Chains

A

ATbuckhunter

Member
Jan 29, 2025
43
62
NY
Vehicles
LC250
Have any of you guys tried putting chains on your LC? Mine came with 20" tires and I know the manual says not to put chains on those tires. My issue is I hunt in some pretty remote places sometimes and it has happened where an unpredicted snow storm has hit the areas I sometimes hunt. I don't hunt those areas enough to get real off road tires (I only hunt those places a couple weekends a year) and sacrifice on road performance of the stock tires that came with my LC premium. Id like to get a set of chains for the back tires in the small chance that something like this happens. It would only be used for off road driving and slow speeds, and not used on pavement.

I've thought about getting those snow socks, but I bet they'd get destroyed fairly quickly with the gravel road under the snow. I was thinking of getting something like the Pewag servo9 or Peerlett auto trac.

pewag servo 9 | RS9 64 | 4064449

Product Information 9mm: for vehicles with the small amount of space inside pewag servo ratchet tensions the chain automatically - manual tensioning is not necessary Easy demounting thanks to self-opening inside lock Rim protection – no…
products.pewag.com

Peerless | Auto-Trac LT

peerlesschain.com peerlesschain.com
 
Having extensive chain experience on other 4wd vehicles,, when you know chanis are the right thing, use chains.
That being said, the 20" rims and tires are to low of an aspect ratio, i think Toyota is concerned about wrecking the rims.
Snow season = different rims and tires and yes, chains on board.
Good luck.
 
Area 51 said:
Having extensive chain experience on other 4wd vehicles,, when you know chanis are the right thing, use chains.
That being said, the 20" rims and tires are to low of an aspect ratio, i think Toyota is concerned about wrecking the rims.
Snow season = different rims and tires and yes, chains on board.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Not easy to find chains that fit the 265/60/20 tire. I don't really have experience with chains so I wanted to get one of the automatic ones. Peerless makes one that fits, but it looks like they don't have the highest quality.
 


Winter tires and tire "socks" will outperform low-profile/clearance chains in most situations. Heavy duty chains could work better in extreme case, but you can't fit them on the LC due to small clearance between the tires and suspension.
 
No experience with these cable things, but I was considering something like this (if I ever get back into snow country).
 
katekebo said:


Winter tires and tire "socks" will outperform low-profile/clearance chains in most situations. Heavy duty chains could work better in extreme case, but you can't fit them on the LC due to small clearance between the tires and suspension.
Click to expand...

My only issue is how well will they hold up while driving dirt roads with ruts and potholes? My only intention is to use chains while driving off road to go hunting. I don't have any desire to use them for on road driving. I feel like these will get tore up very quickly in those conditions.
 
ATbuckhunter said:
My only issue is how well will they hold up while driving dirt roads with ruts and potholes? My only intention is to use chains while driving off road to go hunting. I don't have any desire to use them for on road driving. I feel like these will get tore up very quickly in those conditions.
Click to expand...
Yup, they are for highway use, not off-roading. You could use heavy-duty chains with smaller tires so there is more clearance between the tire and the suspension. Something like 245/60-18
 
katekebo said:
Yup, they are for highway use, not off-roading. You could use heavy-duty chains with smaller tires so there is more clearance between the tire and the suspension. Something like 245/60-18
Click to expand...
After spending $72K (after NY Taxes), I've been reluctant to buy new wheels and tires. Maybe I should just pick up a set of Michelin Defender LTX tires or Geolander go15's. Might be good for someone who doesnt really do serious off roading.
 
ATbuckhunter said:
Have any of you guys tried putting chains on your LC? Mine came with 20" tires and I know the manual says not to put chains on those tires. My issue is I hunt in some pretty remote places sometimes and it has happened where an unpredicted snow storm has hit the areas I sometimes hunt. I don't hunt those areas enough to get real off road tires (I only hunt those places a couple weekends a year) and sacrifice on road performance of the stock tires that came with my LC premium. Id like to get a set of chains for the back tires in the small chance that something like this happens. It would only be used for off road driving and slow speeds, and not used on pavement.

I've thought about getting those snow socks, but I bet they'd get destroyed fairly quickly with the gravel road under the snow. I was thinking of getting something like the Pewag servo9 or Peerlett auto trac.

pewag servo 9 | RS9 64 | 4064449

Product Information 9mm: for vehicles with the small amount of space inside pewag servo ratchet tensions the chain automatically - manual tensioning is not necessary Easy demounting thanks to self-opening inside lock Rim protection – no…
products.pewag.com

Peerless | Auto-Trac LT

peerlesschain.com peerlesschain.com
Click to expand...
I have a set of Z-cable chains in my LC. I'm using 275/70/18's. I've never had to use them and hope I never will have to, but I do visit California yearly and traveling in the mountains requires having them available, or risk a large fine. Also living in Colorado and being a skier makes me rest a little easier. The weird thing about chains and state laws are that if you have a 4x4 and snowflake rated tires, you aren't required to use chains/cables, etc. except when the conditions are raised to the level that usually requires the closure of the road!
 
kyakaddict said:
I have a set of Z-cable chains in my LC. I'm using 275/70/18's. I've never had to use them and hope I never will have to, but I do visit California yearly and traveling in the mountains requires having them available, or risk a large fine. Also living in Colorado and being a skier makes me rest a little easier. The weird thing about chains and state laws are that if you have a 4x4 and snowflake rated tires, you aren't required to use chains/cables, etc. except when the conditions are raised to the level that usually requires the closure of the road!
Click to expand...
I remember hearing that when I skiid in lake tahoe in 2010. For me living in NYC, I don't get nearly enough snow to need dedicated snow tires and I don't off road enough that I feel it makes sense to get aggressive AT tires. Its annoying that I can't use chains unless I buy new wheels and tires. I was thinking they just dont want to take the liability of saying you can use chains. I'll likely end up buying some mild AT tires like Michelin Defender LTX or Geolander go15's.
 
Pretty much every new vehicle now says you can't use chains. Probably some combination of tighter clearances and not wanting to take responsibility if your cheap chains wrap around the axle and destroy your brake line? I think if you get the Z-Chain type cable chain designed for cases where the clearance is tight, and you're not running oversize tires, you'll be ok. There are versions designed to not risk scratching your wheels, and the 20" wheels do seem like they'd be easy to scratch.

I used my 20" wheels for snow & ice tires -- you can run them for everything, just swap them out when it gets above 50 degF most days. For unpaved road winter use though I'd be really tempted to get something at least a little more off-road focused for a winter set.
 
Markarian421 said:
Pretty much every new vehicle now says you can't use chains. Probably some combination of tighter clearances and not wanting to take responsibility if your cheap chains wrap around the axle and destroy your brake line? I think if you get the Z-Chain type cable chain designed for cases where the clearance is tight, and you're not running oversize tires, you'll be ok. There are versions designed to not risk scratching your wheels, and the 20" wheels do seem like they'd be easy to scratch.

I used my 20" wheels for snow & ice tires -- you can run them for everything, just swap them out when it gets above 50 degF most days. For unpaved road winter use though I'd be really tempted to get something at least a little more off-road focused for a winter set.
Click to expand...
Seems like getting a more off road tire is the way I'll be going. Seems to be much less complicated than getting a set of chains that may damage something. I'm not experienced enough to feel that I can slap on a set of chains 100% perfectly and not have an issue at this point. Ill end up getting Michelin defender m/S2 tires (likely) or Geolander go15's. I don't do enough off roading to need aggressive tires and I'm only preparing for possibly being caught in a snow storm when I'm in an extended hunting trip. Hasn't happened to me, but it has happened to friends of mine.

The chains you sent don't look like they'd handle off road too well, but in a pinch they're better than nothing. I'll look into them some more.
 
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