Cheap used snow tires and rims or chains, which would you buy first?

[IanB]

Snow chains (cable).... it will make your truck a tractor. I had snow tires in my car and after the spikes are out, the tire is useless.

You must be talking about studded tires? I've had multiple sets of snow tires, none of them studded, and all were far better than any all season on packed snow/ice covered roads.

 

[dbsoundman]

So I ended up buying the snow tires, from the guy that previously owned this 4Runner. Also got some great info on what was and wasn't done maintenance-wise...:driving:

Anyway, I do have a question: was I supposed to take the plastic center piece from the alloy rims and put it on the steel ones? See pictures below:

Alloy rims with center piece:

Steel rim on front without center piece:

Steel rim on rear without center piece:

I noticed in particular that the front hubs seem to have a black cap on them, but the rear ones do not. If I'm supposed to put this piece on, how important is it to do so (i.e. can it wait until I re-mount them next fall), and how do I get it off the alloy rims safely?

I'm thinking also that I'll paint or plasti-dip the steel rims black when I take them off this year, but then again if I do that and re-use the center pieces, then they won't match up...once I find out what SOP is I guess I'll make my next move. I'd appreciate some insight!

Thanks!

 

[T4R2014]

The wheels you have on at the moment are Tundra steelies. They don't use the same center cap so you would need to buy separate ones. The black cap you see is a cover for the front hub(only the front), I don't think they come off with the wheels if that's what you are asking.