Cable / Chains for 21 inch RX Wheels? I can't find them anywhere... PLUS a Question... Should I get cable chains for all 4 Wheels?

 

Out of curiosity, your location shows Arizona. Do you use wheel chains in Arizona????

 

I need cable chains in Northern Arizona in the Winter.... and when I visit family in the Pacific Northwest,

 

I thought the fitment criteria for straps or chains was the OVERALL circumference? Or the 'thickness' of the wheel/tire assembly through which the straps are attached.


To answer your second question: If you have an AWD vehicle, you SHOULD fit them to all for wheels if you want to avoid becoming stuck.
I suppose if you just want to be approved at a checkpoint to travel on a snow covered road, one or two straps on ONE axle would be okay...for a few miles.

 

When I bought my 350h the dealer had me sign a form that said no chain and belt only.

 

I'm in the Pacific Northwest..Do you think that AWD system what you have won't handle snow?

 

I'm actually concerned about going over Siskiyou Pass on I-5 in December.

 

Page 403 and 40 in owners manual actually outlines which chains are okay to use with this car.

 

I've looked for chains online no luck. Thinking of using those plastic chains instead. Anyone ever use those ?

 

According to this selector, there are chains that fit. the https://peerlesschain.com/tire-chain...ze=235%2F50R21

I plan on getting a set of the SZ435 Super Z6 Cable Tire Chains
https://peerlesschain.com/products/super-z6#19550

 

Only place I've ever needed chains was in Austria on a small mountain pass. Even in Western Canada, I've survived Rogers, Salmo-Creston, Kicking Horse, and others that are way worse than any in the states I've driven. A decent set of tires and 4WD is all you need.

 

"A decent set of tires," being the issue here. I've never had a problem either, with quality severe winter service rated tires, but the All-Season choices in the OEM size we have in the US aren't rated for severe winter service. I ran All-Season tires with the severe winter service rating on our last AWD Lexus and they did great in the snow. The OEM tire wasn't so rated and didn't do as well.

 

I found this in the manuals for the RX. The image is from the 2024 RX450h+ manual, but the same information is in the other manuals.

Based on this, the SZ435 Super Z6 should be fine, as they only require 6.3 mm of clearance, where the chains in the manual would require at least 14mm of clearance or 15 mm to be safer.(Class S chains). The manual specifically states that chains are not to be installed on the rear tires.

2024 RX450+ Owners Manual P.430

 

I have a 2024 RX350h.

My dealer also made me sign a document stating that chains cannot be used on 21" rims... Verbally, however, they told me that 'cables' can be used. I haven't been able to find anything in the manual that forbids chains or distinguishes between 19" and 21" rims...

AFAICT, the RX350h comes in different tire sizes:

235/60R19 -> overall diameter 235*.60/25.4*2+19 = 30.10 "
235/50R21 -> overall diabeter 235*.50/25.4*2+21 = 30.25 "

i.e. they both have the same width but the 21" rims are overall larger by 0.15" or 3.8mm.

If the tire chains/cables fit in the dimensions prescribed in the manual (page 395 for 2024 RX350h), we should be good-to-go.

 

Considering that the RX450h+ only comes with 21" wheels and the manual describes chains that will fit it (front only) I have no doubt that 21s can be used with the right chains. I purchased a set of cables (make and model above) for a winter road trip, but did not require them, so I've not installed them yet.