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I’m getting ready for possible winter weather. I’ve never used tire chains before and did just fine other than a few slip and slide on icy roads and hitting a curb but not getting a flat. I could have driven better on icy roads with tire chains on. I’ve seen various prices online from $30 to $80 a piece. Do I have to use one for each tire or just the front tires are fine? Can I drive faster than 50 mph or not or what exactly is the rule here? I would like to have my winter driving go smooth this year. There’s a few companies selling them out there online but can’t decide who to go with. I’ve never seen people use these simply because they are either lazy to put it on or that no one sells them in stores but online only.
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When I had rear drive cars I ran tire chains.
What I found most convenient was having an extra set of wheels with tires with chains already mounted. The thing is you can’t run chains on anything but snow. On dry pavement they are quickly ruined. With chains already mounted on wheels, when I woke to the ground covered with snow, I simply swapped two tires and went to work – usually to find nobody else there.
As for what speed you can run, the top speed possible is where the chains started hitting the vehicle due to centrifugal force. So, you want to get the chains on as tight as possible. Still, on my car back then, that was thirty mph. In other words, no freeway driving. Cars nowadays are designed with wheel wells that are often very close to the tires. It is just the current style but may make the use of chains impossible depending on the vehicle.
Chains on four wheels of course work better than on two. On my rear drive vehicle traction was outstanding but steering was iffy with chains only on the back.
Also, you need to live close to work or any destination. Chains are emergency snow equipment designed for short distances. If you have a 50 mile commute, forget using chains.
There is also cable chains. I’ve used them too. In fact I’d recommend them over regular chains. They are easier to install, provide less but still decent traction and wear about the same. Because they are lighter faster speeds are possible.
If you don’t like the idea of buying spare wheels and tires, chains are still a good item to have in the trunk (with a good jack). They can get you unstuck when nothing else short of a tow truck could using tires alone. My wife coming home one night dropped one side of her car through a very flooded street gutter that had frozen over. The car was down to the axle through the ice. I got into that water, got soaked but installed chains and drove out.
My wife and I made it through many a bad winter driving two Firebirds, normally considered three season vehicles, by running chains.
is that right? So I would need to buy 4 new tires specifically labelled as winter tires? I believe mine is either all season but it isn’t too specific in other words.
[quote=”JoeCool” post=116552]Winter tires solve every winter problems !!![/quote]
Even cheap winter tires are better than 4 seasons…
believe me I’m from snowy Canada so …http://www.tirerack.com/videos/index.jsp?video=23&tab=winter
Are the Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires any good? I’ve just seen its ad online. I usually get my tires at Walmart, not sure if they sell these or another winter tires.
Tirerack survey, is pretty good …
There are different models of Blizzak some more expensive than the others …
but yes, Blizzak are good tires. in fact my next set will be probably the Blizzak WS70. I currently have Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D.winter tire rubber is more flexible at cold temperature, plus, special ice and snow thread make them really good. But don’t run them in the summer they will melt away like icecream. 🙂
I have Blizzak WS70 tires on my AWD car and I am impressed with the handling – something no winter tire used to be able to exhibit. I put them on several weeks ago because I was headed for Wyoming where I thought I might find snow. Instead it was summer.
Modern snow tires have amazing traction on packed snow. The soft rubber combined with thousands of sipes (little cuts in the rubber) allow then to find traction where no all season tire can. Snow chains still provide the ultimate traction but with most vehicles using front wheel drive about the only vehicles you see with chains anymore are 2-wheel drive pickups.
so have the winter tires installed December and take it off by March?
[quote=”JoeCool” post=117066]Tirerack survey, is pretty good …
There are different models of Blizzak some more expensive than the others …
but yes, Blizzak are good tires. in fact my next set will be probably the Blizzak WS70. I currently have Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D.winter tire rubber is more flexible at cold temperature, plus, special ice and snow thread make them really good. But don’t run them in the summer they will melt away like icecream. :-)[/quote]
Here it is even the law, we need winter tires (with the snow flake symbol on the side) from December 15 to March 15. of course we can extend that period if needed. So basically if it is slippery for your feet it is also for your car 🙂
They should make it a law here in the NE USA. I know during a winter storm people either can’t drive or they do not have winter tires. They leave their cars piled up on the roads and highways as if they just gave up and start walking to the nearest motel/hotel. I’ve seen it. I’m not sure how I survived. I stay on the right lane and drive very slow.
[quote=”JoeCool” post=117170]Here it is even the law, we need winter tires (with the snow flake symbol on the side) from December 15 to March 15. of course we can extend that period if needed. So basically if it is slippery for your feet it is also for your car :)[/quote]
I called up Walmart inquiring if they sell winter tires, they said no, it had to be special ordered. They sell only all season tires. Who’s the next company I should call? I got 4 tires installed with insurance from Walmart before for under $400. The cheapest all season tires. Could I get winter tires for about $400 as well?
I dunno where you are at but, pepboys normally has winter tires and decent prices. Sears with an auto center is also another option. Both, of which offer road hazard. Always get road hazard you can take it back countless times for flats. Not sure if you have to buy road hazard every time or not. I had sears replace two of my moms tires for free due to nails in the side walls. So while it cost 70 bucks we saved 300 and have had countless flats fixed for free. Also if you are a member of a local bulk food chain they sometimes offer the same thing as sears or pepboys if they have an auto center. If you get the tire insurance put the reciept in a seal type bag in your passenger compartment.
I think Pepboys are overpriced. I’ll look into Sears. I’ve never been a Sears fan, I’ve never shopped there because it’s not that easy to find. Also, with Walmart each tire’s road hazard insurance cost $10 a tire.
Why would you go faster that 45 with tire chains. Remember you are now riding on steel .Yes you can go as fast as you want and if they don’t come off and tear your vehicle up you also wont be able to stop. However you come to the right place for answers. Good luck. Also not sure about all 4 wheels . If you have a pick up truck you could put some sand bags in the front of the truck bed ,.
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