tires/snow rating / not worry? / chains are solution?

[LosAngeles]

Hello all you nice people. 🙂

I'm about to custom order a 2020 F350 4 x 4 and according to Ford the tires included are: LT275/70Rx18E BSW A/T. These are to get the E load rating on the tires needed to get 11,500 GVWR.

I am told I don’t have any choice in what tire is used by Ford - that this is what will arrive. I’m also told that Ford will use any brand of tires. No way to tell or select in advance.

The question is - what are the odds that these tires will be snow rated?

More to the point - should I actually care if they are snow rated?

I have encountered places where the tires needed to be snow rated, or you have to carry chains, IIRC.

So should I just buy a set of chains and call it good? Thanks. Just asking to learn. I will be encountering snow.

[Grit_dog]

LA, how do you sleep at night worrying about this stuff??
Get your truck, where you live you will not want, wish for or need chains unless you're trying to rip up a snomachine trail with a foot of packed snow on it.
You could have d@mn near bald tires and since you're planning on carrying around 3klbs of dead weight all winter in the bed, you will get about as good of traction as physically possible.

Yes, you can buy waaaay better traction tires for mud, ice, snow than whatever will show up on most any new truck. That is a given, save for special edition type trucks that actually come with tires that people WANT to have. The rest are mediocre, typically value line tires, however they are sufficient for most purposes, at least through the first half of their treadlife.

If you do feel the need for more snow/ice traction, take the OE tires, whatever they are and go have them siped as deep as the shop will sipe them (.5" is usually max). That will turn a mediocre set of ht/at type tires into good snow and ice tires.

[bpounds]

LosAngeles wrote:

Alan_Hepburn wrote:
We just purchased a Jeep Wrangler and one of the (many) pieces of paper we signed was one that we acknowledged that we were told that chains were NOT to be used at any time. They said we could use cables if we desired, but chains were a big no-no...

Thanks everyone for all the great info. Much appreciated! 🙂

So what are the reason(s) that cables are ok but not chains?

Just curious for any and all info

cheers

J

I had to sign a similar document with a new 2004 F150. I just signed it, figuring it was lawyering BS. But when I took time to actually inspect the truck with an eye toward getting chains, the clearances were very limited. Mostly due to outboarding the shocks, IIRC. Been a while, and I didn't keep that truck very long.

I think most people will tell you to get real link chains when you can, but for a full size truck, they may cost you between $100 and $200, just for one axle.

My suggestion for getting the cable style was only if you want to carry chains to satisfy the CHP, but not actually use them. They cost much less, weigh less, and take up less space to haul around. And assuming this is a tow vehicle, maybe you wouldn't actually choose to tow in the snow. If you want effective chains, get real chains. That's what I carry. But if I was caught out towing in real snow, I think I would just park for a while, if possible. I don't carry chains for the trailer.

[LosAngeles]

Alan_Hepburn wrote:
We just purchased a Jeep Wrangler and one of the (many) pieces of paper we signed was one that we acknowledged that we were told that chains were NOT to be used at any time. They said we could use cables if we desired, but chains were a big no-no...

Thanks everyone for all the great info. Much appreciated! 🙂

So what are the reason(s) that cables are ok but not chains?

Just curious for any and all info

cheers

J

[BB_TX]

Don’t know what you are planning to tow, but if 20” wheels are an option, the 20” tires typically have a higher load rating than the 18”.

[twodownzero]

M&S is a worthless rating. What you're looking for is the mountain snowflake rating for extreme snow. If it's important to you, then there are a few A/T tires that carry it, like the Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain Adventure, Duratrac, and BFG All Terrain. When your OE tires wear out, I recommend you get one of these tires if you need all terrains and would benefit from the extreme snow rating. A dedicated winter tire is better yet if you live in a place with a lot of snow.

[Alan_Hepburn]

We just purchased a Jeep Wrangler and one of the (many) pieces of paper we signed was one that we acknowledged that we were told that chains were NOT to be used at any time. They said we could use cables if we desired, but chains were a big no-no...

[bpounds]

lhenry8113 wrote:
My understanding is if you have a 4x4 with Snow or M/S tires you still are required to carry chains by H.P. if there are snow or icy road conditions. On Highway 18 going to Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead in snow or icy conditions H.P. sets up road blocks to individually check vehicles-ones without the proper tires and chains are not allowed to continue up the MTN.

Yep. And they uncover those signs when inclement weather is forecasted. The signs saying you actually have to mount the chains even on your 4x4 are used less often, and I think they haul them out on an as needed basis.

[lhenry8113]

My understanding is if you have a 4x4 with Snow or M/S tires you still are required to carry chains by H.P. if there are snow or icy road conditions. On Highway 18 going to Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead in snow or icy conditions H.P. sets up road blocks to individually check vehicles-ones without the proper tires and chains are not allowed to continue up the MTN.

[ksg5000]

My experience is that OEM tires in general suck - and sometimes aren't covered by the mfg warranty because they are made specific to the car mfg spec (which means cheap) Buy the tire that works for the driving that you do most often - and if you have to travel over the mountains in the winter then buy chains (will be required in Oregon and some other states).

[bpounds]

romore wrote:
...If you do go with chains don't cheap out...

I agree with you, but my point was that usually you just have to carry chains, and I've had the CHP ask me to show them that I had them. If the weather gets worse than that, you make the choice of whether to continue or turn around. Our auto parts chain stores sell chains and tell you straight up that you can bring them back next week for a full refund, as long as you haven't used them. But at least you can get up to the ski resort without hassle from the CHP.

ScottG wrote:
Isn't any tire that comes on an F350 LR E?

Yes, but that wasn't the question. Good point though, he said the tires would be A/T, and as far as I know all A/T tires are M&S rated.

[time2roll]

ScottG wrote:
Isn't any tire that comes on an F350 LR E?

Yes and the 4x4 generally gets you the A/T with the most aggressive tread.

[ScottG]

Isn't any tire that comes on an F350 LR E?

[time2roll]

If you plan to venture into the possibility of snow on the west coast you may as well get fitted for link chains for the truck and at least cables for the trailer. Carrying chains is often required regardless of tire rating.

[romore]

If you are not satisfied with Ford's choice of tires talk to the saleman about upgrading, he will be more than happy to do so. Of course it will be on your nickel so shop around, an independent tire shop may do better regarding price and selection.
If you do go with chains don't cheap out, a broken cross link or cable will beat the daylights out of your new truck and likely tear out a brake line. Also make sure you know how to properly install them. Having driven on snow for more than fifty winters I would suggest you will probably never need them unless you plan to drive in extreme conditions. If you are not experienced in winter conditions learn to lighten the right foot especially on the brake pedal.

[ppine]

Snow tires on all four wheels keeps you from needing chains most of the time. When roads get bad enough to need chains on 4wd vehicles, most roads get closed.

If you are towing a trailer, you may be stopped by the Highway Patrol and forced to use chains even in moderate snow conditions with 4wd.

I don't like using chains, because they can beat up your wheel wells and require low speed operation, but I carry two sets for all four wheels when in the backcountry. Fall hunting can you stuck in places that are hard to get out of without chains.

You need to care if your tires are snow rated so the Highway Patrol will let you pass. The sidewall needs to mention snow, M&S, all season or some other buzzword to qualify.