heres a question about tire chains. and more specifically with a 4x4. ive heard that with 2wd you want the chains on the drive wheels. and if you have a 4x4 but only one set of chains you cant use the 4wd, due to the wheels spinning at different rates and the high likely hood of breaking something. so running 4 chains on four wheels, what would be preferred? 4 chains of the same style, ie ladder on front ladder on back, or diamond front and back. what about mixing and matching, ie ladder back and diamond front? what would be preferred for these combinations?

I live in idaho and do afair amount of winter activities. i recently got a 4x4 ranger but have a set of ladder style chains from my old ranger (i nicknamed this 2wd ranger the tommahawk due to its tendencies of spinning out). i drive a lot of hairy roads to ski areas and the like. hell, they dont even plow side streets in my town. ive also had to drive several hundred miles through some serious weather driving the highway through the middle of the state (arco desert) where i think chains could have been REALLY REALLY useful. (we were on the middle of the road when it got closed, pushing multiple inches of snow with it piling quickly)

i have plowed with 4wd trucks for about 25 yrs. we ran chains in the bad storms on the rear weighted. i have even run them on the front. with no promblems, i have never run chains on all four. we have a big fire truck that is 4wd. we chain the rear most times but blizzards we chain all the way around. the rear is fine to chain only. and NEVER RUN MORE THAN 35mph with chains on. over that you will destroy them. also buy heaver chains than is required.

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JIM, 2005 xlt super cab silver, 4.0, 410, whelen mini edge 6 strobes, led's front and rear, hella work lights front bumper, work light rear

thanks much. so are there any adverse consequences with running ladder style in the back and diamond style in the front?

i have never mixed types, and the only place i have ever run ladder [v style] is on fire trucks.

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JIM, 2005 xlt super cab silver, 4.0, 410, whelen mini edge 6 strobes, led's front and rear, hella work lights front bumper, work light rear

thanks for the info, i wonder if anyone knows about mixing and matching chain styles. a google search has been pretty fruitless.

I don't see any issues running different types of chains...just roll with the lowest recommended speeds.

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2008 Ranger XLT 4X4 V6 4.0 Torch Red
Bought September 29, 2011 mileage 13,800 2nd owner

Mods:
Retractable Truck Stake Pocket Anchors...installed 10-5-11, AVS Window Vent Visors, 10-6-11,Tonneau Cover, 10-15-11, Alarm/remote start and locks, 10-25-11, Bed Lights 11-13-11, front mud flaps 11-20-11, deer whistles 11-25-11, brake lite Ford emblem 12-7-11

well, if its a non issue ill give running mixed matched sets, unless some one out there has more info.