Tire Chains on a 200 Series? (1 Viewer)

[jwestpro]

With wheel spacers, the tires will rub the inner wheel well at turns and compression.

A stock tire + chain requires no more clearance than the large tires some people use.

My RUD chains fit really tight so as to not need more than about 1" extra clearance. This would keep the whole package, stock tire + chain, under 33.5" on a LC set up.

Tell you what, I have the chains that fit a BFG AT 265/65x18" I also have some extra tires. I'll test fir them and then share the results. I'll BET you they will fit.
Stock tire: 31.5" diameter, section 11.5", gap at tight spot at least thickness of hand heel, i.e. 1.5"

BFG: 31.7" (when new), section 10.7", this increases the gap by .75". Allowing for less than ideal real world tolerances, it seems there is plenty of room with the above tire being narrower but identical diameter. This particular tire is also much higher load rating than stock or required by Toyota.

 

[snobdds]

Tire width choice would be key, obviously, as the only issue you can be referring to, yet have not specified other than just saying "no, believe me", is the upper A arm gap. Can a chain work on a 295/65x18? Well no of course not but the issue is what tire shape and effective offset.

There is a lot of room under that wheel well, more than I have on the Rover and plenty of people have documented using the chains on all 4 wheels. They are not using over-sized tires though. Generally the solution has been with a factory spec size plus a spacer.

If it doesn't work on a stock tire size, anything bigger would obviously not work.

The upper A-arm gap goes without saying...

I get the fact you now need to be overly dense to try and salvage your point...I will let you continue to be quasi knowledgeable of the situation...

 

[snobdds]

I am sure they will fit, but will you drive with them on.

Prove me wrong...

 

[elkaholic]

This is getting good ...

Note, I have no comment on chain fitment on a 200 series since I live in the land of sweltering heat and very little snow -- but let the weatherman even mention snow and I dare you to find a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread in this town ...

 

[jwestpro]

oh, now they will fit? before you said they wouldn't fit. stick with your stance or help try to solve the issue.

It's simple. If bigger tires work then anything within that same moving volume will also fit. Maybe you have never used these particular chains. They don't sling around or whatever it is you have found to be the problem.

I don't think you've really tried much problem solving on this. A stock tire size is by no means the end to any such discussion. If it were, no trail would exist that a Subaru couldn't execute because your own stock ground clearance would remain at 8.5". There are reasons varying tire ratios are created.

 

[snobdds]

oh, now they will fit? before you said they wouldn't fit. stick with your stance or help try to solve the issue.

It's simple. If bigger tires work then anything within that same moving volume will also fit. Maybe you have never used these particular chains. They don't sling around or whatever it is you have found to be the problem.

I don't think you've really tried much problem solving on this. A stock tire size is by no means the end to any such discussion. If it were, no trail would exist that a Subaru couldn't execute because your own stock ground clearance would remain at 8.5". There are reasons varying tire ratios are created.

Wow...you are an idiot.

 

[jwestpro]

I think anyone reading will agree you are just a jerk who can't even back up your BS.

 

[kreiten]

Wow...you are an idiot.

I don't understand why when someone is trying to use logic and real numbers to solve a problem that someone brought up in a thread you resort to calling them an idiot, isn't that what this whole forum is about, problem solving as a group!

 

[snobdds]

I don't understand why when someone is trying to use logic

Explain this to your friend...

 

[snobdds]

I think you two need to conduct an experiment.

Put them on and drive around...report back. Like I said, prove me wrong.

 

[John E Davies]

I’m bringing an old thread back to life to see if there is any new CONSTRUCTIVE information.

I am researching both winter and offroad tires and want to also think about whether chain fitment in front would be possible.

No more shouting please.....

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[cru1s3r]

I just bought a set of LC take-off rims/tires at my local dealer and had a set of Blizzaks mounted on them. Regarding chains, if I felt a need for more traction, I’d put them on the rear only...unless tested and verified that there is a safe way to put chains on the front too. When the crappy Dunlops finally wear out, I’ll replace them with KO2’s, then have my perfect summer/winter tire setup.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

I run KO2s year round, but have placed my single pair of chains into the rear of the LX. They work in mud too (both tires and chains), so my opinion is to have them at all times from October till May. I normally do not offroad with the 200 in the Winter much... having both the 80 with 3x lockers, and the 100, I see no need to try and dent the 200, so with that said, a single set of chains will be perfect for me.

 

[SQRRRL]

Never use chains up front. I used chains in the Sierra last season. They worked great in all types of snow and ice.

 

[Narkhelek]

I've run SCC Z-Chain on all four wheels without issue. I've read comments that they are not as good as chains but I've had no issues with them. I've run them in deep snow and ice with good results.

 

[NCMTNS]

I've run SCC Z-Chain on all four wheels without issue. I've read comments that they are not as good as chains but I've had no issues with them. I've run them in deep snow and ice with good results.

Agree. Used on all 4 wheels for a 100 Series as well as a 4wd Suburban with no issues. Actually worked great on ice.

 

[Mineral]

In resecitsting this thread, am hoping we can leave any previous contention in the past. Just looking for objective, data driven answers, please.

The clearance issue is with the upper control arm. Narrower tires, different offset wheels, or, gulp... wheel spacers, may give you the required clearance.

Spidertrax offers some 1.25" wheel spacers for the lc200 that have received solid reviews on another thread. (see: "LC200 Wheel Spacers?").

Given the issue with chains up front seems to be due to UCA clearance concerns, how much reprieve would 1.25" wheel spacers provide?

Assuming 2011 LC200 stock wheels with 285/65R18 tires and the Spidertrax 1.25" spacers, does anyone know if there would be enough UCA clearance to run 9/32 to 3/8 chains up front?

If not, would going to 275/70R18s open up the needed UCA clearance with or without the wheel spacers?

Yes, I'm looking to run some hard service chains up front on a stock height lc200 as mud insurance on top of the mud-snow rated tires. Would like the option to continue doing so even after the lift and triple locking, assuming there's enough clearance at stock height, we should be good.

Thanks!

 

[Mineral]

And, assuming the 1.25" spacers wouldn't cause the chains to avoid the uca at the expense of tearing up the fender...

 

[Mineral]

@Markuson gave an insightful reply on the wheel spacer thread and am attempting to keep the chain portion of my reply on this thread.

With spacers, you are increasing the sweep or arc of the tires as your turn, so you're moving the tire's edge closer to wheel wells, mud flaps, etc. The spacer might help you clear the sway bars, but they'll cut down your fender/wheel-well/mud flap clearance considerably. Adding real chains to that mix means that little rub can turn into a chain link grabbing/grinding stuff. So that nice little (minor) rub could turn into a nasty damaging rub with chains.

I ran chains up front on my 100 series years ago, and realized right away that I needed to be careful not to turn to full lock, or compress the suspension. In other words...I quit using chains up front, and relied instead on a good set of snow tires (or at least AT's that perform well in snow).

So, for putting hard service chains on the front of a lc200 with spidertrax spacers seems to be trading shredding the UCA for shredding the fender/wheel well/mud guards.

Am I correct to likewise assume that for a hard service chain use case, the tundra front end conversion theoretically poses a slightly worse danger to the stock fender/wheel well/mud guards as running wheel spacers would? I make this assumption, because the Tundra conversion widens the track by 1.5" each side, pushing the wheels out a quarter inch more than the spidertrax. Therefore, to run hard service chains w the Tundra conversion would require fender flares, just like wheel spacers.

A more practical solution to run hard service chains might be running an aftermarket UCA to theoretically avoid shredding the stock UCA and also theoretically avoid pushing out the wheels and shredding the fender/wheel well. Would an aftermarket UCA offer the clearances needed for hard service chains up front? Would the sway bar be safe under this setup?

Tire size is likely a factor, so let's assume 285/65R18 or 275/70R18.

 

[Markuson]

Honestly, there are so many variables that no single answer is going to be accurate without fiddling. How wide are your tires? How tall? How wide are the treads? What wheels/offset? Then if you do a Tundra conversion, all of those figure in differently and you’re back to fiddling.

Personally? If I were running a basic lift again, I’d throw a set of KO2s—which are great in snow (but not Ice!!) …or a dedicated snow tire, and forget chains. I happily drove hundreds upon hundreds of miles in snow in my 100 series with KOs and always felt sure-footed (within reason)...no chains. BUT again… on ice? Look out…