Tire chains
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Blaine Wa
Tire chains
Please forgive me on this, it's been a while..................
If I only have 1 set of chains and need to chain up in 4 wheel drive, do I put the chains on the front or the rear?
Thanks all!
If I only have 1 set of chains and need to chain up in 4 wheel drive, do I put the chains on the front or the rear?
Thanks all!
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 743
Likes: 1
All the weight is in the front. That's where I put mine. The rear won't do half the work with chains that the front will. Besides without chains on the front you don't stop or turn.
It's whole different story if you are loaded to the gills and the front tires have very little weight on them. Then you don't want them on the front because there is no weight for traction, but you won't stop or turn very well either.
It's whole different story if you are loaded to the gills and the front tires have very little weight on them. Then you don't want them on the front because there is no weight for traction, but you won't stop or turn very well either.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Des Moines, Iowa
i have heard that with some mud tires and snow tires in states that requre chains you don't need them because of the tires. am i making this up?
oh yea i vote for rear, somehting about having them on front only makes me nervous, but i never use chains so i don't know.
oh yea i vote for rear, somehting about having them on front only makes me nervous, but i never use chains so i don't know.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
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From: Running Springs CA
Most chain restrictions in California exempt 4x4's with snow tires, but they do say to carry chains. FWD passenger cars with chains on the front are absolutely miserable to drive. The vibration is terrible.
Jim
Jim
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
Chains break, when they break in the front they are very likely to take out brake stuff, especially hoses. Aired down front tires can get a lot of traction, no so for rear tires. I would put them where they are needed most, in the rear.
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From: Blaine Wa
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From: Bearspaw (near Calgary)
Late vote here...Front. I've spent decades trolling around in the bush doing seismic exploration. Want proof as to which is best? Get into some good snow with a variety of terrain. Chain up the back and try and climb a small hill. Now put the chains on front and try the hill again. More proof? chain up the rear, put the truck into a set of tire ruts. Try and steer out of the ruts. Not gonna happen. Now put the chains on the front. More proof? Set up some hiway cones to make a slalom course. Put the chains on the back. Run the slalom course and time yourself. Now put the chains on the front and try again. NO comparison. Chains on the front are far superior to putting chains on the back!
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
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Ditto again. I've spent many a day hauling stock trailers and heavy equipment trailers through snow and breaking drifts. Putting them on the front will usually get you almost as far as having them all the way around. As for vibration, you shouldn't be driving more than about 45 or so with heavy chains on unless you really need to.