Recommended Tire Chains for 2016 Chevy Suburban

Question:

The manufacturer manual reads that snow chains on tires P275/55R20 can cause damage and are not to be used. Our tires say the size is 275/55R20. Is this the same as P275/55R20? Are there snow chains that we can use for our 1016 cheverlet suburban?

asked by: Monica S

Expert Reply:

Yes. The P at the front of your 275/55R20 tire size notation just means that they're tires for a passenger car and not a LT (light truck) or ST (special trailer), so they are the same sized tires. The reason they do not recommend using tire chains on your vehicle is the limited clearance in the wheel wells of your vehicle could create a situation where if a chain breaks, it can cause a great deal of damage to the suspension or braking components that are stored there.

If you wanted to use a set of tire chains anyways, the Glacier Cable Snow Tire Chains # PW3029C are Class S compatible, meaning that they're designed for vehicles with limited wheel well clearance. Since these chains do not come with tensioners, you'll want to use the Glacier Multi-Arm Rubber Adjusters # PW103. You would want to install these on the rear wheels on your 2016 Chevy Suburban and they will do a good job of helping you navigate the snow, but since they're cables they won't do well in icy conditions. If you're only looking for something that will keep you DOT compliant in the event that you drive through an area with chain laws being enforced, these will do the job.

The best option for your tires in the snow and ice would be the Diamond Pattern Titan Chain # TC2327. These chains are much easier to install that ladder-style chains and they feature the square links and a diamond pattern which will work much better than other options when it comes to dealing with snow and ice.

expert reply by: Erik B