Peerless Auto-Trac Light Truck/SUV (0232805) Review
Self-tightening diamond-pattern chains for pickups and SUVs — ratchets pull them tight as you drive, no re-stopping required.
The verdict
Auto-Trac is the chain we'd recommend for most half-ton pickups and full-size SUVs: a real link chain in a diamond pattern that gives continuous tread contact, with spring-loaded ratchets that pull it tight automatically after you drive off. It's much easier to live with than traditional ladder chains and bites harder than cables. The variant we link (0232805) is the light-truck/SUV size band; a passenger-car Auto-Trac line (0155505 etc.) exists for smaller tires. As always, verify your exact tire size on Peerless's chart.
$84.99on Amazon
Price as of Aug 23, 1:20 AM ET — subject to change.
What we like
- +Self-tightening ratchet system — drive off and it tensions itself; no second stop
- +Diamond pattern keeps chain under the tire at all times for smoother ride and better lateral grip than ladder chains
- +Real link chain: far more bite than cables on ice and in deep snow
- +Low-profile enough for many SUVs and trucks with moderate clearance (check your manual)
- +Good value for a quality link chain; durable across seasons
What to know
- −Heavier and bulkier than cable chains; takes up trunk space
- −The ratchet mechanism takes a minute to understand the first time — practice at home
- −Not a Class S cable; confirm clearance if your SUV's manual specifies it
- −30 mph max, and remove on bare pavement like any chain
Full review
Trucks and SUVs have the wheel-well clearance that lets you run a real link chain, and if you're going to run one, Auto-Trac is the design that takes the pain out of it. The diamond pattern — chain links criss-crossing the tread rather than ladder rungs — means some part of the chain is always under the contact patch, so the ride is smoother and the cornering grip is better. And the spring-loaded ratchets on the outside of the tire do the re-tightening for you: hook it up reasonably snug, drive a hundred yards, and they've pulled the slack out.
The 0232805 we link is the light-truck/SUV size band that covers many common half-ton and mid-size SUV tires. Peerless publishes exact fit lists, and with a truck chain it's worth reading carefully — a 265/70R16 and a 265/70R17 may land in different part numbers. If you have a crossover or car, look at the passenger Auto-Trac line instead; the design is the same, sized down.
Is it a replacement for winter tires or 4WD? No — and neither is any chain. What it is: the thing that gets a 2WD pickup over a closed-to-2WD-without-chains pass legally, and the thing that gets a 4WD one up an unplowed driveway at 20% grade when the all-terrain tires have given up. Keep them in the truck from November to April, practice the install once, and you'll never worry about the 'chains required' sign again.
Best for: Half-ton pickups and full-size SUVs that need legal chains for passes or plowing-season hills — and drivers who want the install to be a one-stop job.
Specifications
| Type | Diamond-pattern link tire chain, self-tightening |
|---|---|
| Linked variant | 0232805 — light truck / SUV size band (verify on Peerless's fit chart) |
| Typical fitments | e.g. 265/70R16, 265/65R17, 275/60R18 class — confirm your exact size |
| Tensioning | Spring-loaded automatic ratchets |
| Material | Alloy steel links |
| Max speed | 30 mph |
| Quantity | Set of 2 (drive axle) |
| Also available | Passenger-car Auto-Trac sizes (e.g. 0155505) for cars and crossovers |
| Included | Storage case |
Ready to get one?
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$84.99on Amazon
Price as of Aug 23, 1:20 AM ET — subject to change.
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