Topic: Tire chains

[numba41]

I have summer tires on the car and don't want to put on snow tires because we rarely get snow.  Has anyone used tire chains for low profile wheels/tires?

[Critterman]

There isn't a wholo lot of clearance in our wheel wells, change tend to be a bit loose or get loose on the tire and will bang around the wheel well.

[DeepBlueGXP]

 Virginia Law prohibits chains/studs etc...

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1044

[Go-N Def]

Virginia Law prohibits chains/studs etc...

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1044

According to that regulation, they make a provision for snow and ice.

[diamoney]

I have summer tires on the car and don't want to put on snow tires because we rarely get snow.  Has anyone used tire chains for low profile wheels/tires?

It looks like plenty of room for chains in the wells but the front inside clearance is probably less than 1/4 inch.  Absolutely no chance of fitting chains with stock size tires and not likely with smaller wheels either. 

[smartin]

I used to use chains on my car all the time. But I would NEVER use them on my Solstice. Plus my all seasons are doing a helluva job.

[numba41]

Virginia Law prohibits chains/studs etc...

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1044

Saw the Loudoun County cops with chains on last night.

[Sol Asylum]

Saw the Loudoun County cops with chains on last night.

That may be but remember since they are cops they tend to think they are above the law.

[numba41]

I was considering the Thule tire chains for low profile tires.  Here is the link http://www.thule.com/en/US/Products/SnowChains.aspx

[GASNGO]

 Better yet, get a 4 wheel drive Kappa and put chains on all four wheels so when the cross links start breaking it can tear the car to shreds. 

[NormSky]

They use a cable in the shape of a Z. I have a set but have not used them on this car but have used them on the Corvette.  Still can go much over 15 mph without rattling your car and you.

[SKY888]

Just use this....it will give you enough clearance!


http://www.roofbox.co.uk/car-snow-socks/

[NormSky]

Does it come in colors? 

I could see where the sock would be beneficial if you got caught out in your summer rubber or worse yet bald tires.


Here in the states we use all season tires on most cars.

[SKY888]

i think we can arrange for different colors

i think it's perfect for a kappa since we can just keep those socks underneath the seats or at the back of our very limited space trunk

its almost like a condom.   They are hidden somewhere  for emergencies and works great

[Critterman]

Virginia Law prohibits chains/studs etc...

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1044

That's the way I read it, and allow studded tires.  I though studded tires were illegal everywhere now.

It shall be permissible, however, to use on the highways farm machinery having protuberances which will not injure the highway and to use tire chains of reasonable proportions when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid. It shall also be permissible to use on any vehicle whose gross weight does not exceed 10,000 pounds tires with studs which project no more than one-sixteenth of an inch beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire when compressed if the studs cover no more than three percent of the traction surface of the tire.

The use of studded tires shall be permissible only from October 15 to April 15.

[Go-N Def]

It shall be permissible, however, to use on the highways farm machinery having protuberances which will not injure the highway and to use tire chains of reasonable proportions when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid.

The way I'm reading it, the sentance makes two provisions (one in red, the other in blue) thus allowing use of tire chains by any vehicle when required for safety...

[Critterman]

That't the way Ire ad it as well,

something happened to this post, should have said "that's the way I read it as well"

[DigiSol]

http://www.spikes-spiderusa.com/selectsguide.cfm Came across these.

[TerryT]

In our part of the world, (Northeast Texas) when we get snow or ice there are two choices, stay home by the fire or put on the chains and go. No plows or salt trucks because there isn't enough demand for them through the winter.

I've been using chains of various types for 40 years and the best ones I've run across are the type that Norm mentioned. They have a Z-pattern using a tight metal coil instead of chain links. They don't stretch out as quickly and if they're properly adjusted, they fit very tightly to the tires. Two years ago we got hit by an ice storm that coated everything with almost an inch of ice on the night before we were to fly out of the country for a vacation. I put the z-chains on my Yukon and drove 40 miles to D-FW airport without any problem.

I prefer to build a fire and drink a good single malt when there's ice on the road, but if you HAVE to get out in it you can't beat the z-chains.

My