97 f150 4.2 ex cab 8' bed; I was asked by a friend to get chains or cables for , his a jeep. I told him depends on the application -plowed roads or back roads and off road. I had cables on my 89 front wheel eldoraldo and I coud have plowed with it - all the weight on the front but stopping was to swap ends. I have searched the web quite a bit and can't find the pecentage of traction cables have compared to chains and I see there are several configurations of chains The chp approves cables for our hyways. I would get cable now if I were to go over I 80 I like them but what would you say cables are like %50 % 70 %90 as good traction--any feed back Thanks MAX

 

IMO, this is dependent on wether the truck is a 4x4, has limited slip, what rear tires are to be used for winter, what are the worst conditions to run in, where and how far traveled for work etc.
My pick for overall use is chains with no extra link bars, for most conditions.
This demands the chains be put on in a timely manner and removed again when not needed. This can be many time over a winter season or they get wore out and may damage the wheel wells if cross links come apart from excessive runing on bare roads..

 

This has been one of the snowiest winters that I can remember in Washington state (I am only 28). I have seen so many damaged 'cable chains' that I wouldn't recommend them to anyone, no matter how much use they will get. On my F150, I have a set of chains that are probably as old as I am, my dad bought them years ago and just kept transferring them from vehicle to vehicle. They are heavy duty chains and I have 2 pair so that I can chain up all 4 wheels (and I have during hunting season). In my Explorer, I have a set of chains that I bought from Les Schawb. They go on in less than 5 minutes per side. IMHO, 'cable chains' are just not worth it.

 

I've seen too many cable chains come apart to ever recommend them!! They start failing by fraying at the connection points and in doing this they absolutely shred the tire?? Not only do you have a cable chain that's junk, but you've probably got a ruined tire or two as well!! go buy a good set of v-bar chains, and use them problem free for much longer...