Tire chains on 17" wheels? Options

[GriffGirl]

So we're supposed to have crazy crappy weather here this weekend, which brings me back to something I wondered last winter but never really bothered much to pursue. My car isn't lowered yet, so can I use cables on my 17" wheels without worrying about damaging the wheel well? I've got 225/45/17s on. What if my car is lowered? (it'll be 1.5" lowered) Can I still use them, or does lowering it rule that out?

You guys in snowy places, how do you go about it?

[DEATH]

[GriffGirl]

Piss off. I'd rather have a little snow and some seasons than live in that hot bad-hair-weather godforsaken place. If I wanted to live with that kind of humidity, I'd go back to NY. Or worse yet, I'd go back to Maryland. Yuck.

[Rayme]

I have never seen a car with chains on of all my life. I'm in atlantic Canada ..snow plows make a nice job of opening the roads. however studs are usual around here.

This post has been edited by Rayme: Dec 12, 2008 - 4:45 PM

[terbear4god4life]

yea i heard bout the weather i got some studs so im not worried

[SeverX13]

Piss off. I'd rather have a little snow and some seasons than live in that hot bad-hair-weather godforsaken place. If I wanted to live with that kind of humidity, I'd go back to NY. Or worse yet, I'd go back to Maryland. Yuck.

lol acctually it snowed in texas earlier this week i believe so

[CelicaQT]

You guys in snowy places, how do you go about it?

No need for chains here in Michigan....unless you live in the Upper Peninsula or areas with HIGH amounts of snow. All seasonal tires are on my stock wheels, I take my summer wheels off before the winter season starts.

I've only experienced driving with chains when my BF and I were in Cali when we went to Mammoth since it was mandatory according to our friends that lived there?

-Christee-

[GriffGirl]

Well I'm not gettin' studded tires, that's for sure. Living in Portland there's just no need for them unless you go up the mountain a lot, and if I did, I wouldn't drive a Celica up it

For all I know my tires will be fine in the snow... I am from the east coast, after all. But I live up a steep hill and I don't wanna crack my car all up, so I was thinking maybe I should have cables on hand for that one or two times a year I need 'em... but IDK if it's a bad idea on 17" wheels on our cars?

No one has any insight to this?

[spolski07]

psh snow?


and its not as humid here in SanAnton!

[CelicaST_CALI]

u can buy those special kinda chains which really aren't "chains" they are more like thick cable.

This post has been edited by CelicaST_CALI: Dec 14, 2008 - 4:17 PM

[Remy]

I'm on 16' wheels, 1.8 drop and I just bought some new Michelin x-ice tires I love them so far no extreme blizzards up here yet but I never got stranded when we had 6"+ of snow plus no slidding when braking lol. I didn't want to drive my car during winter but couldn't find a good DD yet so I went with the new snow tires just for safety I no longer fear winter I tell you that.

And remember don't cheap out on tires they do more then people think.....

Studded vs. Studless
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8MnCH-Z0QY

[SpoonR530]

I know for a fact they do have cables for a 205 45 17 so i am confident you can find some some for your tire for less than 50 bucks. I am about to upgrade to 205 50 17 with no lowering and a set of cables down here in Lake Tahoe.
Dunno how easy it would be to put on the cables with a drop... might be problematic.


HAVE FUN IN THE SNOW!

[enderswift]

lol at the soldier sig

[GriffGirl]

My question was, can I use them w/out worrying about damaging the wheel well or the wheels. This all makes me feel pissy and furthermore, not to be a total bitch, but makes me understand why the mods get so annoyed at useless posting. Sorry guys, but there's like 1 somewhat relevant post in this thread in response to my question. I know I do my share of useless posting too, but not necessarily when it pertains to when someone is looking for very specific information.

I'll answer my own post tonight when I pick up some cables - it snowed and the side streets SUCK. As for "cheaping out" - it's not a matter of cheaping out, it's a matter of what I can and cannot afford. I CANNOT afford 2 sets of wheels and tires.

[RickJamesBish]

I'd say there might be specialty chains made for tires with shallower sidewalls- so the chains don't rub against the rim and create rash? As far as the wells and the drop, if you can get them on and tighten them enough, it shouldn't be a problem.

This post has been edited by RickJamesBish: Dec 15, 2008 - 3:35 PM

[GriffGirl]

Thanks RJB

[95CelicaST]

Yay for snow!!


When I had the Celica I wouldn't ever DREAM about going out to play... but now the world is my playground!



Michelle, I'll drive down to Portland and be your Chauffeur during snow/ice conditions.

[GriffGirl]

Yay for snow!!


When I had the Celica I wouldn't ever DREAM about going out to play... but now the world is my playground!



Michelle, I'll drive down to Portland and be your Chauffeur during snow/ice conditions.

Well where the hell are you, I've been waiting by the side of the road since last night!

I bought the chains (well, cheap crappy cables) as a precautionary measure. Remember, I'm from the east coast, I still know how to drive in the snow, but there's a lot more hills here than in NYC or Maryland so I've got 'em just in case!

My hope is that eventually Scion makes an AWD tC - that would be my perfect solution to PNW weather. As a self respecting woman who enjoys the hot girl-on-girl action, I just can't get a Subaru at this point in my life, it's just too cliché (although if I did, it would hands-down be the same one you're driving. None of that hippy Forrester sh1t! ha ha)

[GMan]

My hope is that eventually Scion makes an AWD tC - that would be my perfect solution to PNW weather.

I wonder if That has been done ? There has been a rwd Scion TC.

You could Convert your 6th gen to AWD.
That certainly has been done. Pick up an older ST185, ST165 or RAV4, a Camry AT,
Previa All_trac mini van for winter duty ????

As a self respecting woman who enjoys the hot girl-on-girl action, I just can't get a Subaru at this point in my life,

I hope Toyota come up with something interesting in the future.
The new Matrix does have AWd & 2.4L, but only in Auto.
Still Nothing beats hot girl-on-girl action !

Regards;

[D-Man]

x2

I bought the chains (well, cheap crappy cables) as a precautionary measure. Remember, I'm from the east coast, I still know how to drive in the snow, but there's a lot more hills here than in NYC or Maryland so I've got 'em just in case!

PICS!!

I've never heard of "chains" or "cables" for tires... I wannna see... (that's why i haven't posted in here yet. I tryed to leave your thread relivent, but now that you've got the info, i wanna know what they look like)

Because i'd think that chains or somthing would really JACK UP your trying to drive... do you put them ON the tires?