposite edges of the strip are opposed in proximity and extend generally longitudinally of the sleeve. The opposed edges meet at a center region of the edges and are spaced elsewhere to provide exposed sharp corners for biting into ice. Each sleeve has a projecting tab at one end only for spacing that sleeve from an adjacent sleeve, the tab and other projections having sharp corners also.