Has anyone used snow chains?

[fatsocells]

I’m from California. Among the MANY forms we signed during the sale was a form that confirmed that we are aware that as equipped, chains should not be used, but that other traction devices may work, and to check the manual. Of course, the manual does not discuss any alternate options, but confirms that my stock 165/80-18R Michelins should not use chains (as was shown in an earlier post in this thread).

Worth a mention... the person processing the paperwork (a finance guy, not sales or service tech) said something offhand like “this one says you can’t use chains, only cables”. I remember specifically he mentioned cables. But again, the manual doesn’t address cables or non-chain traction devices at all.

We travel to the Tahoe area multiple times a year, and yes, sometimes CHP requires chains/cables “or 4wd with snow tires”. In my experience, the CHP often waves anyone through with 4wd or AWD without confirming the "snow tire" part. But I have seen cars turned away, and I've been told once that I needed to pull over and put my chains on when driving an AWD RAV4 with "three-peak" mild-AT tires that were not true snow tires. I've never seen chains required on ALL vehicles, but I'm not living up there full-time. They most likely shut down the freeways before they get to that point. I agree with the posters commenting that my concern is more about icy conditions (especially on hills) than it is about basic snow capability.

All of that said, I don't entirely understand what the main concern is by Toyota. Our 2018 RAV has no restriction for chains (we have used them several times on that car with no issues), but that car definitely has LESS clearance space around the tires than the LC250 with the stock Michelins. We also have a 2024 RAV Prime that DOES have a chains restriction, but it has a much tighter wheel well so that made sense. But again, the LC250 has lots of space to spare in the wheel well comparitively.

Also, cables don't offer THAT much of a difference from chains in terms of clearance. Maybe a quarter inch? Half inch max. I guess Toyota is just trying to avoid liability and playing it safe, and I'm not looking to go against their recommendations without a good reason.

So here's my takeaway (you do you): I'm going to purchase a pair of snow cables and only use them if CHP says I must, or it gets icy enough that I really don't trust my non-snow-rated stock Michelins. My next set of tires will be three-peak-rated true AT tires and I'll still keep the cables on hand just in case.

My three-peak-rated true AT tires did me well last winter. I have a pair of socks as well. I decided not to put them on and plow through I80 without them. The LC did great! Def a good idea to invest in them. I have the Bridgestone Dueler Ascent A/T - love them.

 

[Sugarloafer80]

My road gets that icy I say f it, pull out my 4wd Kubota with Tryggs (look them up) on the rear only and go pulling my neighbors out of the ditch...did just that last 12/27.......

 

[Bajacruzzer]

Hello ladies and gentlemen!

I’m curious as to if anyone has used snow chains on their LC yet and did you run into any installation/general issues? I plan on heading up to Tahoe sometime later this year. While I don’t expect to need chains. I definitely want to be prepared. Looking into getting a set of König XG-12 Pro 266 for my BFG KO3s. Looking forward to hearing about your experience. TYIA

Why would you put chains on a LC, I drive from Sacramento to Tahoe to go skiing. The LC is a heavy vehicle and it’s all wheel drive. There is absolutely no need for chains in the snow on any highway. I’ve driven over the hill in almost white out conditions without any issues. If you are concerned buy snow tires.
If you see a sign that says you MUST have snow chains, turn around!

 

[RideWithYanu]

Why would you put chains on a LC, I drive from Sacramento to Tahoe to go skiing. The LC is a heavy vehicle and it’s all wheel drive. There is absolutely no need for chains in the snow on any highway. I’ve driven over the hill in almost white out conditions without any issues. If you are concerned buy snow tires.
If you see a sign that says you MUST have snow chains, turn around!

Or just use chains.

 

[Bajacruzzer]

Or just use chains.

If you need to use chains on an all wheel drive vehicle, you shouldn’t be there! Toyota builds the best all wheel drive vehicles in the world. If you need chairs, you should stay home. The road is not safe to be on…

 

[perigree]

I’d be more worried about getting taken out by other drivers going through I80 if they’re requiring chains on 4WD vehicles… Pretty sure they usually close the highway before it gets to that point because there are too many crashes.

 

[RideWithYanu]

If you need to use chains on an all wheel drive vehicle, you shouldn’t be there! Toyota builds the best all wheel drive vehicles in the world. If you need chairs, you should stay home. The road is not safe to be on…

I find chains useful for icy declines off-road, where sliding is unacceptable. But you do you buddy.

 

[Bajacruzzer]

I find chains useful for icy declines off-road, where sliding is unacceptable. But you do you buddy.

Offroad is a totally different event, highway winter driving is a whole different thing. Caltrans is not going to let you drive in an unsafe environment. They will shut the road down first.

 

[grandsons]

The road is not safe to be on…

The LC250's traction inspires confidence, but its braking is no better than a 2WD vehicle's, and its height and weight make it worse. Occasionally, snow chains are the safer option.

 

[Mopper]

It was stated somewhere in this forum or thread - chains are for ice. If ice is there under the snow, you could use 'em. If ice is there covering the road, you could use 'em. If you're on lesser maintained roads in mountainous areas that get snow/sun/afternoon melt that coats the ice from yesterday's melt with a fresh layer of water to freeze tonight, you could use 'em.

 

[Bajacruzzer]

I find chains useful for icy declines off-road, where sliding is unacceptable. But you do you buddy.

The conversation started about a guy driving to Tahoe! Not an icy decline off road…

 

[Sugarloafer80]

Ya gotta realize this the land of flakes and they are making rules for the idiots driving with a convertible running DotRs.......I remember borrowing a friend's Montero years ago for a trip from Santa Fe to Taos. Got to the parking lot and the tires were REALLY pathetic...they were Yokohama Geolander G056 if I remember right, basically high performance sport truck tires the vehicle came with. It was an eye opener.......might as well have been slicks. Chains would have been 100% necessary if it snowed.

 

[sideshow06]

It's not just the highway. Sometimes, the highway is manageable, but then some of the local roads are less so. Sometimes the drive up is fine, then it snows, or freezes and suddenly the roads are icy. I'm glad some of you have never needed them, but I've had experiences up there with a quite capable AWD RAV4 with three peak tires that was not safe in some places. Chains solved the issue and I was glad I had them. Maybe I won't need them with the LC at all but I'd like to carry some since I don't have true snow-rated tires yet. Better to have and never need...

I came here because I'd like some feedback on what might work best instead of judgement.

 

[torrent]

This thread is has surprisingly little data so ill add my info.

I chained up after going up a steep forest road that was iced over at around 25-30F, Right around where you get a bit of water on top of the ice.

I was super lucky and was able to pull off to the side and chain up and turn the truck around after my friend with an F150 started sliding backwards.

I have 275/70/r18 bridgestone at ascent (e) and was fine for the 5 minutes it took to get back down going very slowly with little turning. Unsure if they rub/srub at angles to be honest.

Idk why people are so anti chain, dumb position. WA requires by law chains in vehicles during the winter on various roads.

Saying the vehicle can get places due to its drive train or whatever is kinda strange when the problem is breaking most of the time. Everyone has 4 wheel breaking. My scariest moment was going up highway 2 in WA and slowly trying to come to a stop on wet compacted ice. Even at basically 2mph, the truck just started sliding off the road sideways. These bridgestones are supposed to be good in the snow/wet/ice.

I grew up in North Dakota, so ive driven on my fare share of ice. Colder temps make things better than warmer ones typically. Below 0F temps, ice gets kinda tacky compared to a thin sheet of water on near freezing/thawing ice.

 

[grandsons]

Idk why people are so anti chain, dumb position.

People aren't dumb. It's just a difference in posture when facing a problem. Some act ahead and do everything to avoid trouble; others don't react until reality surprises them. There are those who fit snow chains "for nothing," and those who end up calling a tow truck.

Once you get in the habit of fitting chains, you start discovering what else they can do. In mud, for example, their void ratio gives a bite and a self-cleaning effect that even the most aggressive mud tire can't match. The result: I go further in extreme conditions, more safely, while my LC250 looks like nothing special in a parking lot on its summer tires.

The real problem with snow chains is that you have to decide to stop and fit them while nothing has happened (yet). It feels like giving up, like admitting weakness.

 

[Altitude]

I have a set of SCC tire cables, which are a lower calorie version of chains that fit in areas where chains do not. The LC wheel/tire setup happens to be similar in size to the setup on previous Tahoe, so I’ve had these a very long time - 10-11 years.

I’ve never used them. I bought them envisioning having to clear Berthoud or Rabbit Ears Pass in the middle of a blizzard. Turns out CDOT does a pretty good job of keeping the primary roads clear in storms. I live on either side of Vail Pass now, which is I-70 and therefore the main shipping route across Colorado and is top priority for the plows. There are good medical facilities on either side of it. It’s hard for me to imagine circumstances forcing me to travel in conditions that would require the chains.

I do have Blizzak DM-V2 tires for winter. They are excellent, though probably built more for traction on ice and packed roadway snow than very deep snow conditions. They are more than enough, and certainly much more than the average yahoo on I-70 runs.

 

[Altitude]

Idk why people are so anti chain, dumb position. WA requires by law chains in vehicles during the winter on various roads.

Generally in Washington a 4WD/AWD vehicle with snow tires would be viewed in compliance with the regulations. But the regulations there are more stringent than Colorado’s and I think they are more effective. Many times I wish the State troopers would enforce the laws around here more than they do.

 

[Sugarloafer80]

I have not kept chains in any of my SUVs ever. When I move to maine and live on the side of Sugarloaf, I may run studded snows to deal with the ice. I'd prefer studs on 4 wheels over chains on the rears......gives you back some steering.

 

[Altitude]

I've had experiences up there with a quite capable AWD RAV4 with three peak tires that was not safe in some places.

In my opinion, the 3 Peak tire concept is more marketing than utility. A tire gains that designation by having a certain amount of void in the tread - that can be an advantage on deep and loose snow material that is similar to dirt and loose rock in its effect on traction. But what most of us face in winter are icy and snowpacked roads. In those conditions the tread void can actually be a liability because it reduces the amount of surface contact the tire has with the road.

I can’t help noticing that dedicated snow tires rarely have AT Tire tread patterns (though there are a few speciality ones that do). They almost look like highway or even performance tires that are designed to maximize contact patch, then they are made of material that remains more pliable in cold temperatures and are usually aggressively siped.

Not arguing your point above, just adding some color commentary.

 

[Altitude]

I have not kept chains in any of my SUVs ever. When I move to maine and live on the side of Sugarloaf, I may run studded snows to deal with the ice. I'd prefer studs on 4 wheels over chains on the rears......gives you back some steering.

If I understand correctly, you’d want to put a single set of chains on the front axle versus the rear - for exactly that reason. Assuming your front axle is driven, of course.