Snow Chain Brand Recommendations

OK, I ran this question before under the title Snow Chain Recommendations. I'm looking for trusted Brand names. I got lots of interesting comments about whether or not I should use Snow Chains and how. What I really want to know is if anyone has found a brand that they have used and liked and found durable. When I look up the ratings on what Amazon sells, even on the best rated chains, I find lots of people who say the chains broke after a few uses. I headed to Denver over I-70 this Thanksgiving. Right now, that highway is a snowy, icy mess.
Example: SCC Peerless 0232105 Auto-Trac Light Truck/SUV Tire Traction Chain
Original posting:
What brand snow chains would you recommend? I switched from a Pathfinder to a 4 Runner, and the tires are different sizes. Original chains lasted 30 years, over 5 vehicles.
My new 4Runner is a Limited 2024, with lots of clearance.
Factory tires are 245/60R20.
I only put on tire chains when required by the Highway Patrol, and only use them on highways.
I travel in the Southern California Mountains near Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead.
Generally speaking, I rarely have to use chains more than once, maybe twice a year. My old chains are 265/60R18.

 

I use the Peerless Z Chain LT (https://www.amazon.com/Security-Chain-Company-ZT747-Traction/dp/B000CQ6DK8)

And when I say use, I bought a set for the 4Runner, but haven't needed them yet. We had a set for our MDX that worked well, and I liked the easy on and off (and we also wanted the same type for both vehicles). We used these on a pretty rough snowy dirt road with no issues, and this kind is also good for the patchy snow / ice interspersed with clear pavement.

If you just need them for occasional use, I'd get something like this. If you have to go down logging roads or something for miles and miles, I'd get a real chain with manual tighteners. The Auto Trac has a plastic part that holds it all together, and that's the part that fails.

Edit: the 747 size is for the 265/70-17; you'll have to check the Peerless website for your size.

 

I’ve had several sets of chains for various vehicles. The only ones I’ve used extensively are RUD Grip 4x4. No issues. https://www.rudchainusa.com/tirechains

Another respected name is König. And Peerless, as you mentioned.

To reiterate, diamond pattern chains provide more traction than z-pattern, which provide more than ladder pattern. Chains are better than cables. Anything’s better than sox. Driving extensively on dry pavement will shorten the life of anything you put on your tires, which may account for the short lifespans reported by the Amazon reviewers.

After what you said above about “interesting comments” I hesitate to add the following unsolicited opinion : I have a daughter who went to school in Colorado Springs. I’ve made the drive from So-Cal to Colorado Springs many times. My experience is that Colorado DOT enacts the chain requirement on I70 about a half hour before they close I70 altogether. The closure typically happens at Glenwood Springs. If there’s even a whiff of precipitation in the forecast, just do yourself a favor and take the southern route: I40 to Albuquerque and then north on I25 to Denver.

Im not sure why you felt the need to start a new thread.

 

Snow socks outperform almost everything, even "snow" tires, depending on certain conditions. They outperform chains, BY FAR, but don't last as long.

SCC/Peerless
Laclede

As stated diamond pattern typically offer better traction, but not always. Z-cables offer good traction and depending, can be easier to install.

 

^^^^
THIS

Based on what you said about use, these are probably your best bet.

 

OP didn't mention if the 4Runner Limited is 4WD or 2WD, and that makes a difference as far as chain laws. I've driven SoCal to Denver and back 40 times or more in winter conditions in all manner of vehicles. I've had to put traction devices on exactly once, and that was in the Denver metro area in an F-150 after a blizzard and before they were able to plow I-70. Often times I would get a few sand tubes and put them over the rear axle and that would be adequate with M+S tires. And several times I've simply dodged the weather by using I-40 and I-25 instead of I-15 / I-70, as a previous poster noted. It can still get dicey at Monument and Raton on I-25 and maybe Flagstaff on I-40 but normally less so than I-70.

I have yet to drive to/from Denver in winter with my 2024 4Runner full time 4WD Limited with 20 inch wheels, but I suspect this will be the best vehicle I've ever had in snow/ice. I'll get a set of ladder pattern chains (rear wheels only per Toyota) but I don't want to scratch up the stock Limited 20" alloy wheels ($500 apiece) so I will likely never use the chains with them.

A 4WD 4Runner with M+S tires is OK in Utah Class II conditions. CHP requires you to at least carry chains in R2 conditions even with a 4WD vehicle with snow tread tires. R3 conditions require chains no matter the vehicle. It looks to me like Colorado now requires you to have chains installed (not just carried) even with a 4WD 4Runner with M+S / snow tires in Passenger Vehicle Chain Law conditions (though not in Traction Law conditions). It looks like Wyoming does not require you to either carry or use chains on a 4WD vehicle with M+S tires. Nevada 4WD with M+S tires OK in all conditions. Of course complying with chain laws doesn't guarantee you won't get into trouble.

As far as chains, I am looking at various ladder pattern chains (and not socks or cables or z pattern chains) as Toyota recommends. Having said that, I just don't see any that would make me comfortable with chains on a 4Runner with 20 inch alloy wheels and P245/60R20 M+S tires.

Pegway chains look good with tightening assist (cams) but the issue with these and with any chain is ensuring they don't abrade the wheels - sure they may work wonderfully but you're not going to be happy scratching up those wheels. Another issue is managing any excess links after installation - you don't want these flopping around and scratching up the wheels or slapping brake lines / suspension parts. You can either tie the excess links down somehow (this just doesn't sound good to me - the tie is going to come loose) or you can cut off the excess links. Glacier chains apparently have a lever of some kind to capture excess links and prevent them from flopping around.

The way chains are sized, it also seems to me that it's going to be dicey no matter what with P245/60R20 tires - they are going to fit close to the wheel at best and next to it or on it at worst.

So I'm going to rely on the Limited's full time 4WD / Center locker / A-TRAC / M+S tires, and then as needed either avoid, or wait out weather, while carrying chains to keep CHP happy and use in a real emergency.

 

I ended up with these. I never had to put them on, as I stayed between the storms that hit the I-70 Thanksgiving week. Thanks for all the great advice. Now can someone tell me when and how to use the A-Trac button? Also the button with the picture is the skidding wheels.

 

Why does 2wd or 4wd make a difference on what chains to buy?

 

SCC and LeClede make very similar chains, and that's the style I would have bought, and will, for my 4Runner. Great choice.

 

So ... 2WD rear axle Vs 4WD determines how the chain laws affect you. With 4WD it's less likely that you'll need to carry or use traction devices, and while the type of device isn't directly affected by 2WD Vs. 4WD, you might go with a different device depending upon how likely you are to actually have to use it. I might not want to drop $400 on a set of grooved/casehardened/made in 'Merica pegway's if I'm unlikely to ever use them. Or maybe I would - if I still need chains on top of the built in 4Runner driving aids then maybe I'm in dire straits and need the best.

I'm curious how well the SCC Auto-trac chains fit on the Limited's P245/60R20 tires? The Amazon photo for the device is not showing it mounted on a Limited tire size.

The button with the skidding vehicle icon turns traction control on/off. Toyota says you might want the traction control off if you need to rock the vehicle back and forth spinning the wheels to get out of being stuck in mud/snow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfJEnvzuub0

A-TRAC uses the ABS to simulate a locking differential. Usable only when in low speed 4WD with the center differential locked (L4L).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUdQ4WgRbgE

These guys are hilarious -parental guidance advised.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoWjo5cxO4k

 

How did you order the RUD Grip 4x4? I clicked on SHOP on the website and it showed "Coming soon". Thanks

 

Sorry, I bought mine years ago. But the Peerless ones above are great too. Make sure you get the proper size for your tires.