Learn Me Snow Chains

wbjones wrote: you put them on the rear wheels didn't ya

Har de har.

No, on the front. Still couldn't get out of my dads driveway. Spun them maybe 15 mph and had the right side come off and flap about denting the fender. Removed chains and sold them in the next yard sale for $5. I was cursing as much as the guy in the Jeep video.

Berkeley snow chains. Nowadays if 4WD burban or 4Motion Passat can't go there, it doesn't need to be gotten to.

Tom Suddard wrote: I think at this point I'll pick up a cheap set just to throw in the back of the truck. Is a 255 size what I want for a 31x10.5r15 tire?

Apparently there weren't enough people in this thread saying "Don't buy snow chains." I'll add one more. Don't buy snow chains.

alfadriver wrote:

ebonyandivory wrote: Real-life snow tires and forget about it. I was told this here on GRM and listened. I bought cheap snows for my Protege 5 mounted on Dodge Caravan steelies and it really felt like I had awd, almost got boring. With snow tires, you just keep driving on the bare pavement. You really wanna apply and remove snow chains?

Good idea if you LIVE where there's regularly snow. Not so much when you are going to just visit. Snow tires in Florida, well... Chains are a good compromise. Modern M&S's will do most everything really well- check. But when they don't- chains rock. Get 4, put in storage box, and sell when you don't need them. Better to have them and not used them vs. not have them and need them. Back in Idaho, all cars had snow tires, and when we went someplace, we always had the chains in a box.

Tom, can't you talk Tire Rack into giving you heavily discounted or free snows if you do a "snow tire test" for the magazine?

You probably don't need chains, but they are great when you have to drive in deep snow. This much snow, or more, makes driving difficult without chains, with chains I can steer, stop and start easily. I have driven 10 miles through snow over the bumper without problems. They are also useful in 4" of snow to keep from sliding off the trail in off camber situations. I have a set for the Ford and my Nissan. I have the heavy V-bar type. The Nissan tire size is 30 X 9.50 r 15, they cost about $150 for all 4. I say get them.

Edit: The cable type are damn near worthless.

Link to http://www.tirechain.com/TRUCK-SUV-CHAINS.HTM

KyAllroad wrote:

wbjones wrote: you put them on the rear wheels didn't ya

Har de har. No, on the front. Still couldn't get out of my dads driveway. Spun them maybe 15 mph and had the right side come off and flap about denting the fender. Removed chains and sold them in the next yard sale for $5. I was cursing as much as the guy in the Jeep video. Berkeley snow chains. Nowadays if 4WD burban or 4Motion Passat can't go there, it doesn't need to be gotten to.

I was laughing as I typed that .. … my AWD Impreza with Snowtracker ® snow tires couldn't be stopped (assuming the snow wasn't so deep that the car became a snow plow … LOL )

ebonyandivory wrote:

alfadriver wrote:

ebonyandivory wrote: Real-life snow tires and forget about it. I was told this here on GRM and listened. I bought cheap snows for my Protege 5 mounted on Dodge Caravan steelies and it really felt like I had awd, almost got boring. With snow tires, you just keep driving on the bare pavement. You really wanna apply and remove snow chains?

Good idea if you LIVE where there's regularly snow. Not so much when you are going to just visit. Snow tires in Florida, well... Chains are a good compromise. Modern M&S's will do most everything really well- check. But when they don't- chains rock. Get 4, put in storage box, and sell when you don't need them. Better to have them and not used them vs. not have them and need them. Back in Idaho, all cars had snow tires, and when we went someplace, we always had the chains in a box.

Tom, can't you talk Tire Rack into giving you heavily discounted or free snows if you do a "snow tire test" for the magazine?

they might have "problems" with a FL mag. doing a snow tire test

In reply to wbjones:

I think the real problem would be the author's frame or reference. I read the magazine in Oregon.

I have trouble getting TR to ship snow tires to Texas that I pay full price for. I finally figured out the right combo of "these are race tires for rallycross" in the order comments section so I don't have to make an extra phone call to get them shipped.

With TR, I just call these days. Of course, all my purchases are odd ball and their web page usually comes up with "you don't really want that." And TR is about the only place you can get General Altimax Arctics. Local General tire dealer said they have to be ordered like a year in advance and he couldn't get them.

As for the chains, I have some of the cheap cable type. They are the only way I can get a 2WD RN Truck up my driveway and to/from pavement. Now if it's that bad, I take something with snow tires on it so I don't have to do that anymore. But even a 2WD RN Truck with zero weight in the back can climb anything with those cables on. Note that I use them for ice, not necessarily snow.

We have drop-chains on the firetrucks, but they're only good for six inches of snow. Anything more than that and we have to put the old school chains on. They're good on deep, unplowed back streeets, but they really slow us down on the main roads.

The Smokey Mountains? Seriously, do not buy chains. We regularly run in full-winter mode into the Appalachians (which get much more snow) and there is never a time when I've even thought for a moment about chains, even when I used to run all-season tires. Even if you go to the snowiest place in the Smokeys (Newfound Gap), they close the roads when conditions are hazardous, so your chains won't be useful anyhow. When the roads are open, you'll be fine without.

What tires do you have on the Trooper anyhow? Most all-terrain tires are M+S rated in the first place.

alfadriver wrote:

ebonyandivory wrote: Real-life snow tires and forget about it. I was told this here on GRM and listened. I bought cheap snows for my Protege 5 mounted on Dodge Caravan steelies and it really felt like I had awd, almost got boring. With snow tires, you just keep driving on the bare pavement. You really wanna apply and remove snow chains?

Good idea if you LIVE where there's regularly snow. Not so much when you are going to just visit. Snow tires in Florida, well... Chains are a good compromise. Modern M&S's will do most everything really well- check. But when they don't- chains rock. Get 4, put in storage box, and sell when you don't need them. Better to have them and not used them vs. not have them and need them. Back in Idaho, all cars had snow tires, and when we went someplace, we always had the chains in a box.

Where abouts in Idaho? Since I moved near Boise from Tampa I have thought about dedicated snow tires for my Jeep. It doesn't snow a whole lot down here but the damn ice is horrible. I got my first taste of ice about a month ago. After not experiencing winter weather for almost 5 years, that morning's drive to work was interesting, to say the least.

Buy a set of chains, Rock them down the Beach like a berkeleying BOSS. you know you want to

Tires with full tread depth ak:new, have much better traction in snow over very worn ones.

Where do you guys live? I have already chained up this winter.

Tom is going to North Carolina, lol. Not Buffalo

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Advan046 wrote: The law for the Sierra Nevada's Official site was that if you had AWD AND M+S tires then you did not have to use chains.

In WA if you have AWD and M+S you are still required to carry chains. They check.

I agree that its a law that you need to carry them, but using chains (or a law that requires them) is about as modern as a Deusenberg. I'm only saying that just because there is an outdated law requiring you to carry them doesn't mean they should be used. Ever.

stanger_missle wrote: Where abouts in Idaho? Since I moved near Boise from Tampa I have thought about dedicated snow tires for my Jeep. It doesn't snow a whole lot down here but the damn ice is horrible. I got my first taste of ice about a month ago. After not experiencing winter weather for almost 5 years, that morning's drive to work was interesting, to say the least.

I'm from Idaho Falls- so from there- visiting Jackson Hole, or hockey trips to Salt Lake City, Butte, or Sun Valley. Then going to school in Moscow- the passes in northern Idaho east of Coeur d'alene- they snowed in pretty bad sometimes. Back in the 80's, they did have some passes that could require chains.

We have ones for the buses that are made of bungee cords with steel springs on them. We need them after about an inch of snow because our regrooved tires are worthless. In a four wheel drive truck with the cheapest tires we can find I've never need them. I can't see the trooper needing them

curtis73 wrote:

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Advan046 wrote: The law for the Sierra Nevada's Official site was that if you had AWD AND M+S tires then you did not have to use chains.

In WA if you have AWD and M+S you are still required to carry chains. They check.

I agree that its a law that you need to carry them, but using chains (or a law that requires them) is about as modern as a Deusenberg. I'm only saying that just because there is an outdated law requiring you to carry them doesn't mean they should be used. Ever.

CA DOT will stop you at chain control sites and will ask/check if you have chains or AWD and snow tires. I've never seen the "chains required" type of warning and TBH I'd do my darnest to not be out there in that sort of weather.

I always thought it would be an "interesting" discussion when I had to point out to them that the manual for the Evo clearly states you're not supposed to run chains on the car and will void the warranty if you do so.

OTOH I've seen enough AWD and 4x4 vehicles in the Tahoe basin on pretty worn out all seasons in the snow.

Well, usually in the ditch.

I used em on my s10 blazer plow truck.. It could be that the tires sucked, but it was unstoppable with chains... Now I got a "new" 2500hd to plow with, but I think I'll need the chains again, the tires on this I've aren't stellar..

In reply to alfadriver:

Lewiston native here. The Palouse can be very treacherous due to the blowing/drifting snow. My best friend used to work for the paper in Moscow. There were days where he simply couldn't get to work. In some places on I-95 (and even I-195), ISP won't let you through if you don't have chains. It's serious business.

I've never been to southern Idaho until now. It's nice down here

Woody wrote: We have drop-chains on the firetrucks, but they're only good for six inches of snow. Anything more than that and we have to put the old school chains on. They're good on deep, unplowed back streeets, but they really slow us down on the main roads.

Drop chains? explain please.

stanger_missle wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Lewiston native here. The Palouse can be very treacherous due to the blowing/drifting snow. My best friend used to work for the paper in Moscow. There were days where he simply couldn't get to work. In some places on I-95 (and even I-195), ISP won't let you through if you don't have chains. It's serious business. I've never been to southern Idaho until now. It's nice down here

I'm confused … where is there an I 95 in Idaho ? the only one I know of runs from south FL to Maine … all I see in Idaho is 90, 15, and 84 …????

wbjones wrote:

stanger_missle wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Lewiston native here. The Palouse can be very treacherous due to the blowing/drifting snow. My best friend used to work for the paper in Moscow. There were days where he simply couldn't get to work. In some places on I-95 (and even I-195), ISP won't let you through if you don't have chains. It's serious business. I've never been to southern Idaho until now. It's nice down here

I'm confused … where is there an I 95 in Idaho ? the only one I know of runs from south FL to Maine … all I see in Idaho is 90, 15, and 84 …????

He meant US95. Which is the highway that connects Boise with northern Idaho- Lewiston, Moscow, Couer d'Alene etc. US195 goes to Pullman, Colfax, Spokane from Lewiston.

Thankfully, in my 5 years in Moscow, we only had one bad snow. Still, today it's better for my brother there than 2 years ago when he was in Fairbanks.