Snowlopnik: Tire Chains?

"Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars" (iamkensimon) 01/19/2016 at 16:50 • Filed to: None

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My winter Oppos! I have questions about tire chains. I’m looking to buy some to help aid in traction for the upcoming snow storm, should I need to drive. I’m going to be putting these on my 2006 Toyota Matrix. It’s front wheel drive, has an automatic transmission, has ABS, does not have traction control, and is currently on all-season 205/55R16 tires.

Amazon is recommending !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to me. Is there anything else I need to know? I’m assuming I just slap them on the front wheels and keep my speed under 30mph. Let me know!

HammerheadFistpunch > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 16:56

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That’s the gist of it. How much snow/ice are you expecting? What part of the country do you abide in?

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 16:57

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Don’t bother. They won’t help much in a Matrix. Also depending on where you live, they might not be legal.

lone_liberal > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 16:59

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I haven’t had to put chains on in a long, long time but one thing I will say is you should practice putting them on and taking them off at home in the dry before taking to the streets. Trying to figure out how everything works when your fingers are cold and numb is pure misery.

AM3R shamefully returns > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:00

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NoVa right? I wouldn’t worry too much, apparently VDOT released a statement saying they've already began preparations and are expecting to have roads cleared ASAP when this actually hits. That's what my neighbor told me at least.

itschrome > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:01

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if there is soo much snow you can’t get around with a Matrix with out chains, there is too much snow to be out driving around in. All seasons and FWD should get you through anything that you’re car isn’t just sinking too deep to move in.

macanamera > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:01

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Honestly, it might be impractical given the time frame, but I would just suggest a set of dedicated winter tires like Blizzak WS80 or Michelin X-Ice. You will never need chains, and you can keep them on all winter.

Klaus Schmoll > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:01

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Crap! You have to lay these out flat and then drive onto them, which is impossible once you are stuck. There are better designs which you can put on while stationary.

I used those from time to time while skiing in the Austrian Alps. You get stuck, put them on, drive a few feet, tighten them and off you go.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:04

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If you really need to use tire chains buy real tire chains, the cable chains suck. I don’t know where you are but in California you can buy really high quality chains at Les Swab and return them for a full refund if you don’t use them.

http://www.amazon.com/Thule-20042050…

Klaus Schmoll > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:06

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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005N7JQ46?…

This looks like one of these chains which can be put on a stationary wheel to get out of a tight spot. And that’s all that you need chains for.

vicali > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:07

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Leave lots of space, brake early, smooth inputs on the wheel/gas/brake.. basically take it easy and you’ll be fine with all-seasons.

The frumious Bandersnatch! > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:08

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Being a fellow Virginian I must ask, doesn’t your neighbor have several trucks in his front yard? Maybe you could borrow one for a couple days?

GTI Sprinks > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:12

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8+ inches of snow and virginia drivers?

nucciOMG > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:17

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Welp- I guess they work.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 17:28

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Canadian fwd vibe driver here, If you’re getting that much snow just leave the car at home. I have dedicated winter tires with studs on my vibe, manual, traction and stability control etc, and I wouldn’t bother going out in that. Even here if we get a dump like that it brings out all the crashing idiots (first snow of the year typically does too). My Vibe was terrible in minor snow before the hardcore tires.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > AM3R shamefully returns 01/19/2016 at 17:36

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I don’t think I have ever seen “vdot” and “ASAP” in the same sentence.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > AM3R shamefully returns 01/19/2016 at 18:04

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I’m pretty sure chains are illegal for on road use in VA, but then again do you really want to be out with all the loons that can’t drive in the snow but have 4wd so it makes it all better?

AM3R shamefully returns > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe 01/19/2016 at 18:16

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ASAP in VDOT speak means “As slow as possible”

AM3R shamefully returns > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 01/19/2016 at 18:16

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I'm planning on doing some fun hooning Friday night while the storm is still young, then driving as sparingly as possible on Saturday.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > nucciOMG 01/19/2016 at 22:32

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Red Bull is awesome for the stuff they do with their old F1 cars.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Ken has Terrible Luck with Bland Cars 01/19/2016 at 23:08

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I would check to make sure they are legal in your local area. Also if you’re having to rely on chains, don’t go out.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

46.2-1044 . Cleats, etc., on tires; chains; tires with studs.

No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery anyblock, stud, flange, cleat, spike, or any other protuberance of any materialother than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface ofthe tire. It shall be permissible, however, to use on the highways farmmachinery having protuberances which will not injure the highway and to usetire chains of reasonable proportions when required for safety because ofsnow, 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 doesnot exceed 10,000 pounds tires with studs which project no more thanone-sixteenth of an inch beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tirewhen compressed if the studs cover no more than three percent of the tractionsurface of the tire.

The use of studded tires shall be permissible only from October 15 to April15.

(Code 1950, 46-300; 1958, c. 541, 46.1-296; 1968, c. 1; 1970, c. 263;1972, c. 39; 1974, c. 368; 1976, c. 315; 1978, c. 259; 1989, c. 727.)

Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Virginia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.