Where do you put snow chains?

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Old 01-28-2005, 10:38 AM
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Which wheels do you put snow chains on?

When i bought them, the guy said they go on the back wheels, like a RWD car. But FWD cars put them in front.

So, do you put it in back so that you won't spin, but then steering could be hard since no traction up front...

Or in front so that the front tires have traction (half the power plus steering) but then it would be easy for the back to pass you in a turn...

Or do you put one chain on the front tire, one on the back so you have neither understeer or oversteer, but half traction at both...

Or do you buy 4 chains and chain up every wheel...

Or...

So, which wheels do you put your chains on and why?

Last edited by kravdra; 01-28-2005 at 10:53 AM.
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Old 01-28-2005, 10:56 AM
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Caltrans always closes the roads before they make awd cars put on chains. (the times ive been to tahoe) but if you have to, put them on the front. i would rather go nice and slow without chains than stop and put them on and then take them off at the end off the day.
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Old 01-28-2005, 10:57 AM
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definatly on the front not the rear

why? so you can steer.
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Old 01-28-2005, 10:57 AM
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Yeah, you prolly won't need them unless you go somewhere they don't plow ever. But the front is better so when you're breaking, most of the weight is on the wheels with the chains on them.
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Old 01-28-2005, 11:09 AM
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ish
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by law you have to carry them even though you will most likly never use them
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Old 01-28-2005, 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by kravdra
Or do you buy 4 chains and chain up every wheel...

Or...
Yeah- that's the right answer, after all- if you get to the point where you actaully need chains, you'd be kickin' butt with them on all 4!

-seriously as someone else pointed out, technically the law requires you to carry them, but if you're in an AWD vehicle with M+S or full on snow tires, you will probably never encounter a need for them.
(Although if you're shod with re070's- that might be another matter)

So the correct answer on where to put them is simple-

In the trunk.

Last edited by psoper; 01-28-2005 at 12:26 PM.
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Old 01-28-2005, 12:39 PM
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Thanx all! thats what i figured, but since the salesman said otherwise (i know, they know nothing) I wanted to check... And I don't expect to use them since I've got M+S tires and AWD

Actually though, i'm worried i will need them, i'm going up to tahoe today, and w/ the rain... Plus I'm running what essentially amount to knockoff RE92s with basically no tread so I'm not sure about this

thanx again... Iono what the dude was talking about, the trunk... errr, front it is :thumbsup:
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Old 01-28-2005, 01:26 PM
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buy them at walmart... if you dont use them , return them...

i drove to vegas first weekend in jan and was worried about snow. so before i left, i went to the UC wallymart and ppick them up at 2am... lol...
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Old 01-28-2005, 02:17 PM
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So far, it has just been sitting in the trunk of my car. Had it for 2 years, never use it. Why ? cuz .. I spent the money on winter tires.

If i would have to use it .. then the front it's. I think it was suggested in the owner guide.
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Old 01-28-2005, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by taction
So far, it has just been sitting in the trunk of my car. Had it for 2 years, never use it. Why ? cuz .. I spent the money on winter tires.

If i would have to use it .. then the front it's. I think it was suggested in the owner guide.
yep, yep, yep.
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Old 01-28-2005, 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by taction
So far, it has just been sitting in the trunk of my car. Had it for 2 years, never use it. Why ? cuz .. I spent the money on winter tires.

If i would have to use it .. then the front it's. I think it was suggested in the owner guide.
Ditto. Winter tires all the way. By the way, RE92 not only suck on dry pavement, they suck in snow.
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