Chains or Cables on all four wheels

I have an 04 Denali with AWD and I thought I read somewhere that you don't put cables or chains on all four wheels like a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Someone told me you just put them on the front. This didn't seem right to me. Does someone know if that is correct?

And yes I have M+S tires but they are 22 inch and sometimes the Highway Patrol makes you put on chains even if you have AWD and M+S tires. I live in California and we do have snow in the mountains. Just want to play it safe.

Hi,
you put the chains on the drive wheels (at least), so for most modern passenger cars that would be the front.
Your AWD will switch from 2WD to 4WD without you controlling it, so it is a 4WD and you need all 4.
A 2WD or a non-Denali 4WD with the selector in 2HI can get by with putting them on the rear driven wheels.

Following may be of interest, an older msg about snow chains:
Hi
please look here for SAE Class "S" Specifications for low clearance tire chains / snow cables.
It is my understanding that the Yukons use that, but ask GM to be sure.
http://www.tirechain.com/sae.htm
The following is for my 3/4 ton LT tires, I think that yours are P tires. Denali wheels are more upscale, probably 17" instead of 16".
The TRUCK DIAGONAL CABLE TIRE CHAIN is in this link:
http://www.tirechain.com/245-70R-16LT.htm

Take care, Eggert :bananasmi

Hi,
you put the chains on the drive wheels (at least), so for most modern passenger cars that would be the front.
Your AWD will switch from 2WD to 4WD without you controlling it, so it is a 4WD and you need all 4.
A 2WD or a non-Denali 4WD with the selector in 2HI can get by with putting them on the rear driven wheels.

Following may be of interest, an older msg about snow chains:
Hi
please look here for SAE Class "S" Specifications for low clearance tire chains / snow cables.
It is my understanding that the Yukons use that, but ask GM to be sure.
http://www.tirechain.com/sae.htm
The following is for my 3/4 ton LT tires, I think that yours are P tires. Denali wheels are more upscale, probably 17" instead of 16".
The TRUCK DIAGONAL CABLE TIRE CHAIN is in this link:
http://www.tirechain.com/245-70R-16LT.htm

Take care, Eggert :bananasmi


Thanks I already bought the SCC Z cables for my Denali. I just wasn't sure if I needed them for both the front and rear wheels.

Hi,
you put the chains on the drive wheels (at least), so for most modern passenger cars that would be the front.
Your AWD will switch from 2WD to 4WD without you controlling it, so it is a 4WD and you need all 4.
A 2WD or a non-Denali 4WD with the selector in 2HI can get by with putting them on the rear driven wheels.

Following may be of interest, an older msg about snow chains:
Hi
please look here for SAE Class "S" Specifications for low clearance tire chains / snow cables.
It is my understanding that the Yukons use that, but ask GM to be sure.
http://www.tirechain.com/sae.htm
The following is for my 3/4 ton LT tires, I think that yours are P tires. Denali wheels are more upscale, probably 17" instead of 16".
The TRUCK DIAGONAL CABLE TIRE CHAIN is in this link:
http://www.tirechain.com/245-70R-16LT.htm

Take care, Eggert :bananasmi


After looking through the manual I finally found the section on chains. GMC doesn't recommend using chains on the Denali. They say if you find some that fit put them only on the rear wheels. First of all I think the cables are the way to go because the Denali doesn't have much clearance between the tire and the brake lines. Cables are more narrow and are less likely to break the brake line. I looked at the clearance in the front. Not much room for cables or chains between the tire and the brake lines. The cables I found are SCC cables and seem to fit around the tire well with plenty of clearance on the rear wheels. Hope this helps the next person trying to put cables on their Denali with 22" wheels.