2015 Silverado - Tire chains on 20" wheels

rm -rf · October 13, 2015

My 2015 1500 owners manual tells me that I can't use tire chains with 20" wheels. It seems like the 255/70R17's are the only size that can have tire chains.

"If the vehicle has dual wheels or 265/65R18, P265/65R18, P275/55R20, LT265/70R17, LT265/ 70R18, LT265/60R20, LT275/ 65R18, P285/50R20, 285/45R22, or P285/45R22 size tires, do not use tire chains. They can damage the vehicle because there is not enough clearance. "

"If the vehicle does not have dual wheels and has a tire size other than 265/65R18, P265/65R18, P275/55R20, LT265/70R17, LT265/70R18, LT265/60R20, LT275/65R18, P285/50R20, 285/ 45R22, or P285/45R22, use tire chains only where legal and only when you must. "

Can anyone tell me what actually happens if I need to run with tire chains? Will the brake lines get damaged or something serious like that?

(I also have facatory mud flaps...)

TimmyG · October 15, 2015

I assume you could just scratch the rims

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Big_D · October 16, 2015

i saw a video for these push button chains.. May be of interest to you

http://www.rud.com/en-us/products/snow-chains/rotogrip/rotogrip3.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWvyAZX9UAE

Chevor · October 16, 2015

Autosocks would work for snow. No good for ice.

crewl1 · October 16, 2015

My 2015 1500 owners manual tells me that I can't use tire chains with 20" wheels. It seems like the 255/70R17's are the only size that can have tire chains.

"If the vehicle has dual wheels or 265/65R18, P265/65R18, P275/55R20, LT265/70R17, LT265/ 70R18, LT265/60R20, LT275/ 65R18, P285/50R20, 285/45R22, or P285/45R22 size tires, do not use tire chains. They can damage the vehicle because there is not enough clearance. "

"If the vehicle does not have dual wheels and has a tire size other than 265/65R18, P265/65R18, P275/55R20, LT265/70R17, LT265/70R18, LT265/60R20, LT275/65R18, P285/50R20, 285/ 45R22, or P285/45R22, use tire chains only where legal and only when you must. "

Can anyone tell me what actually happens if I need to run with tire chains? Will the brake lines get damaged or something serious like that?

(I also have facatory mud flaps...)

Does this just apply to chains?

Most of the ones I have used are made of wire cable and don't protrude much at all.

I would need to be able to use these occasionally when on holiday in the mountains.

rm -rf · October 17, 2015

Does this just apply to chains?

Most of the ones I have used are made of wire cable and don't protrude much at all.

I would need to be able to use these occasionally when on holiday in the mountains.

I have no idea. I don't expect to use chains unless I'm really in tough spot - like a foot or more of snow, so I was thinking I need real chains.

I might look at the cables though.

crewl1 · October 17, 2015

These are the type I have used

Red_5 · December 14, 2015

I'm also wondering about traction for when we occasionally wander into the white stuff. Snow tires seem like a bit much for our occasional trips to snow. It's a good point about scratching the wheels with chains / cables.

Those who do have 20"s and buy snow tires, did you go with a taller sidewall 18" tire?

xelli · January 15, 2016

It is a pretty big warning - isn't it.

I've also have P275/55R20 tires - so I'm still in a quandary on what to do. Interesting the warning doesn't call out tire size LT275/55R20.

Here are a few of the cable chains I've been looking at. All are Class S Compatible (low clearance)

http://www.etrailer.com/parts-by-tire-size.aspx?tirewidth=275&tireaspect=55&tiresize=20&productgroup=tire%20chains&furl=-sz-Class_S_Compatible

Will likely wander in into the dealer and see if there is any other official GMC word or approved product.

RhinoGuy · January 15, 2016

I don't see how the rim size would make much of a difference (other than scratching the rim) . Seems to me that overall tire diameter would matter the most

rm -rf · January 16, 2016

I assume you could just scratch the rims

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The set of regular old Peerless tire chains that I had laying around from my Ford 150 fit, appear to clear the brake lines and fender well, and do not come anywhere near the rims. I drove up and down the driveway at 2mph and nothing bad happened, so I'm carrying them around with me just in case.

Autosocks would work for snow. No good for ice.

Interesting.

I don't see how the rim size would make much of a difference (other than scratching the rim) . Seems to me that overall tire diameter would matter the most

Agreed, and from my test fit, it looked like good clearance all around, provided that the chains were tight against the tire tread.

Still not sure if they'll work at 30mph or so. For me, I'd only use them if I'm in deep sh*t, not on the highway, so maybe I'm OK.

Red_5 · January 19, 2016

I ended up ordering Z-Chains from Amazon. They're supposed to be easy to install and S-rated for vehicles with clearance issues. Hopefully I'll never need them but I'm pretty sure you're supposed to at least have a set with you in the snow areas here in CA.

crewl1 · January 20, 2016

I ordered these from eTrailer. I've used this style before on other vehicles. Needing for upcoming trip to the mountains and hope they work out OK.

http://www.etrailer.com/Tire-Chains/Glacier/PW2028C.html

The first video on the page shows them on a 275 55 20 Chevy tire, the other Silverado 1500 video shows them on an 18" wheel.

xelli · January 20, 2016

I ended up ordering Z-Chains from Amazon. They're supposed to be easy to install and S-rated for vehicles with clearance issues. Hopefully I'll never need them but I'm pretty sure you're supposed to at least have a set with you in the snow areas here in CA.

Always best to travel with chains and not need them, then to need them and not have them.

I've been looking at the Super Z6 (also from Peerless):

http://www.peerlesschain.com/brands/traction/traction-product-choices/super-z6-tire-chains/

I like the Designed-in” rubber tensioners. I would rather not stop and retighten after installation. :-)

"Super Z6 is our latest patented winter traction product. Although it’s based on our experience with the other products in the “Z” family. Super Z6 has one very special quality; it will operate in less than half the space required by most cable chains and tire chains. To be more precise, it requires only 6.3 mm (1/4″) of operating space in the critical inside sidewall area of the tire (typical Class “S” products require 15mm)."

Red_5 · January 20, 2016

Always best to travel with chains and not need them, then to need them and not have them.

I've been looking at the Super Z6 (also from Peerless):

http://www.peerlesschain.com/brands/traction/traction-product-choices/super-z6-tire-chains/

I like the Designed-in” rubber tensioners. I would rather not stop and retighten after installation. :-)

"Super Z6 is our latest patented winter traction product. Although it’s based on our experience with the other products in the “Z” family. Super Z6 has one very special quality; it will operate in less than half the space required by most cable chains and tire chains. To be more precise, it requires only 6.3 mm (1/4″) of operating space in the critical inside sidewall area of the tire (typical Class “S” products require 15mm)."

While I like the look of those, I was afraid they'd scratch my wheels. At some point I'm hoping to get a set of snow/towing wheels/tires so maybe then I'll get a better set of chains.