Tire chains or cables?

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whiteblazer01

New member
When buying my 2015 TEP from the dealer, they made me sign something saying I understand they recommend against chains and recommend cables. Then I go home to read in the owner's manual it says to use chains.

Being new to off-roading and driving in the snow/ice, what do you all recommend/use?

I should mention, I live in beautiful sunny Southern California (where we're experiencing a drought, if you didn't know), but I very frequently go to the high mountains (Eastern Sierras).

Also, any side tips on driving with chains/cables + 4wd would be much appreciated.
 
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1engineer said:
Here's a thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/76131-tire-chain-advice.html with lots of good advice and great links to other resources.
Also here's a thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ner-owner-need-help-searching-start-here.html for new owners.
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Thanks for the link on the tire chains, got some good info from them (and the links included in those posts). Still haven't found any info on tire cables though, so not sure if they would be better suited for my needs, but I think I'll stick with chains (and be careful about putting them on the front stock tires with no spacers).
 
whiteblazer01 said:
Thanks for the link on the tire chains, got some good info from them (and the links included in those posts). Still haven't found any info on tire cables though, so not sure if they would be better suited for my needs, but I think I'll stick with chains (and be careful about putting them on the front stock tires with no spacers).
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Good tires would probably be just as helpful.
 
I may put studded snows on this year, the road i have to travel to the building Boeing moved us to is sharp turns an steep up and and down.
 
I like cables myself

whiteblazer01 said:
Thanks for the link on the tire chains, got some good info from them (and the links included in those posts). Still haven't found any info on tire cables though, so not sure if they would be better suited for my needs, but I think I'll stick with chains (and be careful about putting them on the front stock tires with no spacers).
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Don't worry about the manual, snow cables are commonly referred to as "cable chains" and most vehicle manuals don't differentiate. The problem is one of leeway. If your chains loosen or break you have much less of a margin to catch them before they do damage to the front axle. You have a bit more time to catch it with cables. Also cables tend to fail by having the springs break off the wires, chains fail at a link and then whole section flails around and the entire thing loses tension. Cables can do this too but it's rare.

I also find the ride with most cables is smoother.
 
Bridgestone Blizzaks. We have had a couple different people from Alaska here in Va and they had Blizzaks both times
 
spencenasty said:
Good tires would probably be just as helpful.
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Just moved back east from the nanny state that is California. Occasionally, in the Sierra, you are not allowed to proceed without chains, even if you have 4-wheel drive and snow tires. It is rare, but it does happen. Everybody on the road is made to pull over and put on their chains or is turned back down the hill.
 
If you are new to winter driving I suggest you get out there and practice when conditions allow it. Go to a deserted parking lot (free of curb stones and light posts) and (at low speeds) slide around and recover from skids. See what happens when you turn into and away from a skid. See what happens when you apply or don't apply the brakes. It will be tough at first, but you will learn how it feels. Best to get to know how your vehicle will react before you find yourself in a situation when you need to know how to get out of trouble.
 
Chains for me, no cables, those are for small cars IMHO.

My 4runner manual says 5.5mm max chains, does not require class S fit, rear only.

I live in so cal but do drive up the hill, have never needed front chains.

Back east, I never needed chains, but they did plow and salt.

I'm trying not to buy QG2128 chains, I have a set of chains that will fit but I don't like them. They are the Whitestar type and they are awkward for me to use.

YMMV, but I bet you will never need front chains.

Of course I have Grabber AT2 tires which are pretty good in snow.

Side tips: steering in 4wd is different. The radius is larger. You will notice that when parking or making sharp corners.

Your front wheels will lose traction before the rear, so if you drive too fast you will find yourself not turning when you may be expecting to turn. Like in the middle of a highway bend.

If you do chain up, do it a bit before the mandatory check station to avoid the cluster**** at the check station. Not too far ahead as pavement and chains are not friends.

If you do get chains, and you are not familiar with using them, then I suggest you put them on once or twice up in the mountains so you know how to do it. It's part of a skill set you may need one day.
 
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delloro said:
Chains for me, no cables, those are for small cars IMHO.

My 4runner manual says 5.5mm max chains, does not require class S fit, rear only.

I live in so cal but do drive up the hill, have never needed front chains.

Back east, I never needed chains, but they did plow and salt.

I'm trying not to buy QG2128 chains, I have a set of chains that will fit but I don't like them. They are the Whitestar type and they are awkward for me to use.

YMMV, but I bet you will never need front chains.

Of course I have Grabber AT2 tires which are pretty good in snow.
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CHP will require all drivers to have chains on before they allow you to more on from a certain point. 4 wheel drive, snow tires or not, they don't care. Up in the Sierras where a big snow can be dumped in a hurry and sometimes when conditions are correct, it can stay put for some time. If you are talking about local mts, then snow doesn't really stick around for more then a few hours
 
look171 said:
CHP will require all drivers to have chains on before they allow you to more on from a certain point. 4 wheel drive, snow tires or not, they don't care. Up in the Sierras where a big snow can be dumped in a hurry and sometimes when conditions are correct, it can stay put for some time. If you are talking about local mts, then snow doesn't really stick around for more then a few hours
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I've never been required to prove I have chains on 80 or 50. If it's a 4wd they just wave me through.
 
VTtrout said:
Just moved back east from the nanny state that is California. Occasionally, in the Sierra, you are not allowed to proceed without chains, even if you have 4-wheel drive and snow tires. It is rare, but it does happen. Everybody on the road is made to pull over and put on their chains or is turned back down the hill.
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Ah, did not know that. Thanks.
 
Flighht2k said:
I've never been required to prove I have chains on 80 or 50. If it's a 4wd they just wave me through.
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I lived in Tahoe for 4 years, there was a couple times that I had to chain up even with 4wd and snow tires. what exactly the criteria is I don't know, a certain level of carnage maybe?
 
According to Peerless, the performance of their best cables is as good as their best chains.
Traction Product Comparisons | Peerless Industrial Group


You'd be better off getting snow tires if you plan to drive in the snow on a regular basis. When I had a FWD car I had cables, but I never put them on because I figured I'd see how far I can get without them. Putting them on and taking them off is a hassle, and you can only drive 25-30 with them on.

From what I've heard, California usually closes the road if it's bad enough for R3, but you might want to carry cheap chains just in case. You might be required to carry chains for R2 even if you have 4WD.

Without additional traction you can drive through quite a bit of snow without much trouble (though there are so many kinds of snow that might not always be true). Maybe up to a foot deep. If you're going off road in the winter, chains might be better than cables because they will grip more snow. For any maintained roads, cables should be fine.

Run your hand behind the front tires on the top to see where the clearance is most limited.
 
I have the RUD Grip 4x4 chains. They came pretty highly recommended.

Another thing to consider is that National Parks also have mandatory chain requirements for some winter driving situations.
 
I know this is an old thread, but the diamond quick fit chains come in a few different configurations. Some for more clearance and some for traction. I use the standard version on our Rubicon with good luck.265-70R-17LT Tire Chains
 
risk of using chains that are slightly too large

My t4r has standard sized all terrain winter (snowflake) tires.
toyota - 265/70-r17 - falken wildpeak atw3

I have an unused set of RUD Grip 4x4 chains model 2532 that are sized
for a slightly larger tire in the 33/12.5-r16.5 to 285/60/R18 range.
A 285/60/R18 is diameter 33.5, width 11.2", sidewall 6.7", circum 105.1,

The T4R's 265/70-r17 is diameter 31.6, width 10.4", sidewall 7.3", Circum 99.2"

so clearly these chains are a little to large.

Any one have any experience with this?

Is it a bad idea to try to use them - rear wheels only?
 
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