Snow chains on front tires?

[DAW89446]

I don’t know the exact reason, but ...

In the old days, when my 4x4 trucks had solid front axles, it was my practice to chain up the front end. With no weight in the bed, trucks just got around better with the engine weight over chained up tires in front.

But, ever since I downsized to small trucks with a 1996 Chevy S-10 4x4, again with my 2002 Tacoma TRD and now my 2018 4Runner, chaining up in front is a no-no.

Note, all the afore mentioned vehicles have/had independent front ends, not solid axles.

My thinking, and I believe I learned that after buying the Chevy, was that if you loose a tire chain to the inside of the tire, you will do a lot of damage to boots, CV joints and the like. On a solid axle, the chains usually got hung up on the axle and stayed put and drug until you stopped and yanked them out and replaced.

Rubber adjusters are essential to keep your chains taught, as well as helping to pull the chains outward off the tire if they do come off. Always used rubber adjusters. When I was in the car parts business, you’d not believe the percentage of people who refused to pay a few bucks extra for them, having that “it won’t happen to me” attitude.

 

[DAW89446]

Chains or Cables which one do you prefer and why? Thanks

Chains. Inexpensive cables are junk and when I lived along the US395 corridor in the eastern Sierra Nevada the highways were littered with them.

If you want the lightweight advantage of a cable, I’d go with a hybrid cable and chain set.

I have a set of NAPA HD truck chains with cleats that have never been outside the box except once. I bought them in 2002 for my then brand new Tacoma TRD. I doubted I’d use them, but the Highway Patrol can and will stop and check you if there is a storm (the local CHP in Bishop seldom did if he knew you were local, but I’ve been stopped on I-80 over Donner).

When I bought my 4Runner, with a 1” larger tire diameter, the sticker on the case said they’d fit. I was skeptical so put one on in the driveway to check. They did. So I carry them mainly to say I have them when I travel to California to see family.

 

[JLTD]

I've got a 2020 4Runner and replaced tires with Falken WildPeak A/T3W in stock size, though they're naturally slightly larger in diameter.

Looking at the owner's manual, it states "Install tire chains on the rear tires only. Do not install tire chains on the front tires."

Yesterday I did a bit of mountain road driving, had somewhat basic chains on my rear tires (want to get better ones!) but not having them on my front tires felt... not so great. I ended up sliding sideway on a hill, which I firmly believe wouldn't have happened with chains on the front.

Anyone running chains on the front? Any precautions or things to note? I imagine it has to do with clearance issues in the front, but shouldn't the 4runner wheel well have "plenty" of space, especially compared to the compact/luxury crossovers that have almost none?

Everything I've seen says "no" to front chains. Things will break, and it won't be the chains.


I DO like Nobody Special's fabric alternative; those look to be very low profile.

 

[kaitlyn2004]

What I'm seeing recommended a lot of "quality" chains are vbar style chains.

My 2020 owners manual (attached) seems to show the link diameter shouldn't exceed 5mm, which unless I am mistaken is on the very small side?

 

[edgesalon]

Chains. Inexpensive cables are junk and when I lived along the US395 corridor in the eastern Sierra Nevada the highways were littered with them.

If you want the lightweight advantage of a cable, I’d go with a hybrid cable and chain set.

I have a set of NAPA HD truck chains with cleats that have never been outside the box except once. I bought them in 2002 for my then brand new Tacoma TRD. I doubted I’d use them, but the Highway Patrol can and will stop and check you if there is a storm (the local CHP in Bishop seldom did if he knew you were local, but I’ve been stopped on I-80 over Donner).

When I bought my 4Runner, with a 1” larger tire diameter, the sticker on the case said they’d fit. I was skeptical so put one on in the driveway to check. They did. So I carry them mainly to say I have them when I travel to California to see family.

thanks

 

[ElectroBoy]

What I'm seeing recommended a lot of "quality" chains are vbar style chains.

My 2020 owners manual (attached) seems to show the link diameter shouldn't exceed 5mm, which unless I am mistaken is on the very small side?

Having written many technical documents for complex systems I realized that you need to do more than telling a user “do this” or “don’t do that”. They need to know why. You have to give them a decent understanding of what you’re trying to accomplish and they’ll comply. Otherwise you get callbacks from a customer who didn’t take it seriously, or thought they knew better, and did something wrong or in the wrong order and they damaged an expensive machine. Then you have to help them deal with a remedy.

So it drives me nuts when so many businesses do the absolute minimum required documentation. Toyota’s owner manual is a fine example. To help the owner understand and comply it needs one more sentence about why no chains on the front wheels. And one more on why the specific diameter of tire chain is required. I’m sure you all can think of several more. Like why the motor oil specified. Or the limitation of the 400W/100W inverter operation. Otherwise we all wonder, guess that it’s not a good reason, then design a hack to overcome it.

BTW, I’m guessing that specified tire chain diameter is so the chains stay flexible enough to be stretched and fit snuggly on the OEM tire size. So they’re not too high and won’t sling around too much.

 

[Friggin Idiot]

Skip the chains, just get yourself a set of these "winter tires" instead.

 

[vipers28]

Why Toyota says no chains on 4runner front tires - YouTube

Fun little video

 

[mrblah]

Sometimes the only way to find out, is to go out and do it....







and please post a video after you are done.

 

[LandCruiser]

If you find yourself needing chains, you’re better off with studded tires.

 

[kaitlyn2004]

If you find yourself needing chains, you’re better off with studded tires.

Chains are beefier than studded tires

 

[kaitlyn2004]

Skip the chains, just get yourself a set of these "winter tires" instead.

I actually wish there was a product just like this that you could put on+take off as needed

 

[ElectroBoy]

Skip the chains, just get yourself a set of these "winter tires" instead.

With all that steel between road and suspension I bet the ride is nice and plush, lol.
The communities that prohibit or limit studded snow tires would just love dealing with these things. But they sure look like fun for driving around your own farm or closed-off roads.

 

[mooneypilot]

5th Gen 4Runner here. I'm a member of the Colorado 4x4 Recovery Org. Often times we are out on the trails to recover someone stuck in the deep snow or pull some vehicle that's slid over the edge of an off camber snow cover trail. The jeeps that go on recoveries with us are always chained up on all four corners. In fact we are often told 4 chains are required. I've only ever chained up the rear on my 4Runner but am looking for a solution for the front as well. I'm wondering if cables on the front along with chains on the rear would work ok.

2014 4Runner
3" Bilstein lift
285/70R17 Falken M/T

 

[fkheath]

With all that steel between road and suspension I bet the ride is nice and plush, lol.
The communities that prohibit or limit studded snow tires would just love dealing with these things. But they sure look like fun for driving around your own farm or closed-off roads.

In West Yellowstone, all the Yellowstone NP tour vans/buses use those. They don't plow the roads, only groom them like they do on a ski slope.

 

[delloro]

5th Gen 4Runner here. I'm a member of the Colorado 4x4 Recovery Org. Often times we are out on the trails to recover someone stuck in the deep snow or pull some vehicle that's slid over the edge of an off camber snow cover trail. The jeeps that go on recoveries with us are always chained up on all four corners. In fact we are often told 4 chains are required. I've only ever chained up the rear on my 4Runner but am looking for a solution for the front as well. I'm wondering if cables on the front along with chains on the rear would work ok.

2014 4Runner
3" Bilstein lift
285/70R17 Falken M/T

The Jeeps will laugh at you.

Good cable chains might help some, they will definitely help with ice, and they will help to some extent with snow, but not as much as ladder chains.

The problem with the ladder chains is clearance, or course. You would need a solid inch all around, at full lock, including between the tire and the UCA. IDK if we have that with 33 in tires.

 

[spartacus]

Thanks to you and Colorado 4x4 recovery.org.

5th Gen 4Runner here. I'm a member of the Colorado 4x4 Recovery Org. Often times we are out on the trails to recover someone stuck in the deep snow or pull some vehicle that's slid over the edge of an off camber snow cover trail. The jeeps that go on recoveries with us are always chained up on all four corners. In fact we are often told 4 chains are required. I've only ever chained up the rear on my 4Runner but am looking for a solution for the front as well. I'm wondering if cables on the front along with chains on the rear would work ok.

2014 4Runner
3" Bilstein lift
285/70R17 Falken M/T

God bless you and other members of your organization. What you all do is awesome. Thanks
Cables will be an improvement in traction upfront but they tend to break according to some.

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

I have run these at all 4 corners without any issues.

Snow Chains for Tires, Best Tire Chains, Truck Tire Chains

 

[Ventured]

I’ve always heard war stories about front chains/cables cutting brake lines...

 

[Nobody Special]

Everything I've seen says "no" to front chains. Things will break, and it won't be the chains.


I DO like Nobody Special's fabric alternative; those look to be very low profile.

: ) But they don't look as rugged as chains, so people sleep on it. :dance:

The theory with the wool socks is easily replicated.