Advice wanted: Snow chains on 2008 Liberty 18-inch wheels ?

TravelHawk · **Joined:** Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:35 pm **Posts:** 1

I have a 2008 Liberty Limited with the original 18-inch wheels and tire size 235/60R18. It's stock, purchased from a Jeep dealer in California.

The problem is, California displays "MUST CARRY CHAINS" signs at the first sight of snow, and often when there's no chance of snow. Even on a sunny, dry day it's illegal to drive past such a sign without suitable chains on board (CHP will stop, check, ticket, and send back the other way). California has many many roads that could have random snow, so the chance of seeing one of these signs in Winter-Spring is high.

BUT, Jeep forbids using chains on my Liberty. The manual says this:
Do not use tire chains on vehicles equipped with tires other than
P235/65R17 tires. There may not be adequate clearance for the chains
and you are risking structural or body damage to your vehicle.

And this:
Use only compact chains, or other traction aids that meet
SAE type “Class S” specifications. Chains must be the
proper size for the vehicle, as recommended by the chain
manufacturer. In addition, only install tire chains on
P235/65R17 or smaller tires.

Way to go Jeep -- sell it with wheels that are too big for the body so the vehicle can't comply with the laws of the state!

To be legal, I either have to avoid all MUST CARRY CHAINS roads (almost impossible), or buy and carry chains just to show the cops, knowing I can't really use them, therefore I have to avoid being on the roads during actual chains-required conditions (mostly possible). Or find another solution.

Could there possibly be a type of snow chain/cable that would actually fit?

Gageraid · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:31 pm

Snow chains are out of date if you ask me. Maybe member AtTheHelm will chime in as he has a KK and used to live in California.

ajohns1288 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2014 6:04 pm

There is a little over 1/16 of an inch difference between the two sizes, so you would probably be fine as long as your suspension is not sagging too bad. When they do the clearance studies, they take into account max jounce with worn components, plus a safety factor, so as long as you are not maxing out suspension travel, you should be fine. Also, FWIW I don't believe the 18" models are trail rated.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2014 6:37 pm

They lose the "trail rating" because of the larger rims. You want more sidewall when offroad. Other than that, a sport with 16" rims and a limited with 18s are nearly identical(chrome vs black trim, rims, interior options) if optioned similarly.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2014 6:50 pm

TravelHawk wrote:

I have a 2008 Liberty Limited with the original 18-inch wheels and tire size 235/60R18. It's stock, purchased from a Jeep dealer in California.

The problem is, California displays "MUST CARRY CHAINS" signs at the first sight of snow, and often when there's no chance of snow. Even on a sunny, dry day it's illegal to drive past such a sign without suitable chains on board (CHP will stop, check, ticket, and send back the other way). California has many many roads that could have random snow, so the chance of seeing one of these signs in Winter-Spring is high.

BUT, Jeep forbids using chains on my Liberty. The manual says this:
Do not use tire chains on vehicles equipped with tires other than
P235/65R17 tires. There may not be adequate clearance for the chains
and you are risking structural or body damage to your vehicle.

And this:
Use only compact chains, or other traction aids that meet
SAE type “Class S” specifications. Chains must be the
proper size for the vehicle, as recommended by the chain
manufacturer. In addition, only install tire chains on
P235/65R17 or smaller tires.

Way to go Jeep -- sell it with wheels that are too big for the body so the vehicle can't comply with the laws of the state!

To be legal, I either have to avoid all MUST CARRY CHAINS roads (almost impossible), or buy and carry chains just to show the cops, knowing I can't really use them, therefore I have to avoid being on the roads during actual chains-required conditions (mostly possible). Or find another solution.

Could there possibly be a type of snow chain/cable that would actually fit?

Don't worry about it,show the cop that statement in the manual or just take it to court with that statement from the manual(have actual manual in hand) and it will get thrown out.If your that worried get tires with the snowflake symbol on the sidewall but those laws are for trucks over a certain GVWR anyways which a Jeep does not fall into so your exempt anyways.

The stupid highway patrol in WA state tried that with me but could not enforce it since there RWD cars with chains could not follow me up the mountain pass to pull me over.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2014 8:00 pm

I lived in South Lake Tahoe for ten years (California) and never once been asked where my chains are...
When you roll up to a chain control checkpoint during a storm Caltrans either waves you through if they see you have 4x4 and tires with a 'm+s' rating or tells you to put on chains if you have 2wd. 2wd vehicles with real snow tires usually get the wave.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2014 8:02 pm

CHP also just sits in their car with the heater on while Caltrans runs the checkpoints.

brunolambert · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:07 pm

chains? in California?

man you guys are hilarious.

I have never seen chain in my whole life in north pole.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Jul 23, 2014 2:06 am

brunolambert wrote:

chains? in California?

man you guys are hilarious.

I have never seen chain in my whole life in north pole.

Its not hilarious when your going over a mountain pass behind a car spinning or stopped because they didn't chain up. Especially when its a powder day and you're missing out on 3ft of fresh :evil:

brunolambert · **Posted:** Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:01 pm

Atthehelm wrote:

Its not hilarious when your going over a mountain pass behind a car spinning or stopped because they didn't chain up. Especially when its a powder day and you're missing out on 3ft of fresh :evil:

haha yeah sounds like happy :JEEPIN:

still, chains are funny

and while we have snow on the road half the year, I've never seen any. It's like a myth or something...

wjkrostek · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:39 am

only a flat lander would think chains are funny. I wouldn't need them up here either unless I'm going in the woods. Have anyone run chains on the front? I wouldn't think the axles are strong enough on a KK. Anyone know?

Grannysgoat · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:10 pm

Just get the cheapest set of "cable chains" for you tire size and carry them when you go to the mountains in the winter. All I have been asked at the chain control check point is do I have them in the vehicle. They have never actually checked. Under most circumstances 4x4 with snow tread tires are OK.

bgcarl01 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2014 4:53 pm

I have never ran chains on the road, but have ran them several times in the past to run forest roads into my camps un-plowed roads, and all the Irving Woodlands guys have them in the trucks for traveling un-plowed roads in the winter. Of course, the V Bar traction chains I run you would NEVER want to run on any decent road anyway. Beat you to death unless they are digging through snow. I have zero experience with those smoother running cable ones. I alway's run them on the back. Mostly cuz I worry i'll turn and eat the front fender off forgetting they are there.

Advice wanted: Snow chains on 2008 Liberty 18-inch wheels ?

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