Snow chains or cables recommendations

Living in Arizona, snow is a peripheral concern, but I would like to get a set of snow chains or cables for when we go up north into the mountains. Current tires are 245/75R16 Falken Wildpeak A/T3W on OEM steel wheels and will keep these rims indefinitely, although might experiment with slightly different tires next time. I prefer tall/narrow tires btw.

Saw these cables online. I have no experience, so should I go with chains or cables? My main requirement is to be able to put them on / take them off easily with the wheels on. Any advice is appreciated.

 

Chains are very durable and with a little practice can be put on quite easily. More than likely you’ll only e able to run them on the rear( unless you have a solid front axle) . Have some zap straps handy to take up any extra links if the chains are too long by a couple of links. Any more than 3 links cut them off. Bungee cords help but if your chains fit well are unnecessary. After you mount them drive a couple hundred feet then check them to make sure they are still snug. If your chains fit hear banging noises get out and check what’s loose,they will destroy whatever they are hitting. Cables suck.

 

Is your truck a 4x4? We live in a snow zone, and if I bought chains they would sit on the shelf and never get used. To put it in scale, sometimes full snow/ice pack on the roads and freeways for as long as 2-3 days.

AT's can handle it, that's why I have a 4x4, if it gets too deep chains won't do you any good anyway.

Wife has a Rav4 with on demand 4WD and traction control that turns on the 4WD, she uses regular highway tires and has never needed chains in the winter. BUT on any mountain passes, she would have to carry them.

If it's 2WD the cable type are a little easier to put on but chains offer more traction.

 

Not all snow is the same.

In most of the west 1' of snow has very little water in it when it melts. In more humid climates 3-4"' of snow has more water in it than a foot of snow in the west. Snow, especially dry snow isn't hard to drive in without chains, ice is impossible without chains or cables. Level ground is easy. It's easier to go UP inclines than DOWN when there is ice/snow on them.

Chains are good in really deep snow but really shine for the mud that is left behind after snow melts on dirt forest service type roads. Cables are cheaper, easier to install and would be a better choice for occasional use in lighter snow/ice on pavement. Just having them on the rear axle is enough most of the time. You have to be in some pretty bad off- road mud to need to chain up all 4 tires.

 

As you can see I have no experience with winter driving.
My truck is 4x4 and has a Torsen diff in the back and an airlock in the front. Very rarely use the airlock as it’s an IFS, not a solid axle.

Yeah I only plan to put them in the rear.

 

I had a set for carrying over the passes up north but only ever used them once in the gumbo clay in north Florida! I’ll have to see what they are cause I was able to strap one in front and one in back without hitting anything. If I could get away with it, I’d have a set for both!
Behind baby seats just now and not excited about going in after them….good luck

 

I've had to chain up many times living in the mountains of Socal (Lake Arrowhead / Big Bear). Additionally, the CHP will run chain control at the bottom of the mtns. They require 2wd to put them on; if it's light enough snow, 4x4 just have to prove you have them in the back, but I have been through when they made me put them on, and the snow really was that bad.

@ OP, get chains over the cables. Practice putting them on in a nice dry environment first- it's a shitty game to play putting them on for the first time when it's icy and worse when it's icy and dark.

 

Yeah I've been in Tahoe where CHP was stopping all cars asking them to show chains.

So will get chains (not cables) tahnkn you ALL for the advice, and yes will practice a few times at home before going live in a blizzard.

In fact just this past weekend i practiced some winching -- mainly to check the cable once completely unspooled and to make sure all the parts worked and I had everything in the recovery kit.

 

I also have 245/75r16 tires and run Peerless Auto-Trac chains when I'm driving poorly maintained or unmaintained snow-covered dirt roads. Chains can make a huge difference in those situations, even with 4x4.

They're a fairly light-duty chain, but in my experience they've been easy to use and effective for my needs. I occasionally worry about the auto-adjusters breaking but I haven't had any trouble with them so far. I can't compare them to any other chains, as these are the only chains I've ever used. I picked them because I was able to get them for cheap secondhand. They're available new at Wal-Mart, maybe other places too.

As you can see, I have chains for all four wheels. The owner's manual recommends chains only for the rear--and that's probably plenty for most people/situations--but in my experience, chains can be used in the front with "small" tires on factory-offset wheels. Larger tires or offset wheels increase the risk of the chain contacting fenders, UCAs, or brake lines and causing damage. Front chains are at your own risk; don't take my use as a blanket endorsement.

 

Love your truck!

And yes, light-duty chains is what I now after. Just bought a pair of

$96 SCC Peerless 0232105 Auto-Trac Light Truck/SUV Tire Traction Chain - 2 Count (Pack of 1)

SCC Peerless 0232105 which is where your product redirects (maybe a new model #). Only plan to use them on the rear wheels for now.

 

Hah, the part number I have is "Only at Wal-Mart". I wonder if there's anything different from the Amazon one you found, or if it's just a loophole to avoid price matching because it's not "identical". I'd guess the latter, although it does look like the list of compatible tire sizes is slightly different for some reason.

https://peerlesschain.com/products/walmart#20113
https://peerlesschain.com/products/auto-trac-lt#19252