Snow Chains

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Forty Deuce

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I live in Southern California which means most of you will probably laugh at the idea I even know what inclimate weather looks like, but I swear I saw it once. In any event the kids like trips to the snow and the local mountains get their share. California has chain laws so depending where I’m at I may be required to have chains with me/installed, even if I was running four snow rated tires.

Having said that the factory/dealer snow traction option was simply ridiculous at something like $700 a set. (Again, it’s SoCal so the investment just isn’t worth it) but I found a set of Leclede Alpine Sport snow chains (#2326) which will fit my Nitto 265/50R20s. (On a happy note the Leclede rep on the phone kind of laughed after I told her these were for a LR4. “Well, you won’t really need them driving that but California has chain laws so I suppose...”)

Does anybody here have experience running this combo or even just the Leclede chains? Any advice for using snow chains on the LR4?
 

avslash

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No first hand experience, but in reading the forums for many moons, I seem to remember the consensus was that only cable chains would work due to limited clearance between sidewall and suspension components.
 

Fuji4

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I use RUD grip chains if needed. That is rare. I have 19" wheels and duratracs and they have performed pretty admirably in the snow. But i go to mammoth almost every weekend in the winter. I have only used the chains once up there, in a real dump, after a warm spell, so the roads were iced over as well. otherwise the duratracs are fine. I think the standard cheapo SCC cable chains would work just fine too, as they are much smaller than the GRIPs.
 

avslash

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I use RUD grip chains if needed. That is rare. I have 19" wheels and duratracs and they have performed pretty admirably in the snow. But i go to mammoth almost every weekend in the winter. I have only used the chains once up there, in a real dump, after a warm spell, so the roads were iced over as well. otherwise the duratracs are fine. I think the standard cheapo SCC cable chains would work just fine too, as they are much smaller than the GRIPs.

No clearance issues? Just curious as that is not what I have been lead to believe before.
I have been thinking about picking some up for the kit, as well, and would love to go with real chains vs. the cable variety.
 

Fuji4

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https://www.roverparts.com/parts/8940

no clearance issues. just make sure you tighten the tensioner, and then retighten after a 1/4 mile or so. they are REAL chains. if it's not deep it will be a bumpy ride. i use them on the fronts for the stopping power. there is endless discussion about which tires to run them on, but since it's mostly stopping i am concerned with i use them on the fronts. and the duratracs are good too so i am not as concerned with the rear sliding around. One tip though, from unfortunate experience, is to make sure that the locking link is properly aligned against the sidewall, not under the tire. I was in a rush in a snowstorm and slapped them on and drove off, but ended up running over the locking link device and bent it up, causing the tensioner to not work properly. PITA. had to heat it up at a gas station and bend it back.

Pretty sure these are the chains the LR Experience dudes use in snow and offload, so they should be "approved"
 

backcountryLR4

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Well...
I have driven plenty in California most recently last month over Donners pass in a total blizzard with about 16” of snow on the road with no plows in sight.
They had multiple checkpoints where they were turning people around. (And good thing cause I passed some people literally parked on the highway cause they couldn’t move)

At every checkpoint they waved me through in my Infiniti QX80 rental car with all seasons. I legit had that thing in 4 HI and snow mode and it wasn’t that great, but I have tons of snow driving experience and was fine. (Squaw was epic the next day btw)

My point is: there is no way you ever get stopped or turned around in Cali in your Rover unless you have racing slicks for tires.

Even more so if you are talking Big Bear. 18 ain’t no thing. Save your money...






(If you want the piece of mind, buy them before the trip from a place with free returns and leave them in the package)
 

Forty Deuce

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Great advice and insight. Thank you all. I like the idea of returning them unopened and unused but it conflicts with my inner gear-geek that wants to fidget with them and try them on dry so that if (and I recognize that is a unlikely and remote “if”) then I have at least a passing familiarity with them. First World problems, I suppose.
 

BikePilot

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You might check to see if tire socks qualify. Light and probably cheap. Also if it's like Colorado laws it should be tiered where only the most severe one requires chains and basically never happens. I drive over Loveland pass ever week in the winter. The Landy does great. I've not used chains nor seen a requirement for them yet.
 

dlonesty

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I use Trax snow chains, as sold and recommended any Land Rover Portland for a fraction of the price of the LR ones. Plus they fold up nice and go on in a jiffy without clearance issues.
 

Fuji4

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FWIW, i was in mammoth lakes this weekend during a blizzard and didn't even get my chains out. the duratracs have 40k miles on them now. and they are still fine.
 

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