Front Tire Snow Traction Options

Hey everyone, just finished up a fun weekend in the mountains near Mt. Baker in Washington. Did some offroading (primarily to get my wheelchair bound Dad into the backcountry) and had to turn around on a trail for the first time in my TRD OffRoad Taco due to snow. We were in 5ish inches and on maybe a 30 degree slope. My Dad used to do some offroading back when he didn't have MS and told me to get some tire chains. I just moved from TX 3 months ago so I don't have much experience driving this truck in snow. I've done some research, and it seems like getting a pair of solid v-bar style tire chains for the rear wheels is my best bet for traction there. Something like these: https://www.etrailer.com/p-TC2828CAM.html with a set of rubber tensioners too. As for the front, other posts and the manual have said no tire chains on the front due to clearance issues. That makes sense, but there's no discussion of alternatives. My main question is: are there any styles of chains or chain alternatives that any of y'all have gotten to work on the front tires? I'm just looking for the most traction possible in deep snow on steep mountain roads in the PNW. I do a lot of climbing and hiking so I'd like to be able to reach trailheads off of NF roads throughout the winter.

 

Hi, cool to take your dad on a trip. On the Tacoma's front axle there isn't sufficient room between the tire and the upper control arm for chains. Some really low profile ones might work, but still risky for interference.

I have Peerless 0232605 for my 265/70-17 tires. I've used them (on the rear axle) in heavy snow in the San Bernardino mountains and in Mammoth and they work well.

My recommendation for maximum utility is to add a set of dedicated set of snow tires on all 4 wheels and a set of chains on the rear when really needed. Then swap back to your normal tires when snow season is over.

 

^^- This.

 

Yup. Also try playing with the tire pressure. Lower tends to help.

And of course tires as already mentioned. You may not want to spend the $$ for a dedicated set of snow tires, but at the very least having good all seasons (with lots of tread depth) should help out

 

Nice to have a set of tire chains and I used them in the army on their trucks. I will tell you that if you must use tire chains then you are in some serious snow and if it were me I better have a very good reason to be in snow that deep. My experience with tire chains always makes me think twice before resorting to their use.

 

The v-bars are pretty aggressive and will make a hell of a rough ride. We used to use Peerless chains (just the twisted links, no v-bar) and they worked well, but rode rough enough. I've got a set of v-bar for using the snow plow on the tractor, but don't know if I'd want to use that style on the truck unless I was dealing with constant ice.

 

V-bars are great for breaking ice. In deep snow, off road, the bigger problem is mud as the snow melts and nothing works better than chains. My dad served in Belgium and Germany the winter of 1944-45 when they had one of the worst winters in history. Then some of the worst mud after the snow melted. He drove a Dodge Power Wagon ambulance and had all 4 wheels chained up most of the time.

Around here the loggers chain up all 4 wheels on their skidders. It is pretty darn amazing to watch those things drive through waist deep mud while dragging logs behind them. Or in some cases log trucks loaded with logs.

Instead of V-Bar's I decided on these. They are square links and are rated for mud and snow even though they are designed for vehicles with limited clearance. I have 2 sets, one for each of my trucks and can chain up all 4 if I ever needed to. I can make them work on the front of my F150, but in stock form would not put them on the front of my Tacoma.

285/70R-17, 285/70-17 Load Range E, Mud, and K02 7mm Square Boron Alloy Tire Chains - TireChain.com

I "THINK" I could make them fit on the front if I were to add a small wheel spacer. But I've not tired. Even with them just on the back you can do pretty darn well.

 

Modern trucks don't have the clearance with suspension components to run chains. Truck companies lawyers won't let them say anything other than don't. Drivers today don't know how to use them.

Get yourself some commercial truck winters like Duratracs or Toyo CT or M55, add studs if you like, and know your limits.

 

Rear tires only. If you need more than that when in 4WD, you’re hella stuck.

 

I have the Peerless 0232605 as well which I got for about $100 on ScAmazon. I didn't have much experience with snow and actually got stuck in the snow offroading on the Mojave Trail and had to put them on when I was already stuck (not fun, don't do that). Long story short, well designed, low profile, and worth looking at a set for your rears, but I can't say first hand if they would fit in the front. A good set of snow rated all terrain (NOT mud terrain) tires like the Falken Wildpeaks would also be a sound investment. Air down for better flotation as well.