What Snow Tire Chains do You Recommend for My 2019 Ford Fusion with 235/40-19 Tires?  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Thanks so much for your kind words! The reason why manufacturers typically say that you should not use tire chains is to "wash their hands" of any liability just in case damage occurs to components inside the wheel well of your vehicle. This is extremely common. However, if you measure to make sure that you have enough wheel well clearance with your 235/40-19 tires on your 2019 Ford Fusion, this dramatically reduces the potential for damage to wheel well components.

For a set of tire chains that give you great traction as well as less potential for damage, I recommend the Konig Self-Tensioning, Low-Profile Snow Tire Chains - Diamond Pattern # TH00023102. The great thing about the Konig chains is that the part of the chain that installs on the inside surface of the tire has a circular cable. Some other sets of chains actually have chains that compose of that inner circle which creates the potential of getting caught in wheel well components. Also, the chains come with self-tensioners that take the headache away from having to tighten the chains after each trip. Another feature is that the chains come with rubber bumpers to protect the rims during travel. For these particular chains, you need to have at least 9mm of internal clearance required. I went ahead and attached a diagram that shows how to conduct this measurement.

As with all tire chains, I recommend consulting with your vehicle's owner's manual to make sure you follow the guidelines outlined.

expert reply by: Bob C

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How to Measure Wheel Well Clearance for Tire Chains
(click to enlarge)