Tire Chains Required

Where we live in Northern California, Winter Snow Storms close the Interstate in a blink of an eye due to spinouts, trucks jack knifing, idiots etc.
When things settle down, CalTrans opens up checkpoints to allow traffic to flow, usualy "tire chains in possession required".
Simple question, front or back on a TRD Off Road 2021.
I always put them on front of my old Jeep the few times I've had to.
The Toyota has good Snowflake Winter tires with studs, and always gets waved thru, but we have a set in the truck in case.

 

I have always used the thinking of front wheels for ice and rears for heavy snow. 4hi for both of those modes. The reasoning is I want to be able to steer with ice and traction for heavy snow. Not sure if that is correct but it has worked for me for to long to remember.

 

definitely don’t run them on the front until you install them and check for lock to lock clearance on the backside of the tire

 

Depends of chain profile and size of your tires, back tires chains always works, front tires - with try. In my case I picked up low profile in height at Amazon.
Works great on all 4 wheels (stock wheels of TRD off-road, R16).
Good luck in snow!

 

And you’re on your own if you rip the ABS lines off the front wheels.. Manual pg 327 says not to run chains on the front.

 

good thing, i was worried it would damage the brake line!

 

Rears..rarely see fronts in Cottonwood Utah where they do the same

 

I have chains but I only install them on the rear. I don't tend to go fast with them installed.

It's wild to me that you mandate you carry chains down there. British Columbia Mandates snowflake tires through the mountains but the only time i've chained up was for driving somewhere I shouldn't have been. Never chained up just for driving on the road and solemnly drive in 4Hi on the road either

 

I know, but like I said, lowest height profile of chains, rotate by hands lifted front end, turn wheels , make sure clearance is maintained - done.
I return two sets of different design, because of this (too close). Third is a hit.
Of course, it's my own risk.

 

I have traction cables that could fit the front, but I have real chain link with icebars for the rear. I haven't tried on the 3rd gen, but have the same setup on my 1st gen and it was unstoppable on crunchy/torn up ice on the 6% grade up to the house.

 

you CAN NOT use them on the front .......did you check the manual first?

 

@2005 we rented a new Durango in Reno and drove to Tahoe to ski. The Durango had all-season tires. On our way to kirkwood, in a blizzard, Cal Dot had a closure on 89, I believe. He was not letting anyone past without chains . We didnt have them as the rental co wouldnt provide them. He shrugged said "you should make it" and let us pass...

 

If you have 4x4 and mud/snow and snowflake rating you won’t need chains on highway 50 and 80. I’ve been thru there dozens of times when chains were required but with 4x4 and m/s tires or snowflake rating they just waive me on. If you should have to put chains on just put them on the rear tires.

 

I used cable chains on the fronts in ice when it was mandatory to get into work. Not “real chains” that have some slack in the fit. Freezing rain is a lot different than snow.

Now that I am retired, I don’t really care about getting anywhere so I just stay off the roads.

 

I have chains just to make the CHP happy, I've been up 88 a couple times this winter to play in the snow with my nephews, and went to Reno a couple weeks ago, right as they closed 80 I got through, no issues.

If it gets to a point where I am concerned I will air down a bit and carry on.

I learned to drive, probably before many on here were born, in Chicago, in my 72 chevy caprice with bald tires, and you had to get in and out of it through the passenger door because a taxi hit the previous owner in the drivers side and the door wouldn't open no chains there either.

The good ole days

 

Thanks for that clarification. I need to read more of the manual. It's so loaded with information that I have read some, the rest got tiring.

 

To be fair a lot of Californains drive in the snow like one week every few years when they're on vacation, if that.

You get a lot of people who have zero clue how to drive in the snow out here. I'm willing to be that has something to do with the chain control laws we have here lol.

 

Like I said the truck and any other vehicle I've driven that was a capable 4 WD, with the approved tires, was waved thru.
The problem here is an area just 30 miles or so North of the Valley floor on a high traffic interstate.
Most of the travelers have never driven in Snow. That's my theory anyway, also lots of inexperienced truck drivers. One jack knifed truck can stall everything to a halt and hundreds of cars full of people setting for extended periods of time.
Police on Snowmobiles bringing in medicine, treating hypothermia, panic everywhere, cars run out of fuel, very little drinking water etc.

 

I also have had no issues on 89, followed a Grader over Dead Horse Summit going North from Burney one time, I was pretty much one of few on the road, no police in sight!
There was a Chains or 4wd required sign up and a flashing yellow light, but p checkpoint.
They figure if you're out there on that highway in those conditions you most likely are prepared and know what you're doing.
Incidentally I had no problem reaching Interstate 5 on 89, but I had to drive 15 miles south to get home. The 5 was at a standstill 3 lanes wide, barely moving when it did.
Took me longer to drive that 15 than the 60 on 89 from Burney!

 

Sounds like we're of the same vintage!
LOL