Hey I am somewhat Ignorant to the issue of tire chains for the CHP warnings. I plan on going to Oregon via the I-5 on friday. What sort of chains work with these sized tires?


Thanks
Steven

p.s. I assumed that this question was best put in this topic/forum area.

First of all what tires are you running? Because you are not supposed to use chains on an AWD car. Even if you have an automatic with the FWD fuse in, it is not recommended that chains be used. The best bet is to put on a good set of all-seasons or snow tires on your 16's if you still have them. I would say that it is better to be safe then sorry.

I know that I will be going up to the Sierras a couple of times this winter and I will purchasing a set of snow tires just in case.

hmm I have summer type tires Summitomo HRTZ II's. I have the Subaru four pot brakes so I couldnt even use the stock wheels. One got stolen anyways. I am heading out tomorrow regardless. It should be okay as the highway conditions are okay through the border

Thanks
Steven

Well with the upcoming storm hitting the northwest, just be careful.

Thanks. IF it gets too intense over the weekend and they close that stretch of highway I will go over the 199 to crescent city and drive south to Eureka and stay a night or two at the folks house.

Maybe I will get some dedicated snow tires and some other wheels as the Rotas arent that much money.

Yeah that is a good idea. I am getting as set of 15inchers for snow purposes. :D

Actually, there are the traction cables which are almost the same as chains. Bought em at Sears for 25 bucks. So at least I've got something.....

Better than nothing. :p

make sure you got clearance between the side wall and fender...

Thanks
I will check em out to see if they clear. I made to Oregon yesterday and did have to put em on!!!!
Steven Sample

Did you make your trip??

Interestingly I was headed up to Seattle up the I-5! I don't have the WRX yet, so I asked Hertz for an AWD car, they said Subaru Outback, I said great. It turned out all they had was a Mitsubishi Outlander....great :rolleyes: So I make it around North of Redding,, and they keep on closing the road, and say I need an R1 traction device ( I guess that meant chains ). Well, I figure I can get through with the AWD anyway, but just in case I buy chains too. I'm looking through the manual for which wheels to put it on (with an AWD, I wouldn't know, my brother's forester said front wheels). It says: "Warning: Do not install chains on this vehicle. It does not have the required fender clearance for snow chains." Well @#@$!!!!!!!!!! :mad: The CHP is checking us all for chains and whatnot, and then they closed to road right in front of us, and it was just such a headache I turned back. Fortunately my brother flew down here for Christmas :)

Well, I'm just curious, what you did about the CHP warnings and whatnot, and if the WRX will take chains in case it's requested. The wheels will probably be staying at the stock 16"s.

My recollection is that if you have All Wheel/4 Wheel drive and M&S rated tires (mud and snow), you can make it past the chain checkpoint. But the CHP always has the final say.

The cable traction device (cable chains) should fit the FRONT tires if you havn't gone larger than stock. If so, you'll need to do a test fitment to be certain.

Happy Motoring

I am still wondering as to how the CHP can say that we have to put chains on an AWD car when the manual says that we should not put chains on the car. I mean if we have any drivetrain problems from putting on chains, do we blame the CHP? Because I am going on a ski-trip in the middle of next month and I am going to equip my car with dedicated snow tires. Will the CHP still require me to put chains on my car?

oh...it says not to use them in the manual? hmm....

Yeah, if you have M+S mud and snow tires you can use them too.

Originally posted by ImprezaRSDriver
I am still wondering as to how the CHP can say that we have to put chains on an AWD car when the manual says that we should not put chains on the car. I mean if we have any drivetrain problems from putting on chains, do we blame the CHP? Because I am going on a ski-trip in the middle of next month and I am going to equip my car with dedicated snow tires. Will the CHP still require me to put chains on my car? My understanding is that an AWD vehicle with real snow tires will be allowed to pass the check point with no hassles. In bad conditions, they will visually inspect the condition of all four tires, too.

The CHP cannot *make* anyone put chains on their vehicle, but they are also not obligated to let cars without snow tires or chains pass through a check point if the weather/roads are really treacherous. They can simply turn you back the way you came. :(

Last time I went to Reno, I was allowed through a check point near the summit. It was snowing lightly at the time, but I was waved through with nary a glance at the tires or Subaru emblem, while the VW AWD sedan in front of me got a 360-degree inspection. Other cars were all pulled over to let the chain monkeys go to work. I'm going to Reno again this Sunday and the conditions may be worse than the last time, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed ;)

Wingless Wonder,

Let me know when you get back if you had any problems.

I would also assume that if the conditions were so bad that they would not allow any traffic to flow through.

Originally posted by ImprezaRSDriver
Wingless Wonder,

Let me know when you get back if you had any problems.

I would also assume that if the conditions were so bad that they would not allow any traffic to flow through. Pretty accurate prediction! I've changed my mind about making the trip up Hwy 80 to Reno. The conditions have turned ugly:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/12/28/state2130EST0105.DTL

--
ww

"Go wingless, young man" - Horace Greeley

Chuckles: I ended up drving back through some fresh snow and was back here in sac on the 20th. I didnt have to use the cables/traction devices. I imagine that the cables would do fine as there is substantial gap between fender well and tire. I have Spt suspension which is almost the same as stock (speaking of ride height). And yes the front wheels.