Snow Chains

2018 CrewMax Limited 4x4 TRD.

Need some guidance. Traveling up to WA from SoCal in Nov/Dec timeframe. Never had to use or buy snow chains. One of the guys at the dealer told me to buy a plastic set because the metal chains interfere with the electronics in the truck. Anyone experience this issue? Any suggestions on which ones to buy?

 

Tirechains.com

 

My only experience with tire chains was when I bought a rear set for a '93 full-size Ford Bronco over 10 years ago at an Autozone in New Mexico during a snowstorm. I don't know enough about how metal chains may interfere with the electronics and sensors our newer trucks have, though, so maybe someone knowledgeable about that will chime in. Just be sure to buy a set that'll fit over your tire size. When I bought mine, all the regular car tire size chains were sold out. But there was one left for 33" to 35" tires that fit for my Bronco.

 

Les Schwab used to have a program where you could return if not used.

4x4 put on the front so you can steer and not get pushed straight.

Never heard of sensors being affected. Heard of crap being tore up due to excess speed and loose adjustments though.

 

+1 @Watt maker

I have a set I would use on my rear tires if needed.

 

Never heard of electrical interference or plastic tire chains. Make sure to get the right size and that you have clearance. Not much room between the tire and upper control arm on stock vehicles. Also check owner's manual for guidance but if I remember right they don't recommend them on the front.

I recently added wheel spacers to give the clearance I needed to safely use tire chains on the front.

 

Chains on a 4x4? Wait for the plow....

I suppose it would be possible that chains may increase the OD of the tire and and in 4wd this may be outside the trucks tolerances(vs front tire OD) . Not to mention if you break one your pretty paint job will need some work

The plastic "tire sock" things are one time use, they shred pretty fast.

 

WELCOME

 

Some states have roads that require you run or at least have chains in the winter, or you cant drive on them or will get ticketed

 

We don't get it that bad here in WA. Honestly - I drive my wife's Hyundai Accent without winter tires without issue. You'll be fine, just wait for the plow if it gets bad.

 

I am not sure about states in other laws, but I grew up in the mountains of Colorado and currently reside in the mountains of northern New Mexico. I have seen plenty of wicked snow storms and several trips over high mountain passes in the winter. I have never been denied passage over a road due to lack of chains. There were sometimes stipulations that you had to have an all-terrain or all-weather tire, but never you must have chains to pass (unless you were in a vehicle without appropriate tires). I have never run chains, and have never run studded tires. The only time I have been turned away was when they just plain closed the pass down.

 

I don't think the snow up there gets that bad in Nov/Dec. I'd wait and see.

 

Yeah, I would think it would be bad to run in 4wd with just chains on the rear. I wouldn’t even try in the front. I’d rather use 4wd than chains in 2wd. I’ve seen quite a few people with 4wd buy chains, but never ever seen any of them actually use them. Unless you’re going off-roading in the snow don’t waste your money. In CA, they’ll close the highways if it ever gets bad enough for a 4wd truck to need chains on the road.

 

If you need chains on a 4x4 with decent tires, no one should be driving on that road.

 

Ive used steel chains on all 4 on the stock 2005 sr5 tundra. In the mountains hunting snow hits, cooper st maxs, No problems with the operation of the truck. Grip and get the f out. They do wonders in snow and mud. As you get older you learn to put them on before you're stuck.

Never tried them with the 2013

Don't get chains though, like several said if you have to have chains on the road shouldn't be open.

 

Oh Cali boy you'll be fine it's only Washington

 

Yep, I used them on my 4x4 Ford Bronco in the mountains only. As a Texan with very limited experience driving in the ice and snow, they were a God-send slowly going up and down that New Mexico mountain pass near Ruidoso. The setup worked great. I had never used chains before, and it took me awhile to figure out how to get them on at first.

The parts guy at Autozone told me to use them only in the rear and to put the truck in 4wd. That was awhile ago, though, so maybe the preferred method has changed since then. But I can see how upper control arm clearance might be an issue for some Tundras with wider tires if placed up front.

 

I’m in Oregon, and we get some snow and ice.

Over the past several years, I have found that decent tires and traction control/4WD will get you through almost everything. Most trucks up here will just throw bed weights in the bed to get more weight over the rear wheels.

That said, if you venture away from the city during winter, you’re bound to see the “Traction Control Devices Required” signs flipped open any time you get a ways out.

This’ll be my first winter with the Tundra. I’ve never had to chain up our Honda Pilot, even with thick ice and 2 foot snow drifts. If I have to throw on chains or cables for the Tundra, I will be PISSED. But I will probably get them just to have them.

 

I visited Washington and Oregon last January, drove a suburban and never needed anything special. Washington seemed to keep the roads clear.

Never heard of using chains up front on a truck. On my truck I went to Shaver lake for Christmas and ran chains out back, rear wheel drive. I did a bit of driving without chains and did alright until I was on a backroad going up a hill in a foot of snow. Then I learned I needed the chains again lol.

Side note, there are chains and there are cables. My brother in law used cables on his car and those worked fine for him.

 

OP, check out snowbird tire chains in san diego.

He gives everything you need for an easy install and even shows you how to do it before you leave the shop.

 

I have a set of snow chains for my truck but I have never used them LOL I just put them in the back in case they are required in our local mountains. Most of the time if you have 4 x 4 and a snow rated tire they just wave you through. They may want to see that you are at least carrying chains.
When I was young and dumb, I got myself stuck in about a foot of snow down an old camping fire Road. 2wd 97 rcsb f150 with an open diff. I slapped the chains on and was able to go almost anywhere I wanted. I was quite impressed. Although I needed to cut the excess chain off, but used tie wire instead. I was nervous that it was going to beat my truck up the whole time.

I know they say better to put them on before you get stuck. But they make me nervous the entire time I’m running them. They are definitely my last resort. Carry a shovel and a block of wood to help you jack the truck up.

 

I meant running chains only in the rear while in 4WD. Wouldn’t that make the rear wheels essentially larger than the fronts? In that case I would rather be in 4wd with no chains on.

 

I've been in Colorado for close to 30 years now (and grew up in your sister Atomic City in the south btw, ACT) and couldn't agree more with Atomic City Tundra. 4wheel drive, decent AT tires, ABS and a little speed adjustment and you should be fine.

 

I've lived in WA for 41 years and 26 in MI. Chains are normally not required for driving in WA. That being said, there are snowstorms/ icestorms that occur once in awhile that they do require chains, but if it's that bad, it's better to stay home and have a brew imo.

If you hit a sheet if ice, chains help, but only to a certain extent. Add ice to a 9% grade and gravity takes over big time. It not the get going that's a problem, it's the stopping.

 

Chains or traction tires are always required when driving through Dunsmuir Ca, by Shaver. Sometimes at the siskiyou pass. They will stop vehicles before Dunsmuir for sure, I've seen it happen.

Be safe, not sorry. In face inI picking up a set before I head to Ca from Wa myself this Christmas.

 

I've been over the Siskiyou Pass numerous times over the years in the winter and never was forced to chain up with a 4X4 and legal tires. 2WD......get chains. It's worse here in CO going over continental divide and chains not required for 4X4s with legal tires.

 

I just want to clarify that this statement is based upon a 4x4 with allweather, snow approved, tires. If you are driving a 2 wheel drive or one with summer tires, chains would be required. In that case I would have chains.

If weather is bad enough in WA to require chains on a 4x4 with all weather tires, you had better have them if you venture out.