4x4's & Chains

Yep, if I were chaining up the front - pizza cutters and more wheel negative offset.

 

Must be a mountain thing. I've lived in MN my whole life and have never used chains. Have never seen anyone use chains. My father-in-law has lived in Duluth (northern MN) his whole life and has never owned a 4 wheel drive vehicle. He only drives Camrys.

 

I was just up in Big Bear last week and they required me to chain up. Glad I did too.

Next week I'm going to mammoth and they are requiring chains as well after this storm.

I saw somebody say that they just close the roads if it snows. That just seems bad for business...

 

That's exactly it: mountains. On the flats - folks make due with snow tires. Not so many climbs. And if you slide into a ditch well, you slid into a ditch. Not a canyon with a river 500 feet below.

 

Right on, sounds fun. I'm thinking of renting a cabin in Yosemite West. Doing some exploring, maybe go to badger pass for a day with the little one. Anybody have any experience up there? (Sorry for the thread hijack...)

 

For those who are or ever drive in the snow in CA. One of my Co-workers and I both ski and I have always told her that she needs chains. She stated, “My Subaru is all wheel drive and I have never been asked to see chains.” She does not own any...yet. I told her that I have seen many 4X4’s being asked to turn around because they don’t have chains. Some of the 4X4’s looked like they could go over any terrain, but not further than the chain control. Really $uck$ if you have to buy chain$ at the $tore clo$e or on the way to a $ki re$ort.


This is what Caltrans states:

SNOW TIRES
The California Vehicle Code, Section 558 defines a snow-tread tire as follows:
"A 'snow-tread tire' is a tire which has a relatively deep and aggressive tread pattern compared with conventional passenger tread pattern". Snow-tread tires can be identified by examining the sidewall of the tire where the letters MS, M/S, M+S or the words MUD AND SNOW have been stamped into the sidewalls.

TIRE TRACTION DEVICES
The California Vehicle Code, Section 605 defines tire traction devices as follows:
"Tire Traction Devices are devices or mechanisms having a composition and design capable of improving vehicle traction, braking and cornering ability upon snow or ice-covered surfaces. Tire traction devices shall be constructed and assembled to provide sufficient structural integrity and to prevent accidental detachment from vehicles. Tire traction devices shall at the time of manufacture or final assembly, bear a permanent impression indicating the name, initials or trademark of the assembling company or primary manufacturer, and the country in which the devices were manufactured or assembled in final form."

If you would like to view a full version of the California Vehicle Code it can be located at the following location, under California Law: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov

The Department of Transportation does not sell nor recommend specific brands of tire chains. It is best to check your vehicle manufacturers specifications for use of tire chains.

TYPES OF CHAIN CONTROL
During the winter months motorists may encounter traction device controls in the mountain areas of California. When chain controls are established, signs along side the road will be opened indicating the type of requirement. There are three requirements in California.

Requirement One (R1): Chains or snow tread tires required. Snow tires must have a tread depth of 6/32" with a "M & S" imprint on the tire's sidewall.

Requirement Two (R2): Chains required on all vehicles except four-wheel drives or all-wheel drives with snow tread tires on all four wheels. NOTE: four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas)

Requirement Three (R3): Chains are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.

 

Those look good to me.

They have a size for 255/75R17. You think those same chains would fit a 255/80R17?? Their search returns no results for that tire size.

 

Any of the guys in this thread that were going to try chains/cables with 1.25" wheel spacers figure anything out yet.

I'm running 235 85 16 on the off road's alloy wheels and would really like to chain the fronts to help with steering. I know the cables would probable be fine with that set up, but chains would be nice. Raining tonight so I don't want to crawl around under the truck and check clearances.

 

Still waiting on spacers.......Then I need to order chains

 

Damn. Think I'll order spacers tonight, and try with the chains I have already. See if they will clear, then drive around a parking lot and then trail test.

 

I live right outside the park.... What do you want to know?

 

Just got back from Yosemite the other day. Although it didn't snow while I was up there, there was still plenty of snow and ice everywhere, especially on the roads in the park and leading up to Badger Pass. I was surprised by how lenient the park Rangers were in regards to chains; it hardly seemed like anyone was enforcing the chain control. While most people were driving very cautiously, there were a good amount of cars running around with bald street tires driving like idiots. I witnessed several accidents that occurred. Most of them occuring within the 1st mile of the chain control zone. People seemed to underestimate what it's like driving on ice. All in all, it was a good time and the park was a lot less crowded than summertime.
These pics are from my gopro, but I did have a dash cam running just in case.

 

Got the spacers in today. Working nights right now. Tomorrow before work I'll install spacers and test fit the chains if I have time.

 

yeah i do my best to stay away from the crazy when there is ice / snow on the ground here in california.... people dont know how to drive in it AT ALL

 

What is your conclusion on using chains and spacers? I'm planning on doing some hunting in the mountains which are very unpredictable and chains on the front would be a must for stopping and steering traction, at least that's what I've come to think.

 

I would think that chains + spacers would = a good chance for shredded fenders. The centrifugal force makes the chain lift off of the top of the tire... If there isn't enough clearance, it could get ugly.

 

That makes sense. I have about 2" of lift in the front. The roads I would be traveling wouldn't involve a lot of flexing of the suspension and I know better than to drive at high speeds in snow, chains or not. What's your opinion on chains with 2" of lift? I just need some peace of mind because as we both know, Montana weather in the mountains can change any second without warning and I just want to be safe if I have to get down from the higher elevations.

 

I keep chains in my truck all year round. My general rule is once the chains are on, I'm headed back the way I came. There are, of course, many exceptions to that rule.

Chains are a huge help in almost any low traction scenario. If your tire tread sticks out past the wheel well, don't go over about 15 mph with chains on.

 

Thanks for the advice. Honestly, nothing scares me more than going downhill in the mountains and just hoping your front end doesn't lose control with a sheer ledge on one side and a "drainage ditch" on the other. Either way, you're stuck and in need of help if you leave the road. One is life threatening and the other most likely isn't.

 

Yeah life gets real, fast, in the mountains.