does a prado have clearance for snow chains?

A prado should have clearance for snow chains. Almost all standard 2WD cars have enough. The Prado is rated as a mid range 4WD so one would assume that their is enough clearance around the wheel as it has to travel a fair way while off road. I live in the Mts and drive the Buller road daily and from experience I have only had to fit chains on my 4WD vehicle on 1 occasion in the last 10 seasons and that was voluntarily and not after being directed to. I have used the chains more in mud off road than while in the snow. In the NSW mountains 4WD vehicles dont even need to carry them at all. In Victoria there is some debate currently by the relevant bodies about 4WD vehicles needing them at all too. I reckon that they will keep them as compulsary due to the large amount of "Soft Roaders" and little sedan type 4WD vehicles and the unsuitable tyres that they have as standard equipment. I have seen many cars like WRX and Honda CRV etc... soft roaders have a heap of trouble while trying to drive up on ice. They have needed chains.

Keith, I dont know which model you have, and what size tyre, but the 120 would be marginal at best in the front, and the 90 the same.

But if you post to the email lists at www.lcool.org on the 90 series or 120 series lists, some people there may have run chains on a prado, and give you a difinative answer.

I run 285's on my 90 series prado, and chains would never fit.

if you try and run your hand around the inside of the latest prado (have no idea what model number it is) there is no way snow chains will fit on the front wheels. they may fit on the back wheels. there is also a possible problem with the brakes when fitting snow chains on the latest prado - having said this there is no doubt people who have fitted anchor chains around the wheels on their prado - the only way to be +ve is to journey to a garage (or whatever) that hires them and try them on for size. make sure you can actually turn the wheel all the way and that the brakes work and the chains will not foul on anything. rgds

Keith,
In the owners manual, it says (series 90) that you must not fit snow chains on front.
I look at this in the back yard on an RV6 with a set of heavy duty mud/snow chains and agree. they do fit on the rear.
I cannot comment on the fitting for the larger tyre sized GXL etc. Now that I am in WA, I sold my chains.

Thommo

We spent a winter in the north of England and never saw chains despite some heavy snow falls. The locals had never even heard of them. I think they are simply another example of how over-regulated we are in our use of the roads.

Tessa