Chevrolet's winter secret: The rise and fall of liquid tire chains
We are quite well-prepared for winter conditions on the roads. We have winter tires, chains, and salt spread on the roads at our disposal. In the 1960s, Chevrolet proposed a rather unconventional solution to winter difficulties.
7:58 AM EDT, October 23, 2024
The equipment of cars from that era can truly surprise, as engineers' creativity knew no bounds. Many developed solutions were experimental, meaning not all of them were adopted. Even if the idea was good, it did not necessarily work out financially.
A look into catalogs from the era would show that a vinyl player in a road-going cruiser is just the tip of the iceberg. A coffee maker? No problem. A foot-operated radio station change button? Sure. In the 1960s, the only limitation for designers was their own imagination.
Chevrolet also had its innovations. In 1969, it offered customers struggling with winter conditions the Liquid Tire Chain Traction Dispenser, or liquid tire chains. The system was simple: by pressing a button, a polymer from a can with warnings of sudden death was sprayed onto the tires. It's worth mentioning that at the time, a heated rear window was an extra-cost option.
The V75 Liquid Tire Chain add-on was available across the entire Chevrolet lineup—except for the station wagon and El Camino pickup—only in 1969. 2,600 customers chose this option despite costing $22 (adjusted for inflation, today it would be over $100). Out of this number, 188 people chose the Chevrolet Camaro, which is known to have issues with rear axle traction even on dry surfaces.
Interestingly, polymer liquid snow chains are still available! A quick online search will show that you can own 7 oz of traction-enhancing liquid for about $7- $12. Nevertheless, it is better to focus on a reliable set of winter tires and exercise caution while driving.
