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Where to buy Chains?

M

Mide

Golden Member
So I have a FWD Fit that is having a pickle of a time in this winter snow. I tried Costco already but they don't have any chains. Where do you get the best deal at? wal-mart, Les Schwab, an auto parts store?
 
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I'm seeing chain ones, cable ones, and diamond-shaped chains. Do they really make a difference? The cable ones seem to be the cheapest...but will they do the job..humm.
 
The important thing is to try them on the car before you need them.
That way you know they will fit and you'll be familiar with how to put them on.
I can chain my truck up in just a couple of minutes. Makes a difference if it's dark or wet out.
 
Les Schwab!

Hands down the best, why, they have a "if you don't use em you can return them policy".

They will teach you how to put on the chains and remove the chains.

Buy the Diamond X or whatever ones its called that are like $69.99 - they allow you to put the chains on the tires without ever moving the car. Just install. Drive 300 ft and tighten.

They work like a champ!!!

Only issue is, be careful when removing that one of the hooks does not get caught in your brake caliper while in the dark. I had to remove the whole tire in order to remove the hook because it was snagged.
 
I bought a set of cable chains this morning at Bi-mart, they're on sale for $19.99, better get them while they're still in stock, with the weather predicted for this weekend they're going to fly off the shelves at that price. You probably want to get some of the elastic bands to keep the chains tight as well.

I don't know where you're located at, Bi-Mart is a locally owned "club" store (cost $5 for a life time membership) most of the stores are in Oregon with a few others in Washington and Idaho.
 
I bought a set of cable chains at Kragen. They're ok. I had no problem the first time practicing. A little more trouble out in the snow, but still quick.

And then last season it was chain-on time and I stood there completely brain frozen. I forgot how to put on chains. I asked the guy in front of me and in one sentence I completely remembered how to do it. Hah. Still felt like I had forgotten some stuff, but easy stuff still.

Les Schwab definitely has the best stuff if you can get there....

BTW I called our local Costcos and they didnt have chains.
 
Another thing about chains.
Cables will not give you as good of traction as actual chains.
But as has been mentioned previously, some cars don't have the clearance for chains.
If it's light snow, cables are probably fine. For deep, wet snow or snow pack, I prefer chains.
Some chains have a "V" section welded onto the chain. This is called an ice bar and helps improve traction on ice.
Sometimes you see people that have them installed upside down and the bar is against the tire. They will eat up a tire that way.
 
What are the benefits of chains/cables?
Cheaper alternative to snow tires?

I live in Cananda and have not once seen chains or cables on tires. Lots of people have winter tires and Quebec even mandates it...
 
Stunt said:
What are the benefits of chains/cables?
Cheaper alternative to snow tires?

I live in Cananda and have not once seen chains or cables on tires. Lots of people have winter tires and Quebec even mandates it...
Click to expand...


Chains/cables are for roads that are not plowed often - usually mountain passes that get heavy snow and are steep.

I've used chains on Hwy 50 and I-80 in California going to Reno/Tahoe.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/92999570_0a04dd4f0b.jpg
 
Stunt said:
What are the benefits of chains/cables?
Cheaper alternative to snow tires?

I live in Cananda and have not once seen chains or cables on tires. Lots of people have winter tires and Quebec even mandates it...
Click to expand...
BC copied Quebec in 2007 (except for lower mainland and Vancouver Island), and this year is the first that they are mandating it for Vancouver Island highways.
 
Fmr12B said:
Chains/cables are for roads that are not plowed often - usually mountain passes that get heavy snow and are steep.

I've used chains on Hwy 50 and I-80 in California going to Reno/Tahoe.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/92999570_0a04dd4f0b.jpg
Click to expand...

Caltrans plows the 50 and I-80 VERY frequently. I believe chains/cables are for pathetic CA drivers who have never seen snow. They think that they can keep driving on their summer tires. Many people believe chains/cables give you minimal grip and may help if you get stuck, but in terms of typical traction, they're made so you slow the hell down because otherwise you will spin out. People drive too fast for their own good on snow.... This is why you see idiotic 4x4s spinning out on I-80 a lot. People think 4x4 means OOOOH they can go fast. But without proper tires, your car is worthless. Hence chains.

I'm a CA driver myself. Never spun, but chains to help me keep my speed down. I do believe my tires are good enough on their own though (Michelin HydroEdge)
 
BUMP!!
Read the dates.

As some of you may recall, I have a Chevy S-10 ZR2. It came with 31x10.5R15's.
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/shortylickens/Tire_sticker.jpg

Finding replacement tires was a pain but I finally managed to get some nice HTS Grabbers. However, they dont do as well in deep snow as I was hoping. And they work poorly on the ice despite what many other users claim. Want to get some chains, which are legal in Virginia at this time of year provided the weather warrants them. Wish I had got them back in October and played around, but didnt think things would ever get this bad.
Do not need them right now, our street gets cleared regularly because of the HOA, and we have all the supplies we need for a long lockdown.
BUT, I still want them. May go out one day to help someone else or perhaps the upcoming winter will feature lots of snow as well.

On Amazon I found these:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...5425573&sr=8-4
They look nice but seem awefully expensive and of course I'll need two pair.

Whaddaya guys think about them?

EDIT:
I cannot find deep snow tires in my size. And I dont really feel like buying a 2nd set of rims just for snow tires. Were I still living in Minnesota I might have done that.
 
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I looked into chains last year. The problems/observations I seem to recall, though, in no particular order:

1) I've never, ever seen anybody in Rochester, NY with chains on their car. Granted, I don't look. I should, but I don't recall seeing it.
2) They're only good at really low speeds.

My Maxima is a steaming pile of grade-a sh*t in the snow, an epic piece of crap with fail written all over it (Our Mazda MPV smokes it badly in snow), but still it just seemed to have a very limited use when I could really use these mainly because of the speed issue.
 
If your FWD car sucks in the snow, get better tires. The Fuzion HRIs I've got on my GTI are great in the snow. We've gotten a couple feet already this year and I haven't had a problem.
 
Alright, I just got the above-mentioned chains. 2 pair.
With amazon prime I should receive them on Tues, provided the snow is out of the way and the UPS guy can deliver them.
 
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