Which axle to install chains on -- front / rear / both?

[SteveG]

23 EB AWD: If I were to use chains on my AWD which axle is preferred/recommended? Front/Rear/Both?

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[inthecabin]

Usually AWD are front in my experience. 4WD are rear. It should be in the manual but all four is never recommended.

 

[merlin101]

I'm not certain on if Ford/the Maverick do this as well (so hopefully somebody can chime in and confirm), but from what i've seen AWD on most modern cars essentially runs in front wheel drive until it detects slippage or otherwise needs to divert power to all 4 wheels.

In other words, you would want to either chain the front two, OR do all 4, depending on the extremity of the scenario. But with my AWD Kia I have always just done the front two and never needed more than that except once.

 

[Edge Haley]

I'm not certain on if Ford/the Maverick do this as well (so hopefully somebody can chime in and confirm), but from what i've seen AWD on most modern cars essentially runs in front wheel drive until it detects slippage or otherwise needs to divert power to all 4 wheels.

In other words, you would want to either chain the front two, OR do all 4, depending on the extremity of the scenario. But with my AWD Kia I have always just done the front two and never needed more than that except once.

Correct - 1 set on the front wheels. Same as recommended in my Honda ELement. My understanding is on the EcoBoost AWD, the rear wheels do not turn until front wheels detect slippage of traction.

 

[fossil]

easy question, you always need to steer.

 

[paneubert]

Ohhh boy, I went down this rabbit hole a while back. If I recall correctly, the manual is less than clear, and may even state the opposite of what you should do. Due to you know.....Ford plagiarizing themselves when taking huge chunks of the manual text from other model lines and not proofreading it for sanity.

Maverick AWD (as someone else mentioned in an earlier comment) is actually FWD until it senses slippage. Then it diverts as much power to the rear as it feels is necessary to stop or prevent the slippage. All within milliseconds of detection. Chains should go on the front, or on all 4 tires. Although I bet if you put them only on the rear and it detected front wheel slippage, that would be an interesting experiment to see how fast it was like "woah, why the hell are these rear tires so grippy". It would all still be milliseconds, but would be interesting nonetheless.

 

[SteveG]

Where in the manual do they discuss chains. The only reference I can find is on Page 278. Even then it just mentions chains.

 

[MaverickEVwouldBeNice]

Last (and so far only) time I had to put chains on was last winter, during Seattle Ice Storm 2022, on a 16' Penske Box truck. I was told to put them on the outside tires of the rear axle, so I did.

I made it across Snoqualmie Pass going 35 - 45 mph in blowing snow and icy rain at night, while many ended up in the ditch, so I must've done it right.

Was I scared? You betcha! But a scared driver is a careful driver.

On that note, does anyone need a set of tires for a 16' Penske box truck? Used once...

 

[paneubert]

Where in the manual do they discuss chains. The only reference I can find is on Page 278. Even then it just mentions chains.

Page 337 of the 2022 Manual. I have not taken the time to find where it is in the 2023 manual. For 2022 it says...

" Purchase chains or cables from a manufacturer that clearly labels body to tire dimension restrictions. The snow chains or cables must be mounted in pairs on the rear tires only."

EDIT: HAHAHAHAHA! Would you look at that.....the online 2023 Manual says "The snow chains or cables must be mounted in pairs on the front tires only." Confirmed same info is on page 345 of paper manual.

Cool.....nothing to see here Ford.....

 

[SteveG]

Thanks. I found it. Seems odd that it is buried under Tires and Wheels when it can do a lot of damage if not done correctly.

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