00:00Why do they put heavy steel chains on the wheels of massive mining trucks?
00:03If you think it's just for traction, you're wrong.
00:06Let's start with the fact that these giants work in quarries where rocks are constantly being blasted.
00:11Sharp fragments fly off marble blocks,
00:14and one tire, which can be up to 13 feet tall, can cost as much as $50,000.
00:19One scratch, and you're already in the red.
00:22The main job of these chains is armor.
00:24They have a honeycomb mesh structure and wrap tightly around the tread like a knight's chainmail.
00:29And it actually works.
00:31You can see in the footage how a sharp rock is pried out of the tire that could have easily
00:36sliced through the rubber.
00:37And here's the kicker.
00:38These chains also provide killer traction.
00:41In the quarry, the truck hauls tons of rock.
00:44And on soft or slippery ground, the chains keep the wheels from spinning out.
00:48And one last pro tip, the chains even protect the equipment from fire.
00:52In metallurgy, these machines can operate right on top of glowing hot slag at temperatures over 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Comments