Tire chain & cable discussion - not "will it fit"

[40Man]

Wonder what Highway Patrols position is on these and whether they'll satisfy checkpoint and chainup requirements.

Every state is different. In WA the highway patrol lists what are acceptable. As I recall, cable type chains are on the list.

Edit: CA also allows them, but they have the ability to restrict passage if they determine they won't be sufficient due to local conditions.

For those that need traction devices, I think chains in the back makes a lot of sense, and for most of us, cables in front for clearance reasons.

I went down the rabbit hole a couple years ago and determined I can run chains in front, but I also run narrow tires in the winter.

 

[4gotalot]

bloc started this page with a question about different types of (improved traction devises), chains, cables, sox and any other type and there application to what ever situation you are planning for. Keep adding info about what else is out there here. For others new to Tire chains on a 200 it would be best to read about what has been garage floor checked and continue with answers about limited clearance around the front tires and were to watch for posable extreme damage.

I found 5 points were chains/cables may contact on my 200LC and 5 on the 570LX around the left front wheel well area. Please keep reading and do your own static clearance go/no-go test. Then ck at a full turn and a full turn while reversing up a curb with the suspension loaded like climbing out of a ditch or rut. There is a lot of info over there at Tire chains on a 200.

 

[bloc]

bloc started this page with a question about different types of (improved traction devises), chains, cables, sox and any other type and there application to what ever situation you are planning for. Keep adding info about what else is out there here. For others new to Tire chains on a 200 it would be best to read about what has been garage floor checked and continue with answers about limited clearance around the front tires and were to watch for posable extreme damage.

I found 5 points were chains/cables may contact on my 200LC and 5 on the 570LX around the left front wheel well area. Please keep reading and do your own static clearance go/no-go test. Then ck at a full turn and a full turn while reversing up a curb with the suspension loaded like climbing out of a ditch or rut. There is a lot of info over there at Tire chains on a 200.

Great point. Tbisaacs spacers and lack of stock bumper and mud flaps definitely change the outcome here.

No one should assume that a given setup will clear chains or cables, they should absolutely test fit thoroughly. “Extreme” damage potential is not an overstatement.

Still, anyone with experience using any of this stuff in atypical conditions please post about how it handled those conditions, or didn’t, even if it wasn’t necessarily on a 200-series. It all adds to the knowledge base.

 

[4gotalot]

Cables are much easier but I have ran chains up front. They barely cleared because of my larger tires but did clear.

View attachment 2871661

That looks great! In addition to bloc's questions, did you get to turn to a full steering stop hard L & R and ck for contact? If that's your LX then you don't have to worry about the KDSS bar up front. Your 295/70/18 are around 34" dia., do you have a frame chop or altered UCA alignment? Thats impessive!

I will try to move this question over to Chains on a 200.

 

[Fisher23]

Cables are much easier but I have ran chains up front. They barely cleared because of my larger tires but did clear.

View attachment 2871661

Could you please say Which chains are these ?

 

[tbisaacs]

Could you please say Which chains are these ?

I’m honestly not sure - i borrowed from a friend. They were sized for 35x12.50 and fit my 295/70/18 just fine.

 

[MrMikeyG]

I started looking for at least 1 pair to keep around. I was looking on the craigslist market, but I only found 1 person with my tire size. at least that's what I thought, his were LT285/75/16. I'm running Yokohama Geolandar AT go15 285/75/16. when I checked the manufacturer (Laclede I think) It told me to get a different model number for E rated tires.
Does this seem like an issue (e rated vs lighter duty tires) to anyone with a lot of chain experience? These were true chains with camlock operation. The seller's price wasn't great for used chains anyway, so I'm not dead set on those units.

 

[LCMoneyPit]

I’m honestly not sure - i borrowed from a friend. They were sized for 35x12.50 and fit my 295/70/18 just fine.

They were Laclede 3231R chains.