Looking for advice on tire chains

M

magic_marker

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We just had 10" of snowfall, in a town that almost NEVER gets snow. Predictably, this town also has *no* snow plows. And I live at the top of a sizable hill, with only one very steep access road. The Mark can't go 5 feet without getting stuck/going sideways.

Can anyone recommend a brand and style of chain that is both heavy duty, and won't come into contact with my chrome directionals? Also, it probably needs to be low profile. I also don't mind front and back closures, or having to move the car to get them on.

Here's the styles I've found:

http://www.tirechain.com/P225-60R-16.htm

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs...004078&langId=-1&catalogId=10101&Ne=100004078

Any suggestions?
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

buy a truck?

serously chains are a huge pita they alwasy come lose and tear up body pannels my advice would be to buy a set of snow tires like blizzatracs (sp) chains are for farmers
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

Chains on a Mark VIII?:eek: j/k

Well, all I can recommend are the cable type like on the first site you posted. One particularly bad winter I was forced to buy a set for the wife's FWD. They weren't that bad and her commute was short enough we could leave them on with the primary roads clear while they caught up with the secondary roads.

All I can add is make sure they're tight, drive a short distance and tighten again or you'll be doing body work come spring.
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

Also note that the owner's manual specifically WARNS AGAINST the use of chains. If you live somewhere where you never get snow just wait a couple of days, it'll all be gone.
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

Thanks for the replies. Buying a truck isn't an option, and I can't wait much longer. I should keep a set of chains in the trunk anyway. (It's a requirement to get through the mountain passes out here - you get turned back without them.)

I'll update the board on the fit of the brand I wind up buying...I'm getting the heavy duty "chain link" ones.

If the traction control is turned off, and the chains are periodically adjusted to take up the slack, I can't see any reason why chains would be detrimental to the vehicle.

I guess I'll find out next snowstorm! :)

- Scott
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

Yup, i thought this was a joke thread. But now im scared. hehe There are plenty of POS winter beaters around that can be had for a mere 500 bucks that should last through the winter season (maybee more). Heck when i used to live up in Syracuse NY i had the dreaded nissan sentra picked up for for 250.00 and a new head for 150.00 junkyard. The advantages of not subjecting your mark to "northern salt" far outweigh the outlay of cash for the "disposable beater". haha Just tint the windows so noone will see you in the rustmobile and feel free to park just about anywhere in mall parking lots without fear of door dings...see? another advantage....
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

You should be scared...of Mid-Valley weather! :)

Seriously, since it's so rare for the region to receive snow, a beater really isn't justified (unless it doubles as a parts hauler/rock climber/mud truck).

Plus, salt is *almost* never used here. (It's usually just sand and gravel - but since this storm was so severe (at least for the Pac Northwest), they did spray some liquid mag chloride yesterday.)

Here's some pics of the chains. These are the 'band-style' ones that JP mentioned earlier in the thread. They don't grip nearly as well as the 'link-style' ones, but they got me up and down the hill. As an added bonus, they only take about 5 minutes to install.

http://www.scc-chain.com/NewFiles/Seasonal Pages/Traction Products/sz_products.html

Now I've got 'em in my trunk for the next time a freak snowstorm hits, or when the weather changes quickly and dramatically when heading up the mountains. :)

http://home.comcast.net/~scottrickard/tire_quarterp.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~scottrickard/tire_back.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~scottrickard/tire_tensioner.jpg
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

They look exactly like I remembered! Good luck with 'em.

That should get you through the passes, huh?
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

Thanks, JP! We'll find out how well they work when I go through the Santiam Pass later this month! :)
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

AHHHHHHHHHHH. Chains on those nice rims and tires Scott. The horror. The horror.
By the way its 80 degrees for the next couple of days here and we had to run the AC.
AHHHHHHHHHHH. Chains on those nice rims and tires Scott. The horror. The horror.
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

Eegggadddss!!!! That was my reaction too when I saw those chrome wheels. Dude, if you can find 'em somewhere cheap, look for a set of used Taurus rims like I did for the worst of the winter and save your expensive rims for better weather. I also run winter tires on my winter rims as I don't believe in all season tires anymore.

Good luck and here's hoping the weather clears up soon for you!

Cheers,
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

Neil,

I know, I know... x( If I could have found a set of Taurus rims in a local boneyard in time for this weather, I would have!

Believe me, the chains will be off shortly, and then I'll be back to normal - driving in a constant rain. ;)

Brad - they work well enough to get me up a fairly steep snowy/icy incline. But I definitely would want something more heavy duty for extended driving.

- Scott
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

...But I definitely would want something more heavy duty for extended driving.
Click to expand...

How far is your commute with the chains? When I had them on the wife's car she only had about a 3 mile commute with the first mile and the last half mile being the biggest challenge. It would only be a few days until they would be taken off.
 
RE: Looking for advice on tire chains

JP - the real irony is that I only need them to go FOUR BLOCKS, IN ONE DIRECTION!

Our house is on top of a small "hill", which is about 5 stories above one street level, which in turn is about 3-4 stories above the main street level. I must go down two hills to reach street level (and up two hills to get home).

I can get down the hills (nearly sideways) without them, and I can drive the main streets (sort of) without them. I just can't get *up* the hills and back to the house without them! x(

It's not just the Mark, either. Our FWD VW Jetta fares no better - the hills just are too steep with all of the ice and snow.
 
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