Auto-Trac Tire Chains Size Chart | Find The Right Fit

Peerless Auto-Trac chains fit only the tire sizes listed for each part number, so the sidewall size on your tire decides the chain you need.

If you’re trying to match Auto-Trac chains to your vehicle, don’t start with the badge on the tailgate. Start with the numbers molded into the tire sidewall. That’s the piece that decides whether an Auto-Trac set will sit square, tighten cleanly, and run without rubbing.

That trips people up all the time. Two trims of the same SUV can use different wheel and tire packages. One may take a chain that fits cleanly. The other may need a different part number, or no chain at all if the owner’s manual blocks chain use on that setup. So the chart matters, but the chart only works when you match it to the exact tire size printed on your tire.

Why Tire Sidewall Numbers Matter More Than Vehicle Name

Auto-Trac fitment is built around tire size, not a broad vehicle label. A tire marked 215/65R16 is a different fit job from 215/55R18, even if both came on the same model line. Width, sidewall height, and wheel diameter all change how the chain wraps the tire and where the outside tensioning parts sit.

That’s why the brand’s own Tire Chain Finder asks for the size on the tire and also tells you to check the owner’s manual and pre-fit the chains before you need them. That one step saves a pile of trouble. It also keeps you from buying a chain that looks close on paper but sits loose once it’s on the wheel.

How To Read The Size On The Tire

Most passenger tires use a format like 225/60R17. Here’s what those numbers are telling you:

• 225 = tire width in millimeters
• 60 = sidewall height as a percent of the width
• 17 = wheel diameter in inches

Each part matters. Change one number and you may need a different Auto-Trac part number. A 225/60R17 and a 225/65R17 are close at a glance, yet they do not always share the same fit. That’s why eyeballing it is a bad bet.

What To Check Before You Buy

Before you even read the size chart, do these checks in order:

1. Read the tire size straight from the sidewall.
2. Check the owner’s manual for chain clearance notes and axle limits.
3. Make sure the tires and wheels are still the size your vehicle is meant to run.
4. Match that size to the Auto-Trac part number.
5. Pre-fit the chains at home, not on the shoulder in sleet.

That last step matters because tire sizes can vary a bit by tire maker and tread design. A chain that matches the printed size still needs a real-world test fit.

Auto-Trac Tire Chains Size Chart By Part Number

The chart below is a practical shortcut built from sample fitments shown in the current Peerless chart. It is not the full catalog. Use it to narrow the field, then confirm your exact size in the brand finder before you buy.

Auto-Trac Part Number	Sample Tire Sizes Shown By Peerless	Where It Commonly Lands
0152005	175/55R15, 175/65R14, 185/60R14, 215/45R15, 225/35R19	Smaller passenger sizes
0152505	175/70R14, 185/55R15, 185/65R14	Small cars with a touch more sidewall
0153005	175/65R15, 185/55R16, 195/60R15, 205/50R16, 215/50R15	Common compact and midsize fits
0153505	195/55R16, 195/65R15, 205/45R17, 205/55R15, 205/60R15	Compact to midsize, shorter sidewalls
0154005	195/75R15, 205/50R17, 205/60R16, 215/40R18, 225/40R18	Mixed sedan, wagon, and crossover sizes
0154505	205/65R16, 205/70R15, 215/55R16, 225/50R16, 235/45R17	Midsize sedan and crossover sizes
0154705	225/45R18, 225/60R15, 235/40R18, 245/35R18, 245/40R17	Wider tires and some lower-profile setups
0155005	205/70R16, 205/75R15, 215/65R16, 215/75R15, 235/50R17, 235/60R15	Heavier passenger and light-truck fits
0155305	215/60R17, 225/50R17, 225/55R16, 235/40R19, 245/35R20	Modern crossover and sport-tire sizes
0155505	215/55R18, 215/65R17, 225/45R19, 225/60R17, 235/50R18, 235/65R16	Larger crossover and SUV sizes

There’s a pattern in that chart. As the tire gets taller or wider, the Auto-Trac part number steps up. That sounds simple, but there’s no clean “one size bigger equals one chain bigger” rule. Some sizes jump earlier than you’d think because the outer diameter and sidewall shape change the fit.

How To Use The Chart Without Buying The Wrong Set

Use the table as a filter, not as the last word. Once you find the row that lines up with your tire size, do one more pass through the owner’s manual. Some vehicles allow chains only on one axle. Some allow them only with one tire package. Some don’t allow them at all.

Then pre-fit the chains. Peerless says that a proper fit can only be confirmed with a test fit on the tire, and its Auto-Trac installation instructions also note that the chain is built to meet SAE Class “S” clearance rules. That helps on many tight-clearance vehicles, but it does not overrule your owner’s manual.

What Can Throw Off The Fit

Even with the right chart match, a few things can spoil the fit once the chain is in your hands.

Aftermarket Wheels

A wheel with a different offset can move the tire closer to suspension parts or the inner liner. The tire size may still match the chart, yet the chain can lose the room it needs to run cleanly.

Different Tire Brand, Same Printed Size

Printed size gets you into the right bucket. Real tire shape still varies a bit across brands and tread designs. One 225/60R17 may run fuller in the shoulder than another. That’s one reason the pre-fit step matters.

Worn Or Mis-Centered Chains

If the chain is not centered on the tread, the outside hardware can sit crooked. Auto-Trac uses an outside self-tightening setup, so a bad starting position can snowball into a sloppy fit.

P-Metric Vs LT Sizes

A passenger size and an LT size that look close are not always twins. LT tires often have a different carcass shape and may land on a different part number. Read the letters and numbers exactly as they appear.

Fit Check	What You Should Confirm	Why It Matters
Tire Size	Read the full size from the sidewall	A single number change can mean a different chain
Owner’s Manual	Look for chain limits and axle notes	Some vehicles block chains on certain sizes
Wheel Setup	Check for aftermarket wheels or spacers	Clearance can shrink even when the tire size matches
Pre-Fit	Install once before the trip	You catch rubbing or slack at home
Chain Centering	Make sure the chain sits evenly on the tread	It helps the tensioners pull the chain square
Hook Direction	Face the side hooks away from the tire	Wrong hook direction can mark the sidewall
Road Surface	Use chains on snow or ice, not long dry stretches	Dry pavement chews through chains fast
Speed	Keep it at 30 mph or less	Higher speed raises wear and failure risk

Driving And Installation Notes That Save Trouble

Auto-Trac is popular because you do not have to stop and re-tighten a basic chain after a short roll. The outside ratchet system tightens as you drive. Still, the chain needs to go on correctly at the start.

• Lay the chain flat first and remove tangles.
• Set the hooks so they face away from the tire.
• Center the chain on the tread before tightening.
• Flip both red levers down so the tensioners can do their job.
• Drive slowly and smoothly once the chains are on.

Peerless also says not to exceed 30 mph, not to keep driving with a loose or broken cross chain, and not to grind along on bare pavement any longer than you need to. Chains are a traction tool for rough winter patches, not something to leave on for a full dry-road commute.

When The Chart And Your Vehicle Seem To Clash

This is where people get stuck. The size chart may show a clean Auto-Trac match, yet the vehicle manual may still limit chain use. If that happens, the manual wins. The chain may fit the tire but still lack room around the strut, liner, brake line, or suspension arm.

That’s also why Class “S” matters. Auto-Trac is built for restricted-clearance use, which makes it a better pick than a bulkier old-style chain on many late-model vehicles. Still, “Class S” is not a free pass. It just means the chain is built for a tighter space than a heavy ladder-style setup.

Picking The Right Auto-Trac Set With Less Guesswork

If you want the short version, do this: read the sidewall, match that exact size to the part number, check the owner’s manual, then pre-fit the chain before snow day. Do those four things and you cut out most of the guesswork.

The chart gets you close fast. The sidewall size gets you closer. The pre-fit tells you the truth. That’s the order that keeps an Auto-Trac purchase from turning into a return.