new tires - snow rating - new truck - not worry? chains?

[craig333]

I had to google auto socks. Odd idea.

 

[Lighthawk]

Resurrecting this thread to ask what brands or vendors have fellow Wanderers had good experiences?

For the record, I've only chained once, coming out of South Pass on Saline Valley road in heavy snow.
But, I do feel they should be carried and need to outfit our new truck with 285/75r18 tires.
So far, I see Titan chains being promoted on e-trailer.

 

[ckent323]

Before our 3 month trip I replaced the four Michelin Defender (LTX) M/S 235/85 R16 tires on my 1993 Dodge W250 Clubcab Diesel long bed truck with Michelin Agilis CrossTour 2235/85 R16 tires (both sets load range E).

After driving through Oregon and Washington then over 600 miles from Anchorage to Valdez and back 161 miles on the McCarty Road in Alaska and roughly 5,000 on pavement miles on the Alcan highway to Prince Goerge (including around 200 miles in icy/snowy conditions) , B.C then to Jasper, Banff and Kootenay to Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California I have to say the tires performed well.

I bought new pewag pattern chains for the rear tires but did not have to use them.

 

[pvstoy]

Hey Andy, as you know it is best to have any type of tire chain in the vehicle while traveling during winter months. Even though you may never put them on, law enforcement wants to see them if you need to get through a chain control section.

Since the Dodge and the 4 Runner has the exactly same tire and size I can move them back and forth. The 4 Runner only can use them on the front while the Dodge can have them both front and back.

I chose to buy the Quick Fit chains from Les Schwab a few years ago. They fit and sit in a nice flat bag that stores well in the vehicle.
https://www.lesschwab.com/more/tire-chains

Price was not bad. I have not been in a situation that I needed to use them yet. In fact it has been years that I actually need to put on chains on the side of the road. But I have them and there are in the vehicle I'm using if needed.

If you like the Titan chains, ladder style, then get the ones you like and most comfortable putting on and off. But please after buying chains try each of them on in the garage for fit, (even wearing gloves). I had the two I bought miss labeled for size so I went back to Les Schwab with a tire off the truck. They tried them and then pulled more back from the store room and found the right ones. Of course I made them fit each one to be sure.

Cheers...

 

[Lighthawk]

I chose to buy the Quick Fit chains from Les Schwab a few years ago. They fit and sit in a nice flat bag that stores well in the vehicle.
https://www.lesschwab.com/more/tire-chains

Thanks, Patrick. That's helpful since I hadn't considered Les Swab, or even my local NAPA. I've been shopping online, which is all too easy from my recliner I should give the local guys a fair shot.

I've never been asked to show chains to highway patrol, despite skiing Donner Summit in full conditions for three decades.
I actually want them for real offroad conditions, which may include ice, mud.... the works. I have chained up the Tundra, exactly once in ten years of winter camping. I just want to have a pair that fits the new RAM.

But you've put a bug in my ear, and I'm going to see if the old chains will fit the new truck. They are both 18" wheels, but RAM has 35" tires and the Tundra has 33's, so I doubt it, but I'll check to be sure.

 

[wcj]

It is not hard to add a few links to make the old chains fit the new truck. I have run chains hard for winter off road and have modified, repaired and broken multiple sets. Going from 33's to 35's doesn't take much if they are close to the same width.