Snow chains on 2 or 4 wheels?

[jimmystartup]

Probably a dumb question. I sent my wife a link to the chains we need. She orders them and they show up at our door. She only ordered one set! I'm assuming I need to run with chains on all 4 wheels (2008 Yukon Hybrid) since any chance that we'd need them we'd obviously be in 4-wheel drive. Thought I'd ask for clarifying opinions on here.

Thanks.

 

[puckhead]

nah, not necessarily. you only gonna be on roads? You should only need one set then, if any. I have never needed them on a highway or maintained road. Live in the mountains too. I do have chains for all 4, mainly for mud and off road situations though

 

[sumo]

depending on the on the road you are driving on. Cops around here only chain up the rear tires on the crown vics.

 

[stevek]

I don't think you really have a need for chains on maintained roads if you're in 4wd. I have NEVER needed chains in 4 years of driving in all different kinds of snow and icy road conditions. Good all-season tires have sufficed. I've towed a Range Rover AND a Bronco up pretty steep roads in ice before.

Even the police here use Tahoes and don't use chains

 

[OklabyGodhoma]

Front chaining should only be considered for the most extreme conditions. One example would be pure sheet ice. Should you decide to chain the front remember your speed should never exceed 30 mph and personally I believe lower is better. If a front chain should come apart, break or simply come unfastened it can quickly become wrapped around tie rods, "A" frame members or even catch a brake line. Living in Seattle I doubt you will ever have the need to chain the front.

Personally if it's that bad; stay home and throw another log on the fire.

 

[jimmystartup]

I probably should have clarified. We're going to be heading up to Hurricane Ridge to teach the kids how to ski and snowshoe. The parks department requires all vehicles there to carry chains. At over 5,000 feet the roads can get pretty hairy I hear.

I've used chains on smaller front wheel drive vehicles but never on this Tahoe. I thought along the same lines, that I'd probably never even need them but since the law demands it, I don't want to get turned back if the weather turns and I'm nearly there.

Sounds like the general consensus is that chains on the rear wheels only are OK even if I am in 4 wheel drive. I grew up in Canadian winters and am pretty experienced in snow and ice. I just don't want to screw up this truck. They don't come cheap.

 

[stevek]

Carry != use

Just buy them to have them and return them when you go back home

 

[puckhead]

Carry != use

Just buy them to have them and return them when you go back home

Just keep em. They dont take up too much room if you put em in a bag under your back seat. Never know when you will need them. I carry mine all the time. But then I also carry a ton of other stuff all the time lol

 

[mikewayne]

One chain is enough for your ride... 4 chains are needed when you drive your ride in a muddy region.... don't worry this chain is enough for your ride!!!!

 

[jcrack_corn]

others can comment, since i dont live in snow conditions, but rather wet/muddy conditions, but 4 or more bags of sand/cement (cement = 80 pounds/bag) thrown in the cargo area only takes away about 6 inches of vertical space and you can add several hundred pounds over the rear axle.

and that is usually very helpful.

snow/ice may be different though!