How fast can you safely go with tire chains on?

It depends on the terrain and conditions, obviously. You can't really pinpoint a number, but I'd say that 10-25 mph would be a 'safe' bet.

 

I never go over 25-30 mph with chains on.

You'll see other drivers blazing past you, but then you're dodging their hardware laying all over the road a few miles ahead. I can't imagine the damage being caused to their rigs as their chains are coming off.

 

Hi rbrtwbstr, NO DUMB QUESTIONS, dag nabbit! Don't feel bad, in my 35 years of trucking, I never once "hung iron". Never even had chains with me, but I never did any mountains. I had a friend that used those cables, 4 per dual, through the holes in the rims, lot easier to put on and on the highway, he claimed to do 45-50 mph. Off road, I'd take it easy, as I'm sure they'd take out a 1/4 fender easy.

 

About 30 mph is about top speed in my experience.

My last trip to a tire shop was due to a cross link buried in my tread. Couldn't dodge them all running Cabbage last month. Always seems that especially the first big winter storm results in broken chains littering the highway. I think someone could make a penny or three picking up those chains.

 

I run between about 15 and 25 with chains on. I have used chains a lot living in the mountain west and have experienced and seen the damage caused by running too fast with chains on. It's much better to hold the speed down and not tear up the truck than to run fast and do a bunch of expensive damage.

 

About 30 Mph @ prolonged use; afterwards, check chains for damage to the chain links...keep ur chains tight.

 

I've run them up to 45 mph on good packed snow to get around slower, un chained trucks - but 25-30mph is safer.

They're pretty rough on the tires, and tend to let go a rail or two and ribbon strip the mudflaps if you run them too fast, or on thinly covered pavement for too long.

I'd guess you could get away with 35-40mph off road, but I'd check 'em every 50 mile or so and tighten them up real snug.

 

Oilfield roads, about 30 was my top speed with chains on... and they do destroy tires after days of use. Watch for damaged cross links, as they will destroy your fenders.