Hello. Later this winter I plan on drivin up to Washington state and going snowboarding in Tahoe. I want to buy some chains for the car but don't know if I need them for just the front? or front and back? Has anyone put chains on their car and what end of the car did you put them on?

Thanks.

 

The owners manual says use chains only on the front

 

no
thats wrong
do not use chains on a 02 04 wrx
i dunno about other models
but for wrx, do NOT use chains
i believe it will void the warrenty and **** up your car.
im almost 100% on this

 

consult the owners manual

 

I'm assuming you drive a WRX (from your screenname). Page 8-14 in the Own3rs Manual states that if chains are to be used on the WRX, use SAE class 'S' type chains on the front wheels, only. These cannot be fitted on 17" wheels because even though the diameter of most 17" wheel/tire combos is the same, the width is too wide to accomodate the chains without body interference.

Or, you can do like I did - pick up a spare set of WRX wheels if you haven't gone to a big brake kit, and slap on a set of decent snow tires. I chose a hybrid winter tire, Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2s, because part of my driving is on highways clear of snow and ice. Forget the hassle of putting chains on, or having them work loose to slap your fenderwells silly.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

As long as you are in California you will never need chains on a 4wd/awd vehicle. They will close the roads if it gets that bad.

But you will need snow rated tires.

 

Are the RE92s rated for snow or are you referring to studded tires?

 

RE92's are mud and snow rated. I get through chain control with them (except for that one guy who told me "I didn't know they made an all wheel drive Camry")

 

ROTFLMAO!!!

I must have had the same dude. I was coming back from Tahoe and the highway 80 was closed. He said after about 15 minutes of arguing that if he had to come and pull me out or scrape my car off a tree he would be really pissed.

Then he came up behind me about 20 minutes after they opened the road. And just before he passed me (We were in a turn) he managed so slide off into the snow pile...)

I damn near crashed I was laughing so hard.

 

lol


Yeah, people see the hood scoop, and usually wave us through...

-Gagan

 

Like other's said, they close the roads in CA before requiring 4WD's to chain up. However, by law you are required to "carry" chains. I have an old set of cable chains I keep in the back to show the man if I have to, but they were for my Civic and won't fit on the WRX.
If you're RE92's are relatively new, they will work, give yourself 4 times as much room to stop as you think you need. If the RE92's are worn or you want something better, look into a snow tire or maybe a snow oriented all season to put on an extra set of stock rims. I'm running Nokian all-seasons and they perform exceptionally well given the fact that they are all seasons and most of their use is on bay area roads. There's plenty of info out there, and you can do some research to figure out what you want.

A word of advice before venturing into snowy conditions - make sure you have plenty of windshield washer fluid that is rated for below freezing temperatures. It is also a good idea to carry blankets, water and a collapsable shovel.

 

I am just planning to drive up to Washington taking I-5 all the way. I am pretty sure they keep I-5 clean but there have been times where they have closed it down. I am going to pick up some cables just in case I ever need them. Thanks for all the input.

 

i've gone up to the snow with chains on the stock tires and rims, no problem, bit noisy though , kinda disconcerting. But anyways, the manual does say use them on front only so i do. i think i just might get some snow tires.