Which Tire Chains To Use On a 2016 Mazda CX-9 with 255/50-20 Tires

Updated 02/27/2019 | Published 02/26/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Titan Chain Alloy Snow Tire Chains - Diamond Pattern - Square Link - 1 Pair

(513)

$135.17

Titan Chain Cable Tire Chain - Ladder Pattern - Roller Links - Manual Tensioning - 1 Pair

(450)

$98.46

Titan Chain Multi-Arm Rubber Tire Chain Adjuster for Light Trucks - 1 Pair

(860)

$26.50

Question:

Hi there, My manual for 2016 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring says that I can use only the cable and recommend to have 18 inch wheel instead of 20 inch wheel due to low clearance. Given this do you recommend this chain for 20 inch wheel? Does it satisfy the low clearance requirement? Again, the manual ask to have cable however this is a chain. So do you have something equivalent to this as cable?

asked by: Karthikeyan

Expert Reply:

According to the owner's manual for your 2016 Mazda CX-9, tire chains/cables cannot be installed on 255/50-20 tires. Instead, they recommend that you replace this size with 255/60-18 tires. Therefore, I cannot recommend you use cables or chains on the 255/50-20 tires. However, more than likely you will be just fine using the Titan Chain Alloy Snow Tire Chains part # TC2324 which are a fit for the 255/50-20 tires because they are class s compatible which means they are specially designed for vehicles with limited wheel well clearance like your CX-9.

If you take a look at the attached review video, we actually installed this very same chain on a 2016 Mazda CX-9 with 255/50-20 tires and did not run into any clearance issues. I like these chains in particular because they are easy to install with the use of the color coded sections and they have a diamond pattern which offers phenomenal traction and does not decrease ride quality as much when compared to ladder style chains.

I did not see any restrictions in the manual that said only a cable type traction device could be used but if what you said is correct then we do have a set of cables that will fit your 255/50-20 tires and for that you would want to go with the Titan Chain Cable Snow Tire Chains part # TC3010 while also pairing the Titan Chain Multi-Arm Rubber Tire Chain Adjuster for Light Trucks part # TCMA2. These cables will still provide some traction but they will not be nearly as good as the above Titan Chain Alloy Snow Tire Chains part # TC2324.

I recommend you just choose what you feel is the best option and go with it as you won't have much of a choice because certain areas will actually not allow you to pass unless you have tire chains installed.