Originally Posted by Jetboy

I have a plow for my 4Runner. I just plowed my street this week with about a foot of new snow.

But I don't use chains. It depends on where you are and how much ice you get probably. I owned a commercial snow plow company in Montana for a number of years. I never put chains on any of my plow vehicles either. Snow tires work well enough we never needed chains except on equipment like the tractors that have hard rubber for agricultural use.

4runner certainly isn't what I'd choose for a commercial plow rig. Heavy and short wheel base are big positives. But the front steering isn't really up to the task of hanging 500lbs off the front and beating on it. I think you'd be replacing steering racks every season. And rear visibility sucks. I only do my 100 feet of driveway a few times a year and when we get a big dump of a foot of snow I'll go plow all my neighbors who hand shovel or use ATVs that can't manage the deeper snow because my 2yr old loves to go plowing. Haha.

I think the traditional recommendation of front chains was for trucks with most of the weight up front and having them on the steering axle. Probably makes sense, especially on something like a diesel truck that might have 60-70% weight forward. On a roughly 50/50 SUV, going on the rear tires is probably about the same performance. I do think you could get away with low profile cables up front, but it'll be close on the bumper and fender clearance even if the brake and abs lines aren't a problem.

Originally Posted by the_economist

I have these for 275 KO2s and am in the Sierra snow all the time. They are amazing, super easy on and off: Peerless | Auto-Trac (R)

Originally Posted by kaitlyn2004

I picked up the auto-trac for my stock size 265s but "slightly beefier" falken wildpeak, and I couldn't get them to fit!

Very annoying. I love the idea of a self-tensioning system.

I wonder if there's a SMALL chance I somehow got the wrong chains (despite label) and maybe they can actually fit... blehhh

Originally Posted by the_economist

I have these for 275 KO2s and am in the Sierra snow all the time. They are amazing, super easy on and off: Peerless | Auto-Trac (R)

Originally Posted by CutthroatSlam

I can tell by just looking at these chains, they are not hardened. Also the connecting chain between diagonal cross chains is wasted space as it provides no traction. The red tightening ring chain appears to be plastic. I checked on the price and they sell them at Walmart for $94. Trust me, you get what you pay for. From a site that recommended OEM Oil and fluids only, OEM filters and Spark Plugs, then recommends this junk makes no sense. The OP asked for recommendations on a "good set of chains." These do not fit that description, but they are supposedly easy to install. These chains will work well when kept in the trunk.

Originally Posted by kaitlyn2004

So what do you recommend for chains that are easy to install?

Originally Posted by Fire3008

Make sure the first time you are using the chains is not in a foot of snow in a ditch! Figuring them out on a dry driveway is much easier. I run the auto trac chains for light snow and ice. Watch those cables when you flip the bail on the tightener, They snap closed pretty violently.

When we get deep snow i switch to full ladder link vbar chains. Working in Colorado at 10,000 feet every day and driving on un plowed forest service roads can be a challenge. I run General Grabber AT with studs in the winter.

Driving past the Jeep guys stuck on the hill with 35" mud tires is fun too. They seem to spend the trip winching each other to the top of each hill. The nice concerned warning, "you should stop here there are 6 jeeps stuck on the hill" and I drive right by all of them. I have offered to help but what could I possibly offer in a little 4 Runner or a TACO.

Originally Posted by CutthroatSlam

I can tell by just looking at these chains, they are not hardened. Also the connecting chain between diagonal cross chains is wasted space as it provides no traction. The red tightening ring chain appears to be plastic. I checked on the price and they sell them at Walmart for $94. Trust me, you get what you pay for. From a site that recommended OEM Oil and fluids only, OEM filters and Spark Plugs, then recommends this junk makes no sense. The OP asked for recommendations on a "good set of chains." These do not fit that description, but they are supposedly easy to install. These chains will work well when kept in the trunk.