Member - Chrispy (NSW) replied:

If you haven't yet - drive on both types.

You'll buy the diamond pattern. Guarranteed.

The ladder chains are typically much more fiddly to do up, and because they are a ladder shape, there is no forward/rearward chain links going around the tread of the tyre to support it as it rolls, so they give a somewhat "choppy" ride as you drive. There are times that there is no chain under your tyre either - as the trye rolls in between two lateral chain links.

The diamond pattern are much smoother riding, and because there is continuous chain touching both the tyre and the road, you have much more reliable control on hard icy surfaces.

Diamond (Vic) replied:

i must agree with the above theres nothing better than diamond
lol
cheers

Crackles replied:

If you are buying the chains to go up in the alpine resorts you will find now that only diamond chains are allowed in some resorts. I know as an insentive Mt Hotham were letting cars fitted with diamond chains through when the conditions were bad & refusing ladders. Ladders are probably better in deep mud as they are available in larger chain size & clear the gump better.
Cheers Craig.....

geocacher (djcache) replied:

Ladder chains used to be the bread and butter chains of the hire companies until the diamond chains came down in price.

There's no comparison from a safety point of view and in years to come it is likely that ladder chains will be banned. It's certainly been discussed in the resorts over recent years.

Dave