Snow Chains: Who Runs Them?

What did you do to safely run snow chains? I sometimes need to run chains on the front tires during hunting trips to Colorado in the fall.

 

The owners manual says don’t use chains.

 

so what do when chains required? don't go?

 

It was 103 today. What's snow?

 

I run them on the rear all the time, no problems. the cable style chains on 33's 285/75/r16

 

I know the manual says no chains. Theres not much clearance on the inside of the front tires.
I will be driving all off road. Cables don't work. I need chains on the front.

 

cant say i see that much snow in the fall, not even ski resorts open until almost December.

Run them in the rear.

 

I live at 7000’ near the Continental Divide and I use four dedicated winter tires and have two chains.

https://www.codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/tractionlaw

 

Nice pic. I will be driving strictly on dirt roads roads on a ranch that can get snow. The snow turns to ice in the morning and mud and ruts in afternoon.

 

The issue with running chains on the front is that there isn’t a lot of space between the inner sidewalls and the upper control arms. If you get a set of chains, put them on and jack up the front so the front tires are drooping as much as possible (where the tire will be closest to the UCA) and check if there’s still enough clearance for the tires to still rotate with the chains on. Then, lower it and put the jack under each front lower control arm and jack it up so the shock is compressed as much as possible (and the tire is stuffed in the fender as much as you can). Turn the steering wheel from full lock to full lock and make sure the chains aren’t hitting anything else like the inner liners because they will get torn up fast. If everything clears, you can run them. If not, you could try wheel spacers to move the tires away from the UCAs, but that could make the chains hit the inner fender liner even more, so you’ll need to check that if you use spacers. Otherwise, just put em on the rear and put a couple hundred lbs. of weight in the back over the rear axle.

 

Thank you. This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

 

Alternative is to run a 3 peak tire, one designed for all conditions. An excuse to upgrade tires. Especially for hunting.

Tires like BFG KO2, Toyo AT3, Falken Wildpeak AT3W all have severe service tire ratings that meet all highway winter standards.

I would never bother with chains personally, I live near the mountains in Canada, I don't know anyone with chains. We run either all terrains or dedicated winters.

 

thank you

 

I use these on my rears
https://www.etrailer.com/Tire-Chains/Toyota/Tacoma/2021/TC2228.html?vehicleid=202120211439521
Have only tested off road on snow.

 

I edited my post that you quoted because I was tired when I wrote it (just got back from a long weekend at a beer fest) and I had some backwards info in there. So re-read it now with the corrections.

 

studded winter tires and a good set of v-bar chains on the back

If do run an AT tire in the winter you might consider having them siped. I run siped Duratracs year round and carry chains as a last resort because I can end up in the conditions you describe. Snow covered ice in the morning, muddy ruts in the afternoon. Also, air down.

 

thank you

 

Stay away from ko2 as a winter tire. It is terrible on snow and ice, despite being rated as snow tire.