I bought a 2014 Sahara Unlimited in the spring. I'm now getting it ready for winter and am very surprised to learn that the manual says I can't use chains. This was an issue on my old car but I never imagined it would be an issue for the Jeep.
I need to find a solution because I often drive a steep gravel road in the winter where chains are required. No matter what you drive, you are not allowed to proceed up the road unless your chains are mounted on your tires. No exceptions.
I'm currently on the 18" rims and my default plan is to buy the Duratrac tires in the 255/70 R18 size. I was thinking of getting new rims and 33 12.5 15" Duratrac tires but there is basically no price difference on those tires so I don't see a compelling reason to do it (I started a thread in the tires forum to see if I am missing something...). I'm not lifted and I probably won't get a lift because I have very tight clearance in my apartment parking garage.
I did take a look at the clearances and it is very tight on the rear wheels. The front wheels look OK when they are aimed straight ahead (although that tiny little line - brakes? - looks vulnerable.) I imagine it gets tight when the wheels are turned.
but I might need to settle for a single pair of these. I'd mount them on the front wheels and I'd be careful to not do turn the steering wheel the full amount in either direction. I will be sad if I have to resort to cable chains. Truck Cable Chains - Laclede Chain Manufacturing
Are there any clever solutions?
One idea is to get wheel spacers but that adds an extra $200 and extra stuff to worry about.
Is there a good rim/tire combination that would allow me to fit chains?
I can't picture a situation where a Jeep with studded winter tires would need chains unless you are trying to climb a bobsled run.
I am still running the stockers here in Calgary winters and that is with many trips to the Rockies over the season. I have never needed chains in a 4x4 or have never seen a road that requires chains on a 4x4 with proper tires. Do you have a picture of this road? It sounds interesting.
Around here it's not unusual to have chains required on the freeway. I-84
OP---From the manual, I was led to believe ONLY S class chains are allowed even on my rubicon, and then ONLY on the rear. A sure sign they now design jeeps as mall machines.
From what I've found it's either spacers or new wheels to gain the clearance to use real chains. A sad state of affairs.
"I need to find a solution because I often drive a steep gravel road in the winter where chains are required. No matter what you drive, you are not allowed to proceed up the road unless your chains are mounted on your tires. No exceptions."
I have not yet seen a gravel road that I would feel the need to chain up on and I believe the law here is if you have a winter rated tire and 4x4 then chains are not required. I am interested to see this road. It must be steep indeed.
Living in the mountains of Colorado, when big snows hit, I put on my studded snow tires and for this state law it is the same as having chains if you have 4 wheel drive. I got a second set of jeep wheels for $100 and keep the snow tires mounted on them. So here in CO if the state puts out a chain only for a mountain pass, I am good.
Maybe what you should do for the winter is get a second set of wheels and go to a narrower tire to give you more clearance for the chains
Judging by MeachamBearcat's name and location, I'd assume he's in the mountains of Eastern Oregon where I grew up. The roads get fairly nasty there and the DOT requires chain on trucks and some areas all vehicles. They plow the roads and 10 minutes later, it's just as bad.
Meacham, I rolled through that area last winter with my JK X without any chains without any problems. I was a bit uncomfortable in a couple places. If you find any chains that fit, Please let me know. I head that way every now and then in the winter.
Look at Peerless Super Z chains (or whatever is applicable within the Jeep world). I've used these for years, they fit low clearance vehicles, they work at 55 mph on bare pavement, and most of the first responders use them on their vehicles.
I live in Vancouver and we rarely get snow in the city. On the weekend I drive up to 100 miles each way on clear pavement to get to snow covered roads. I'd prefer to avoid using studded tires for that reason.
This particular road is in a provincial park. It's a steep old logging road with a nasty switch back. It's not uncommon for the freezing line to be somewhere on the road so melt-freeze, freezing rain, mixed snow/rain, etc. are all common. They plow it every once in a while. Sometimes there is no snow at the bottom and you are plowing through thick stuff at the top. Turn-around spots are very limited and people get stuck on the road and then trap everyone else. Cars go off of it all the time. As a result, they often implement a "chains required on all vehicles" policy.
I live in an apartment with a teeny tiny storage locker and an awkward parking spot that is a long distance from that storage locker. I could have a dedicated set of winter tires but was really hoping to just run Duratracs all year round. Changing tires at home would be an ordeal but not completely out of the question.
Perhaps the best option is to find a wheel with the correct offset (large positive offset?) when I buy the Duratracs instead of putting them on my stock wheels. That might be simpler than using spacers. I could go with a LT265/75R16.
I live in Vancouver and we rarely get snow in the city. On the weekend I drive up to 100 miles each way on clear pavement to get to snow covered roads. I'd prefer to avoid using studded tires for that reason.
This particular road is in a provincial park. It's a steep old logging road with a nasty switch back. It's not uncommon for the freezing line to be somewhere on the road so melt-freeze, freezing rain, mixed snow/rain, etc. are all common. They plow it every once in a while. Sometimes there is no snow at the bottom and you are plowing through thick stuff at the top. Turn-around spots are very limited and people get stuck on the road and then trap everyone else. Cars go off of it all the time. As a result, they often implement a "chains required on all vehicles" policy.
I live in an apartment with a teeny tiny storage locker and an awkward parking spot that is a long distance from that storage locker. I could have a dedicated set of winter tires but was really hoping to just run Duratracs all year round. Changing tires at home would be an ordeal but not completely out of the question.
Perhaps the best option is to find a wheel with the correct offset (large positive offset?) when I buy the Duratracs instead of putting them on my stock wheels. That might be simpler than using spacers. I could go with a LT265/75R16.
That makes sense, I wouldn't want to run around Van with studded winter tires either. Changing tires and wheels is a PITA too, I don't do it and I have a heated garage to work in. I am not a fan of spacers so I would look to change out the wheels to aftermarket with the backspacing you need. Steel wheels can be had pretty cheap and they look good, then you could sell your stockers and probably get most of that money back. I am guessing the other reason they say not to run chains on the Wrangler is the plastic fenders. If the chains come off there is not much there to slow them down.
Oregon doesn't require chains on 4wd as long as you are operating the vehicle with all wheels being driven (and the vehicle gross weigh is low enough, etc.). But you must have chains within the vehicle, just not mounted. Probably only an issue if you are stopped or in an accident and asked to show your chains. Also, Oregon does "conditional road closures" in which case chains are required to be mounted.
By the time you buy a set of old Jeep take off wheels and then spend ANOTHER $200.00
on spacers......You mise well just buy a set of wheels with 4 1/2" back space and dedicate those to winter use.
I bought some plane jane "smoothies" 8x16x4.5BS and mounted my Kelley TSR's....
small as they are, 265-75-16 I have plenty of clearance for chains between the tire and all that brake and stability control stuff they put right in the way...
I can get about 1 big toe, and two thumbs in there... "BH"
I was told by my dealer I cannot run chains on my '15 JKUR. They said you CAN run cables though, which is good because I've been using cables an all my various 4wd vehicles for many years. Easier on and they work well on the roads I drive in NorCal.
Why not try the 235/85R16? Should be easy and cheap to get base Sport wheels and spacers.
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