Alpine Sport Tire Chains Size Chart | Pick The Right Fit

Laclede Alpine Sport chains match tire size and stock number, so the sidewall code is the number that decides the pair you need.

If you’re trying to match an Alpine Sport set to your tires, start with the full sidewall code, not the wheel diameter by itself. That one detail saves a lot of guesswork and keeps you from buying a pair that looks close but won’t sit right once it’s on the tire.

That’s the whole game with this line. Alpine Sport chains are sold by stock number, and each stock number fits a group of tire sizes. A 16-inch tire can land on more than one chain set, so “R16” alone won’t get you there.

How The Chart Works On Real Tires

The chart has three pieces: your tire size, the matching Alpine Sport stock number, and the listed weight per pair. You read the tire code first, then use that exact code to find the right chain set.

The exact code matters more than most drivers expect. “P265/70R16” and “265/70R16LT” can send you to different fits. The same goes for flotation sizes like “31X10.50-15LT” and older numeric sizes that still show up on some trucks and trailers.

Start With The Full Sidewall Marking

Read one tire from left to right and copy it as-is. That means the opening letter, the width, the aspect ratio, the construction letter, and the wheel size. A quick photo on your phone works well when you’re checking in the driveway or standing in a parts store aisle.

Why Wheel Diameter Alone Falls Short

Two tires can share the same wheel diameter and still need different chains because section width and sidewall height change the outside shape of the tire. A 245/75R16 and a 265/70R16 both ride on 16-inch wheels, yet they don’t take the same chain every time.

That’s why a proper size chart feels a lot more useful than a “fits most 16-inch tires” claim. You want the chain that tightens across the tread and shoulders the way it was built to, not a pair that needs wrestling, stretching, or wishful thinking.

Check Clearance Before You Buy

Laclede says Alpine Sport uses a quick-mount design, a diamond-pattern cross chain, front-facing connections, a built-in tightening device, and SAE Class S construction. That low-clearance Class S build is a good sign for many cars and crossovers, but your owner’s manual still gets the last word on whether chains are allowed and which axle can wear them.

Some vehicles allow chains only on the drive axle. Some ask for low-clearance devices only. A few warn against chains altogether because the inner wheel well is too tight. If the manual says no, treat that as final.

Alpine Sport Tire Chains Size Chart By Stock Number

The official Alpine Sport spec page lists the full fit range. The table below condenses that chart into a quicker lookup so you can see how the stock numbers step up as tire size grows.

Stock No.	Sample Tire Sizes	Weight Per Pair
1550	195/75R16, P215/70R15, P225/50R17	12 lb
1553	P225/75R15, 6.50-16LT	13 lb
2317	265/70R15LT, P235/70R17, 225/65R18	15 lb
2318	P235/75R15, P225/75R16, 245/50R18	15 lb
2319	P235/70R16, 235/75R16LT, 245/55R18	15 lb
2321	265/75R15LT, 235/85R16LT, 245/60R20	15 lb
2323	P245/75R16, 225/75R17LT, 265/45R20	16 lb
2324	P265/70R16, 275/60R17, 235/55R20	16 lb
2326	P265/75R16, 265/70R17LT, 275/45R21	16 lb
2327	275/75R16, 285/70R17, 305/40R22	17 lb
2335	305/70R16LT, 285/60R20, 305/45R22	18 lb
2337	35X14.50-15, 315/75R16LT, 305/55R20	18 lb

Use that table as a fast filter, not as a shortcut around the full size code. If your tire size sits inside one of those stock-number groups, that’s your direction. If it doesn’t, move to the full official list and match the sidewall code exactly.

You’ll also notice how some stock numbers mix passenger, LT, and flotation sizes. That’s normal in chain fit charts. The tire’s outside profile is what matters, not just whether the tire came from a sedan, crossover, or half-ton truck.

How To Match Your Tires Without Buying The Wrong Pair

A clean fit check takes only a few minutes when you do it in this order:

1. Read the tire size off the sidewall and write it down exactly.
2. Match that code to the Alpine Sport stock number, not to a wheel diameter guess.
3. Check your owner’s manual for axle limits and chain clearance notes.
4. Test-fit the chains at home once, on dry ground, before winter travel starts.

That last step pays off. You’ll learn where the inside connection sits, how the built-in tightener feels, and how much room your hands actually have behind the tire. Doing that in your driveway beats learning it with wet gloves on the side of a road.

Where Alpine Sport Chains Make Sense

This style works well for drivers who want a quicker mount and a more settled feel than old ladder-style chains can give. The diamond pattern spreads traction points across the tread, so the tire doesn’t feel as choppy when you roll a short distance on packed snow or ice.

• Cars and crossovers with tighter clearances
• Light trucks and SUVs that still need a Class S chain
• Drivers who want front-facing connections they can actually reach
• Travel where chain checkpoints can turn a calm day into a scramble

That last one is real. On mountain routes, the fit work needs to be done before weather turns. Caltrans chain controls say drivers must stop and install chains when posted signs require them, and the state’s R-1 and R-2 restrictions are the ones most motorists run into. If your pair is wrong, that’s when the mistake shows up.

Fit Mistakes That Cost Time At The Shoulder

Most bad chain installs trace back to one of a few size-check misses. The table below makes those easier to spot before you head out.

What You See	What It Usually Means	Best Move
The chain seems too short to close	The tire code was matched to the wrong stock number	Recheck the full sidewall marking, including P, LT, or flotation format
The chain closes but hangs loose	The pair is too large or not centered on the tread	Lay it flat, recenter it, then tighten again; if still loose, recheck fit
The inside sidewall is rubbing	Wheel-well clearance is tighter than the chain layout allows	Stop at once and follow the vehicle manual’s chain note
You can’t reach the connectors cleanly	The chain is twisted or mounted backward	Take it off, untwist it, and start with the inside connection first
The ride gets noisy after a short roll	The chains settled and need a second tightening	Pull over after a short distance and snug them again
The tire fits one chart line but looks close to another	Close is not the same as correct in chain sizing	Follow the exact printed tire code only
The chain touches struts or brake lines	The vehicle likely doesn’t have enough clearance	Do not drive on them; switch to the manual-approved option

Test-Fit Them Before Snow Day

A trial run at home is the move that ties the whole chart together. Fit one side, take it off, then fit the other side. You’re not trying to get fancy. You just want to learn the motion, spot any clearance trouble, and make sure the stock number you bought is the one your tires actually need.

Pack the chains where you can reach them, not under a week’s worth of cargo. Toss in gloves, a kneeling pad, and a small flashlight. Then, when the signs go up and traffic stacks at the checkpoint, you won’t be sorting out basic fit questions in the slush.

If your tire size is on the Alpine Sport chart and your owner’s manual allows chains, the stock-number match is the part that decides whether the set works or turns into a headache. Nail that match first, and the rest of the job gets a lot calmer.