Going to the mountains here in Socal, which is expected to get a little snow so I need chains of some type. The owner manual says on my 2014 Explorer Limited on page 370 that chains or cables can't be used on 20" tires.

Std XLT Explorer Limited
245/60-18 255/45-20 Difference
Diameter inches (mm) 29.57 (751.2) 29.04 (737.5) -0.54 (-13.7) -1.8%
Width inches (mm) 9.65 (245) 10.04 (255) 0.39 (10) 4.1%
Circum. inches (mm) 92.91 91.22 -1.69 -1.8%
Sidewall Height inches (mm) 5.79 (147) 4.52 (114.75) -1.27 (-32.25) -21.9%

Is the Explorer's tolerances between the tires and wheel well that tight that 1/2" wider tire (1/4" on inside and extra 1/4" on outside) makes it so you can't use snow cables or chains? Just seems unthinkable, especially with cables.

If you hit a pothole hard you are going to get at least 1/4" flex on the tire.

Thanks ahead of time.

Jim

 

The table comparing 2014 Explorer XLT tires to Limited tires so didn't work. Here is an attachment that looks better.