Buying Tire Chains

Hey Tundra Fam!

What are you all running?

Chains or belts? Where do I buy them and what tires do I put them on?

I am from California so school me!!

 

Do you have a Les Schwab near you? If you do go get a set to have for emergency/legal reasons. If you don’t use them they give you your money back in the spring when you return them.

 

I have never needed chains driving NW Wyoming in winter. Huge PIA to put on and always a chance of them coming loose and ruining your day. Good tires & 4WD is all you need.

 

A lot of places, like Oregon, require you to carry chains in certain "snow zones". You're not always required to have them on, but you have to have them in your vehicle.

 

Ah. Around here it’s chains or 4WD on some mountain passes.

 

I have the cables. Z brand. I have them in a bag for California check points. If you have to put them on and you have big tires, rear is better.

 

Being a Californian, I have a set of tire chains. Purchased at walmart and installed a few times at the request of the Highway Patrol. I'm driving a 2wd truck, so I place them on the rear tires. Tire chains are awful to drive around on, it feels like the truck is going to rattle loose when they're on. I'd highly recommend cables if you can find a set. I need to look at the cables suggested by @TheBeast suggested. I dread the thought of having to drive around on chains. Driving on cables is not nearly so bad. New cables are in my future.

 

best is to buy after winter....winter, they sell at premium prices. I get mine on Ebay usually.

 

Laclede diamond chain for me. Can be somewhat difficult to untangle, but very easy to put on. They tighten up pretty good, so no issues with flapping around and hitting the wheel well.

 

Ditto ^ this RTM. Had unpleasant past experiences with chains (ride quality and delivery of others cheap set loose links getting tossed around on the road or into the air) keep me from going that route. Asked my dealer parts mgr says Toyota recommends against chains. Of course he instead recommended 3 winter tires studded and not. Ended up for studded Nokian Hakka's. Probably overkill but will report on another thread how worthy the investment was after the season, haven't yet installed but anyway they need to come off in 4 months or end of winter. Will leave sandbags in back...also checking into cables to keep unopened b/c our state also requires to be carried for the passes.

Happy Holidays all, be safe!

 

Here in WA, when they say “chains are required” it means you have to install them unless you have AWD/4wd. But even if you have AWD/4wd, you must have a set in your vehicle. I know people that have been turned around at a State Patrol checkpoint for not carrying chains.

To the OP, these are the chains that I have. I've never used them, but I've got two or three sets in the garage from various trucks and tire sizes. I've gotten them out once and practiced and it looked pretty straight forward to install, but I cannot comment on how well they actually work. As others have said, some stores will accept the chains for a full refund next Spring if they're unused. I prefer to just throw them into the garage in March and then put back into the truck in October.

 

Good info in the owners manual....

 

I am also leaning towards cables. We have been getting slammed with ice and snow this winter.

 

Security Chain Company Z-583 Z-Chain Extreme Performance Cable Tire Traction Chain - Set of 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H9GRD2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gl7bEbAZAV8CF

Theses are what I carry to make it past checkpoints, never actually needed them though

 

I have a set of cable chains I toss in the truck when driving the mountain passes in winter. I've never needed to use them though. Both my truck and The Woman's car run studded Nokian Hakkas in winter.

 

I’m not sure if studded tires are allowed here in CA but that would be overkill I think.

I am leaning towards cables although there are some pretty cool designs out there as fore as chains are concerned. I’m still shopping....

 

You can run studs in CA, but there really is no point unless you live in Tahoe or the lakes/Big Pine areas year round. I’d just suggest getting a set of chains/cable to make it past the CHP checkpoints. If you have a good set of all season tires and don’t drive crazily you should be all set in most conditions. If you’re driving and it’s impassable without chains; you might want to reconsider if you should be driving on that road at that point. Just my $.02

 

I ordered a set of chains through etrailer.com. On their website you put your truck info in and tire size and it will pull up a plethora of options. They are also quick to respond if you have questions.

 

Living in MT I've always been confused as to why there are chain laws for 4WD/AWD vehicles. After a ski trip to Utah this year I watched jeeps, tacomas, and such slide off the road and into each other and it was incredible, completely shut down the road until tow trucks could pull them all back up.
If you have decent tires and decent driving instincts you don't need chains unless you're going wheelin' haha
Just remember that braking is the LAST thing you want to do on the ice. Go slow, downshift, and remember that 4WD only works when you are pressing the gas and not the brakes.