I do enjoy watching snow wheeling and thanks for bringing back the blast from the past. Lots of snow and ice on roads but I have yet to try backcountry snow wheeling. It's interesting the different recommendations out there. There's just as many recommending not to use chains and to use the other technique in the backcountry - floatation. Their argument is that chains dig and you can only dig so far before laying down the solid rear axle down, and then the rest of the chassis. I don't think one is more right than wrong as there's probably just as many conditions of snow and ice which requires different strategies. Bigger tires aired down seem to be a common strategy. Any significantly large tire on the 200-series is definitely not going to accommodate chains. There's probably situations with ice and grade, that doesn't really challenge clearance where I can see chains as an advantage.
Tire Chains on a 200 Series? (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter W.F. McCall
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I do enjoy watching snow wheeling and thanks for bringing back the blast from the past. Lots of snow and ice on roads but I have yet to try backcountry snow wheeling. It's interesting the different recommendations out there. There's just as many recommending not to use chains and to use the other technique in the backcountry - floatation. Their argument is that chains dig and you can only dig so far before laying down the solid rear axle down, and then the rest of the chassis. I don't think one is more right than wrong as there's probably just as many conditions of snow and ice which requires different strategies. Bigger tires aired down seem to be a common strategy. Any significantly large tire on the 200-series is definitely not going to accommodate chains. There's probably situations with ice and grade, that doesn't really challenge clearance where I can see chains as an advantage.
Yeah I think it really depends on the snow. Powdery or wet or icy, deep or moderate, etc.
I used to run the zero clearance chains on all 4 wheels of my 3rd gen 4Runner, despite Toyota saying not to run them on the front. I had a ~mile up a small mountain with tight switchbacks and no guardrails, and if it was icy you really needed chains on all 4 wheels. Deep snow was less of an issue (up to about a foot anyway) than the really slick snow/ice mixes we'd get in northwestern Virginia. I hated putting them on (dirty mess, and you're doing it when it's cold and crappy out), but having spun myself around without them once I quickly relented when the weather was bad.
I had a friend who was stationed in Alaska and was saying that the preferred vehicle up there was a Geo Metro as they were light and had thin tires, which cut into the snow better. Probably ideal on roads where you could dig down to solid ground, but thin tires wouldn't work as well in deep snow where you want to pack it down underneath your tires and ride up on it - in which case floatation sizes (Arctic Trucks!) would be better.
I just ordered a set of 4 (front and rear) of the Peerless Super Z6 with the 6.3mm clearance chains and will test fit them before our next winter trip. I did not want to order Z8 (8mm clearance) as I felt the front of the 200 needed all the clearance space. With my measurement of the sideway clearance at about 1/2" (13mm), I felt more comfortable the Super Z6 of 6.3mm would clear the UCA with sufficient space. While I never had to use the chains on the 200, it was reassuring to have it while travelling during snow and offroad to know that its there when if needed.
I currently have a set of 4 brand new and unused Peerless Z Suv/LT class "S" clearance that I'm going to put up for sale. It has the the class S clearance of 15mm that would work on the rear of the LX, but I didn't feel comfortable that it would clear the front.
I currently have a set of Yokohama Geolander AT G015 on the 200 that has served me well. I have the same tires on my 80 and it has taken me to ski trips and the 5" of unplowed snow in the freak Texas snow storm in Feburuary of 2021. I drove the 80 with the Geolander tires and was at a clients meeting when the news hit of the 100+ car pileup At least 6 dead in massive Texas crash involving over 100 cars: Officials - https://abcnews.go.com/US/multiple-people-trapped-freeway-pileup-texas-officials/story?id=75827045
Before retiring the 80 from Ski trip duty, we used to take it into the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado with the same Geolander tires. It has always performed well in the snow and offroad. With the additional of a set of 4 snow chains (no clearance issues!) it has taken us onto unplowed roads and some scenic and fun area that even the AT tires couldn't handle. I'm hoping the 200 with the set of chains would do the same duty as the retired 80 has done, but with more comfort, faster, and better MPG!
Exactly my plan as well. I’ll be test fitting them on 275/65R18 when it’s time to switch to my winter tires. I’m hopeful It will work out well enough for short stints of (rare) use. Fingers crossed.
Quick comparison of the Peerless Z SUV/LT with S clearance (the bare cable wire on the right) to the Peerless Super Z6 (blue covered cable in the left). The difference in the clearance seem to be where the depth of the connector plate that holds the side cables to the tread cable holding the rollers. The first two pictures are the side by side comparison. The third pictures is the super z6 connector plate and the last picture is the Z SUV/LT connector plate. Notice how the super z6 plate was about 1/2 the thickness
This is from the other tire chain page...
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.
Thanks, it’s an LX so no KDSS bar up front, no body mount chop. Definitely was able to turn lock to lock but closest contact to body mount is actually like 10 o’clock and 3 o’clock position of wheels.
I have cked the clearance at the mud flap area with 33" dia. on my rig and there is only a 1/4 inch of clearance with the mud flaps still installed and I altered my mud flaps so the 33's wouldn't rub. There is no way for me to run my chains on the front with my 33.2 dia KO2's. I have not tried the cables on the 33's and I don't think I will, only the 32" snow tires have been run with class "s" clearance cables on the front and all bets are off when a class "s" needs 1.5 inches (37mm) on the tread face at 30 mph and 1/2 inch (15mm) at the side wall static or at 30 mph.
I have found that the cables have a much narrower operating window. They do not like to be spun in reverse. I threw a cable off the front tire last weekend even after it had been inspected twice at installation and again at the next stop. I was climbing back onto the road from a wide spot and had to reverse and spun in the dry snow and the left side tire inside hook and loop unhooked. Yes, I know, I was not using the cables for there intended purpose of "on road only". I would have done the same in a flat parking lot turn around so be careful when spinning in reverse with cables. Each manufacturer may use a different attachment method so just keep checking. I have added secondary locks to all three attach points for each cable assembly.
My signature line below is up to date on minor bolt on modifications and measurements. Yes, I added the 1" wheel spacers after my my last post a while ago on limited space available on the front tires and still have stock wheels. So now after some fun testing the cables on the front of my 200LC, success. Chains are better than cables off road and cables are better than snow tires.
I have found that the cables have a much narrower operating window. They do not like to be spun in reverse. I threw a cable off the front tire last weekend even after it had been inspected twice at installation and again at the next stop. I was climbing back onto the road from a wide spot and had to reverse and spun in the dry snow and the left side tire inside hook and loop unhooked. Yes, I know, I was not using the cables for there intended purpose of "on road only". I would have done the same in a flat parking lot turn around so be careful when spinning in reverse with cables. Each manufacturer may use a different attachment method so just keep checking. I have added secondary locks to all three attach points for each cable assembly.
My signature line below is up to date on minor bolt on modifications and measurements. Yes, I added the 1" wheel spacers after my my last post a while ago on limited space available on the front tires and still have stock wheels. So now after some fun testing the cables on the front of my 200LC, success. Chains are better than cables off road and cables are better than snow tires.
