Vehicle tire chain apparatus

Tire chain apparatus for positioning about a vehicle tire having a tread defining spaced, parallel peripheral grooves and opposed tire body sidewalls adjacent to the tread, said chain apparatus comprising, in combination:

• first and second chains spaced from one another and having chain links, alternate links of each chain when positioned on said vehicle tire disposed at right angles to one another forming a first set of links disposed parallel to the tread and a second set of links projecting outwardly away from the tread;
• a plurality of double-ended, spaced, substantially rigid cross member road engaging structures extending across the tread through both of said first and second chains and through link openings defined by at least some of said second set of links, the substantially rigid cross member road engaging structures having opposed end portions engaging said vehicle tire and including road engaging protrusions projecting outwardly therefrom, said substantially rigid cross member road engaging structures including end-most substantially rigid cross member road engaging structures and said chains each including chain end portions comprising interconnecting chain links extending from the end-most substantially rigid cross member road engaging structures, the chain end portions of each chain releasably connected by connector structure including connector bolts extending through links of said chain end portions and exerting pulling forces thereon.