Chains on 4th Gen 4Runner (1 Viewer)

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Eli

Joined
Jan 31, 2005
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Vermont
Does anybody know if chains will fit on a 4th Gen with 255/75R17s? I had a scary adventure on ice this weekend which could have easily totaled my rig, not to mention possible serious injury or death for me. I think chains should be onboard for next winter. I'm currently running stock size (worn out) studded tires but planning studded and siped Cooper MAXX 255/75R17s on FJC rims for next winter. I'll gain 5mm of inside clearance with the 255s and another 5mm from the rims being 10mm less offset. I'd be willing to put on after-market upper control arms if it would make the difference. I'm hoping at least cables will clear on the front and real chains on the back.

I was stuck so bad I had to call a tow truck for the first time ever. He had a fully chained F-450 diesel and it was very impressive when he pulled me 100 yards up a steep ice-covered closed road that I couldn't even walk on. It's the steepest mile of paved road in the US. I didn't realize it was glare ice under a dusting of snow, I just thought it was packed hard. Luckily I was crawling in 4-low and a tree stopped me from going down an embankment. I ended up with just a dent in the plastic cover of my bumper that mostly popped back out.
 
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What pressure did you air your tires down to? I'm thinking that with good tires that were properly aired down, you probably would have made it without help.

I bet you can fit on chains with those tires as long as you aren't bottoming out your suspension and turning full lock, but it would depend on what chains you get. Proper chains, like RUD Classics or similar, I would think would be quite close.
 
I tried airing down to 20psi to get unstuck and sneak up the side of the road where it wasn't glare ice but I still wasn't able to get enough traction. I don't have on-board-air so I didn't want to risk losing a bead. My left front was down the embankment already, and there wasn't much weight on the right rear anymore. I jacked up each wheel, put rocks under the front left and gravel under the others, but it started sliding more towards the edge so I knew it was best to just wait. My More-Power-Puller was at home, though it wouldn't have done much good over all that distance.

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