I recently bought a 1979 f150 but unfortunately it's not a 4x4 and we have been having a fair amount of snow lately in PA. I still have a need to use it and was thinking about putting chains on it so I could get around. The tires on it are Goodyear Wrangler P235/75R15. Can I put chains on these tires? Are there any negative effects of using chains and what would be the top speed I could safely drive with chains? Are the chains they sell at Walmart OK to use. The truck has a 351 modified engine. Thanks for any advice.

 

yes you can put chains on the back. just make sure that you have enough clearance so you arn't hitting any sheet metal with them. ive never looked at chains in walmart. if you go to a place that sells truck tires you could probably get a much better set for your truck. you can go as fast as the chains allow you to go. once they start flopping around is when you have to slow down. i have never done any on road driving with chains, just off road. i am guessing not to go over 30 miles an hour? thats plenty fast anyways, since your on snow covered roads. just my 2 cents hope this helps where in PA are you?


chris

 

i agree. first buy a set of actuall snow tires.... cooper's work great for my 78... 4 retreads for under 400 installed and ballenced... (canadian too)

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-Dec-02 AT 02:09 PM (EST)]The tires on it
>are Goodyear Wrangler P235/75R15. Can I put chains on these
>tires?

Sure you can. Buy the appropriate size and you will be fine.

Are there any negative effects of using chains and
>what would be the top speed I could safely drive with
>chains?

One of the most important points to remember is to keep the chains tight on the tire. If it becomes loose, it flops around and can damage your vehicles fender, paint, springs, spring hanger, shocks, fuel tank and anything else it may hit. Ultimately it will unhook and fly off of the wheel loosing your chain. So keep them tight and keep all loose ends tied up with bungie cords.
Also, if you run the chains on dry pavement they will wear out very fast. What I am trying to say is if you need to use chains, make sure the conditions warrant this and as the road clears up stop and pull the chains off. The largest freight companies in the US have rules about chaining, Yellow, Roadway and ABF to name a few. Most advise a maximum speed of around 30 mph for their trucks, I have gone faster though. One of the freight lines that I worked for that was based in Denver had a diamond pattern chain instead of the cross link. With that type of chain you could go faster because you ran up on the chain pattern all of the time, unlike the cross link where you get the jarring bonk, bonk, bonk effect.
Remember, just because you have chains on, the vehicle still will not stop as fast as if you are on dry clear roads and it is still possible to get into a wreck or accident.


Are the chains they sell at Walmart OK to use. The
>truck has a 351 modified engine. Thanks for any advice.

The story holds true, " you get what you pay for." Generally speaking, the harder the chain and links, the longer it will last. You also will pay more for a better quality chain. If the chain is soft or of an inferior quality it will not last as long.
Try to buy chains that have cam locks on them. A cam lock is a half moon looking device on the side of the chain that you can turn and tighten your chains after they are on the tire. Make sure they are open when you install the chain and close them after it is hooked onto the tire. Depending on the size of the chain, some have 4 or more cam locks and some are on both the inside and outside rails. I like them on both sides where I can really torque them down.
Good Luck and keep the sunny side up!

 

Chris,

Thanks for the info on chains. I'm in Chambersburg.

Go Steelers!!!

 

You might find cables better for a mix of pavement and snow on a P235, plus, easier to put on and pull off.

 

Thanks Scott for the good info. Just thought of something else ...are the chains made of actual chain link better than the wire cord ones I've seen advertised? Seems like you'd be less likely to do any damage with the cord ones.

 

>Thanks Scott for the good info. Just thought of something
>else ...are the chains made of actual chain link better than
>the wire cord ones I've seen advertised? Seems like you'd
>be less likely to do any damage with the cord ones.

I have never used cables. I have seen them used and will report this. They are more light duty than chains. After use, they become twisted and the wires show signs of distress and breaks. They are then hard to manage, (sort of like a bad hair day). LOL Rolling them up for stowage, etc. becomes difficult and the broken wires stick into your hands if not gloved. I am talking about Class 8 trucks, cars and pickups may not be as aggressive on them because they do not weigh as much.
I would suspect that the chance for damage would be less with the cable/wire than the chain. And certainly you could travel at greater speeds with the cable, within reason of course.
Chains will provide more traction than the cables.

See you down the road.

 

I've been considering buying chains for use ONLY in mud because I have to run A/Ts for all the highway driving & towing I do. I've only seen chains at the local 4WPW here, but every time I ask them, they try to only sell me chains for the rears and I want them on all 4. Can anyone think of why they wouldn't want to make that sale? I think their chains sell for about $65/pr for my 32x11.50s - is that a reasonable price for something I don't have to pay additional shipping on?

 

they probably won't sell chains for the front because they most likely won't stay on long as you steer and twist the chains against the ice and road surface.
Just my useless opinion!!

 

I've chained up all four wheels and had no bad problems. You just want to make sure that they will clear everything when you are turning. The countermen are just reading the book and the chain people probably don't recommend them. I've seen guys chain up the front wheels of a rear wheel drive truck so they can turn and stop in slick or muddy conditions. Kinda like running ice studs on all 4 wheels, it just makes sense. I have taken truck chains (big truck) and cut them down to fit my pickup tires. They are made of heavier material. You can get a pretty good deal on chains in the summer at garage sales. They are expensive this time of year.