AH64ID

I am looking at new tires this spring, and want to go up a size or two. I am looking at 285/70/17 and 285/75/17. I have a level kit (but that really doesnt do much for tire clearance when you drive dirt roads since you compress back to stock...) but more importantly I need to be able to clear HD chains. I know I can do it with the 285/70/17.. but what about the 285/75/17's? Anyone running them yet? I figure my chains add about 1" to width and 1" to height (on the radius)...

so??? anyone?

These are the chains I run on my old 32" swampers.

mestdagh

I put chains on my 285/75s a few days back. My front end didn't follow my steering wheel movements . My nose ended up in a snow bank. Put the chains on the back and drove for a few miles. Seemed fine but you probably want to know about the front, don't you?

AH64ID

Yeah more worried about the front... how HD are your chains? And did you get any rubbabe? Some photos of the 285/75's at full turn would be sweet

mestdagh

My chains are pretty heavy duty, the v bar type. The guy at the store said a pair weighs 45 lbs. Next time I get stuck, I'll try to get a picture of the chains at full lock.

AH64ID

Those are the same ones I have... but your pretty sure you wont rub? That would be SWEET!!!

D-Roc

I had a set of rims from a sold truck a few years ago- I just bought Nokian Hakka's and had them studded. Unbelievable in ice and snow...

AH64ID

Thanks... but studs wont do squat where I need chains

mestdagh

yah, studs would rule! Pain to change every season though. I do it on my daily driver (Ford Focus).

ah64id, like I said I haven't put them on the front yet but I'm not too worried since I only use them when I'm stuck or for very short distances when I'm driving very slow. So I think anyway. I'll check them out at full lock when I put them on the front.

AH64ID

Sounds good... yeah I only need the uber front chains when I am elk hunting... so slow (<15mph) and deep... if I need chains on the hwy I have a smaller set just for that.

Got any pics at full lock w/out chains?

hart

Thats the best plan, and the Zbar cables for the highway.

AH64ID

well I wont run cables... but I have the smaller, not smallest, diamond chains.

Little03

Maybe a dumb question but why do you need chains?

Nick.

BigHornCTD

To prevent from getting stuck....or to mire yourself hopelessly until you walk out and call your buddy in the middle of the night.

hart

In one instance on a steep slick road to a ski hill which I could not climb, I actually had to attach the winch line to a tree to keep the truck from sliding down hill just so I could put on the chains.

AH64ID

The most common time I need them, thou its been years, is when elk hunting. We hunt 70 miles back on a dead end FS road, that gets nasty with as little as 6" of snow.. so if we need to we chain up all 4 tires with the chains I pictured above... and we have had years where they are on for 45 of the 70 miles back to town. There are 2 big hills to climb and were always towing. We even carry drag chains for the trailers because of the windy off camber FS roads.. Then I also have the hwy set just in case. With 4wd your not required to chain up when chains are required, but i always have if.. better to have and not need than to need and not have.