Are Snow Chains with Rim Protection Recommended for Minimal Use

Question:

I own a 2010 Ford F-150 with P265 79R17 tires and 4 wheel drive. The owners manual recommends SAE class S chains. I have lived in Wisconsin my entire life and have never felt the need to own tire chains. I am taking my family on a ski trip to Winter Park CO and it appears that tire chains are recommended to have along. It makes sense to me to get two pair of chains. The rims are aluminum but the vehicle is 8 years old with 150,000 miles on it. How concerned should I be about getting chains with rim protectionfoot considering it is unlikely I will ever actually use the chains? The only chains I see with rim protectionfoot are much more expensive than the others. Important to me is the ease of getting them on and off in less than optimal conditions and that they be of good quality should they needed. What do you recommend? Thank you.

asked by: Edwin M

Expert Reply:

You've already checked the owner's manul of your 2010 Ford F-150 which is a great start. It might state which axle snow chains should be used on as well. If it doesn't then the rear axle is the definite and the front axle is just extra since you have 4-wheel drive.

Traveling in some parts of the country (Colorado definitely included) you are required to have snow chains or the local authorities may not even let you contiue driving. If I were you I'd check specific areas and see what kind of requirements you'll be dealing with.

As for the chains themselves, rim protection doesn't seem to me like it's a priority. Since you don't plan to use them unless you need to, and if you are it will only be for as long as needed at low speeds (chains are generally limited to no more than 30 mph) you probably won't be putting much risk on your truck's rims.

A good, reliable, and not too expensive snow chain is the Titanll # TC2326. I've put these on vehicles myself and they're not complicated. I do recommend figuring them out at home before you need them on the side of the road because at first they seem intimidating. But once you've done it a time or two they go on quite easily.

I've linked a video of the Titans being installed on a 2005 F-150 for you to take a look at.

expert reply by: Charles S