Tire Chain Recommendation for 2014 Ram 2500 4X4 with 285/60R20 Tires  

Question:

Expert Reply:

When it comes to using tire chains on any vehicle the auto makers get the final word, so I suggest your first move be a check of your owner's manual for any guidance or restrictions regarding the use of tire chains on your particular Ram 2500. Many passenger cars are limited to using very low-profile S-Class chains that do not need much clearance inside the wheel wells and while this may not be the case for your truck, your large tire size may still have a bearing on what type of chains you can safely use.

In addition to your review of your owner's manual you might find useful the two linked articles that provide a lot of detail about types of tire chains and their applications.

Unless your manual states otherwise the best performance in a 4X4 truck will be to install chains on all four wheels. One chain set on just the rear tires will of course help with forward traction but will not do anything to help steering and braking performance. If one set only is used on the front tires of a 4X4 this will help traction, braking and steering. Equal grip on all tires will be the best option if you ever find that you actually really need them.

However, if your interest is in having a "just in case" set, then one pair may suffice. In this case you might consider the cost-effective Titan Cable Chains # TC3029 which are S-Class compatible.

The link at right will take you to our main page for all tire chains that will fit the tire size 285/60-20. You can use the filters on the page to select the application (on-road-only versus on-and-off-road), the type of chain tensioning (assisted or manual) and several other parameters including construction and brand.

I recently completed a training course here at etrailer in which all of us unpacked, installed and removed various types and brands of chains. I can tell you first-hand that the chains that are too much of a pain to put on will do nothing for you if you need them because you won't use them. Some others offer easier drive-on-and-connect installation and these chains, shown on the other link, are going to be much more likely to get used and actually do you some good.

One such chain set such is the Pewag All Square Snow Tire Chains # PWE3231SC that feature case hardened nickel-manganese alloy steel construction in an all-square link design for excellent grip. These are suited for on-road use only and are not S-Class compatible.

Last but not least, thank you for your kind remarks about etrailer.

expert reply by: Adam R

0