Tire Chains on 2018 Yukon Denali with 22" wheels?

[gary645]

I run 20" studded snow tires in the winter and have always gotten through anything I encountered. In Oregon we are required to carry tire chains when crossing the mountain passes. I carried cable chains to comply, however I could not actually install them. Have traded the cable chains for AutoSock "chains." If I ever encounter a need I could try them. But, if studded snow tires and 4 wheel drive are unable to get me through I'll turn around and try another day. www.autosock.com

 

[Mark Hansen]

It's not a matter of getting though the snow. I have no doubt that the 4WD will be good enough. The issue is the requirement of the DOT to carry and install traction devices during certain weather events. As I said before, the timing is not always convenient.

 

[Shaw520]

It's not a matter of getting though the snow. I have no doubt that the 4WD will be good enough. The issue is the requirement of the DOT to carry and install traction devices during certain weather events. As I said before, the timing is not always convenient.

...and obviously this is the issue,... I mean an awd Hyundai isnt going to be as capable as Full-sized Dually,... so the 4x4/awd wording to the specifics is an issue.

 

[adventurenali92]

I run 20" studded snow tires in the winter and have always gotten through anything I encountered. In Oregon we are required to carry tire chains when crossing the mountain passes. I carried cable chains to comply, however I could not actually install them. Have traded the cable chains for AutoSock "chains." If I ever encounter a need I could try them. But, if studded snow tires and 4 wheel drive are unable to get me through I'll turn around and try another day. www.autosock.com

Studded snow tires would be fabulous.... but they’re illegal here in California. We can’t use them! I live in SoCal but up in a ski town in the mountains. The laws here say that in the mountains we are required to carry chains or suitable traction devices that fit your vehicle. However, most times that chains(or cables) are required to be put on is when its what’s labeled as R2 conditions. Which means that all 2WD vehicles have to put them on if they’re gonna be allowed to drive in the snow. However R2 means that 4WD and AWD vehicles with proper tires are permitted to drive without putting on chains or cables. More than likely it would have to be the blizzard of the century with very large accumulations of snow for a 4x4 or AWD vehicle to have to put chains on(like 10 feet in a day which is pretty unlikely!) From someone that lives in a ski town- @Mark Hansen , here’s my advice... buy a set of CABLES that show they fit your wheel and tire combo. They are a lot cheaper than the actual chain versions. Put them in the back of your Denali when you travel over the mountains. Don’t open them unless you have to. Technically the California law says that the CalTrans guys can ask to physically see if you have chains or cables that fit your vehicle in an R2 condition before letting you pass through. But they rarely actually do that in that scenario. They are too busy trying to get all the flatlanders who have no clue what’s going on to put chains on and get them out of the way. Haha. So carry them with you but more than likely you won’t need to use them, just engage your 4WD. I will say this however... tire choice will make or break your driving experience. Get a capable all terrain mud and snow rated tire for your 22s and you will have no problems in the snow.

 

[Greg Treantos]

If 22's are too big I would pick up a set of 20" rims, put a good set of snows on them and use tire cables. Just my 2cents.

 

[chevy529]

Bigbeardenali1992

has provided what should be the last word needed on the subject seeing as how he lives in California.
As he stated.
You have to carry 'em, you don't have to put 'em on.


The comment about chains wrecking radial tires left me puzzled.

What do you think is on large on\off highway trucks?

 

[ncpepperman]

From The Horse's Mouth:

Chain Requirement Levels
During the winter months, motorists may encounter traction chain controls in the mountain areas within California. When chain controls are established, signs will be posted along the road indicating the type of requirement. There are Three Levels of Chain Requirements in California:

• Requirement 1 (R-1): Chains are required on all vehicles except passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks under 6,000 pounds gross weight and equipped with snow tires1 on at least two drive wheels. Chains must be carried by vehicles using snow tires. All vehicles towing trailers must have chains on one drive axle. Trailers with brakes must have chains on at least one axle.
• Requirement 2 (R2): Chains or traction devices2 are required on all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels.
  NOTE: (Four wheel/all wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas.)
• Requirement 3 (R3): Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.

 

[Shaw520]

Thats ^^^^^ been my experience,.. there have been time that Ive been refused passage WITHOUT traction chains/cables installed. Sequoia National Forest being one of others.

 

[adventurenali92]

Yup that's right^ ironically I haven't carried chains in my Denali since I bought it. I've only driven it up and down the mountain during R2 a handful of times and never have they actually asked to phsycoally see my chains. They always ask if I have them, and the answer is always yes they are stored behind my third row seat. And they are like ok go ahead and be safe! Bad practice do know..... Lol. Weirdly enough the one time I had any issue with Caltrans under R2, one small storm two winters ago coming up from picking up my Denali from a transmission repair at the shop that rebuilt it for me, was that it was pouring raining where chain control was located, and just a tiny bit of snow up higher on the mountain, but he tried to tell me I was lying and that I didn't have AWD and that my Denali never came from the factory with AWD. I'm not sure where he was getting his info from, but I had a fun time making him crawl under the front end of my Denali in the pouring rain to find my transfers case..... I had a a very sarcastic "I know far more than you do about cars you moron....." Moment lol.

 

[Deputyfiredog]

We have upgraded to a 2018 Yukon Denali with 22" wheels (the tire size is P285/45R22). One of the main reasons we want a 4WD SUV is for traveling from the Sacramento CA area to the Salt Lake City area around the end of December to visit relatives.

This trip requires that we carry (and if weather dictates, use) tire chains while crossing the Sierra.

In looking for suitable chains for our new Yukon, I looked in the owner's manual and it specifically states that with our tires, we are not to use tire chains:



It then goes on to say:



But while researching tire chains, I find some that claim to fit our tire/wheel size, but they say we must follow the information in the vehicles owners manual.

So, is there a traction device we can use which will be acceptable to the State of California so we can cross the Sierra while being acceptable to GMC?

I sure would appreciate any help/advice.

I made an assumption when I bought my 2018 YUKON DENALI that there would be good traction device choices. I did not research nor did Weston GMC in Gresham Oregon mention the difficulty to me. I plan for now to get another set of rims and a set of studded tires which are allowed here in Washington State. After reading the chain you started, I also plan on looking at cable chains for the rear. Sheesh, never dreamed buying an SUV 4 Wheel Drive at this level would create such an issue.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gary645]

Deputyfiredog - check out my 6/24/18 post (gary645) for what works for me. I live in the Portland hills and travel to Sunriver in the winter. Have never had a problem in the hills at home (the studs work well on the ice) or the Santiam Pass. Go to Les Schwab and ask for their advice. They have many solutions. If you buy their chains and don't use them, they will refund your money or exchange them for your new vehicle. I bought chains for a 2004 Yukon and have traded up for what fits my newest vehicle ever since. I carry them as required by law in the winter but never had chains out of the bag.