Tire chains on a 4x4....?
 

I know we have a bit to go for winter but I was just wondering if tire chains would help get better traction on my 97 4.2 v6 4x4? My front tires are pretty low on tread and it's gonna be a while before I can get new ones.

Chains are awesome for traction, but have some downfalls.
- Gotta run a lower psi for each tire so if you remove them often, you have to keep changing your tire psi.
- Legal, not really legal anywhere anymore. So good luck finding a place to use them.
- Hard on tires, having a chain smashing into your rubber tire all winter long in up to -40 isn't really the best for them if using constantly.
- Limits your speed, I wouldn't go faster than 60 km/h with them.
- If a link breaks, it really messes up your fender, or paint if it hits.
- Ride quality sucks, it feels exactly like you're driving over a chain every 6"'s.

A better idea is just buy a good set of tires. Make them a regular sized tire, so like a 235 or 245. And try and get them skinny. Because the skinnier, the more pounds per square inch of traction you will get. You can get tires like that cheap, 50 -60 bucks a tire. And if you can't afford 200 bucks, ... everyone can afford 200 bucks. And if you can't, start saving 20 bucks a week. You'll have enough by the time winter comes.

And if that's not enough, throw some patio stones in the bed, the big 24" x 24" x 2" ones. Throw a piece of plywood in first if you don't want it scratching the bed. 6 will fit in nice and add a good 300 pounds to the back axle for weight, plus you'll never notice the height difference.

I've riden with my dad in his medium duty wrecker when he had chains on before and it sucked but not when driving in snowy roads. I think I've got enough weight I'm just worried about traction since the tires on my truck suck. They're Yokohama. The back axle has about 10-11/33 of tread and then the front had maybe 2/32. I have a set of 33x12.50r17 that are too wide but I've heard if you crank the torsion bars they won't rub. I work at a car dealership and I can get a new set of Goodyear wranglers for 600. Do you know where I can find a good set of 265s for cheap?

Check craigslist man.

But you have to consider how often you'll be in snow. Not that often, and that's not where the need the traction, it's where there is just ice and no snow. 300 pounds on the back axle will do wonders for traction if you're worried about it.

33 x 12.5 I would not recommend unless you're always in powder. Because on ice you won't have any traction. And definitely craigslist or kijiji.

Treadwright my friend 265-70-16 all terrains 100-113 a tire mud terrain 121 a tire then there is kedge grip which is crushed glass and walnut that supposedly helps on ice. I'm running the guard dog (M/T) in 285-75-16 with kedge. And I love them.

I'm hardly ever in snow, never with my current 4X4. But after experiencing my sisters 4X2 with chains I'm never putting them on my truck if I do snow driving. I would guess if you had good tires you wouldn't need chains

Chains do have their drawbacks. Not really necessary of you have good tires for navigating in snow. A huge help on ice but I prefer studded snow tires. Almost as good on ice and way better at speeds above 30 mph.