Do You Recommend Tire Chains or Cables on My 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Question:

Hi Bob and others!, Had a follow-up question regarding tire chains vs. Cables. I have a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe AWD with 235/55/19 tires. Were heading into Yosemite, and first, thank you for recommending the TC2819 chains. I was poking around on your site and saw the PW2019C tire cables and then the TC2317 Chains. I think that the vehicle manual says to use cables, but is there a big difference? I like the apparent ease of the PW2019C and the TC2317 chains especially the TC2317 and since this is really our first time heading to the mountains in the snow, I am concerned about road conditions and such. The road itself into Yosemite is very curvy and uphill then downhill coming out and I just want to make sure I keep us all as safe as possible my wife and 9-year-old daughter. : Which of these three do you ultimately recommend? Or something different, even in the $100-140 dollar range? Thank you again! Eric

asked by: Eric P

Expert Reply:

Thanks so much for following up with us. To answer your first question, there is a huge difference between chains like the Titan Chain Alloy Snow Tire Chains - Diamond Pattern - Square Link # TC2317 and cables like the Glacier Cable Snow Tire Chains PW2019C that fit size 235/55-19 tires on your 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. Tire chains have much more grip/traction that cables. If you are going to Yosemite and are expecting heavy snow, the cables will be barely effective (if at all).

If you like the # TC2317, those chains are a great choice as well. The advantage that they have over the chains I suggested before (the Titan Chain Snow Tire Chains - Ladder Pattern - V-Bar Links - # TC2819) is that it comes with the self-tensioners that automatically tighten after each trip. With the tensioners, you will not need to purchase the # TCMA2 in order to get the same function on the # TC2819. Also, with a 3.7mm link thickness, the # TC2317 chains will be within the 15mm clearance requirement for your Santa Fe.

When all said and done, it really depends if you want a self-tensioning system on your tires. If that is important to you to have that built-in feature, I recommend the # TC2317.