Winter driving and chains?

[Deleted member 4644]

Tomorrow Im driving in the snow for the first time. Ill be taking a Volvo S80 FWD car with snow chains that arnt really chains but are more like little metal tube/springs.

Tires are 245/45-17

Is this ok?

Any tips?

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: LordSegan
Tomorrow Im driving in the snow for the first time. Ill be taking a Volvo S80 FWD car with snow chains that arnt really chains but are more like little metal tube/springs.

Tires are 245/45-17

Is this ok?

Any tips?

All I can add is drive carefully LordSegan

 

[pillage2001]

I haven't seen anyone drive with chains in Michigan yet. It was snowing badly for the past 3 days but everything was fine. Just don't speed and don't brake till the point you lock the wheels, tap it.

 

[Walleye]

in general, normal cables are good enough. if you're actually in super slick ice, real chains are a nice thing to have. 4wheel drive and real chains is best.

you probably will end up having to put the cables on. it's not hard. at least, cables are a lot LESS hard to use than chains.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

My tires are rated as all season and are fairly new? Will that matter once I put the chains on?

 

[mugs]

I live in NJ where we get a reasonable amount of snow (varies a lot year to year though)... The only vehicles I've ever seen with chains are plow trucks. Don't know anyone who uses snow tires either... Just be reasonable and drive slowly and you'll be fine.

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: LordSegan
My tires are rated as all season and are fairly new? Will that matter once I put the chains on?

you generally dont put chains on till you have no other choice. all season tires dont mean much. no tires will help you much on ice. all season means i think it's better for snow.

no tire matters once you put chains on. er.... that is unless there's no tread to grip to. then you end up spinning your tires inside the chain and going nowhere.

 

[pillage2001]

Where would you be going?? I doubt you will need chains unless you're in Alaska now?

Seeing that you have all season tires, drive sensibly and you will ba alright.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Mammoth.. they got a few inches of snow last night, but no snow is predicted for the next few days

 

[ViperMagic]

Drive SLOW. I cannot emphsise this enough. SLOW. Driving on now and ice is an entirely differnt animal than on dry pavement. SLOW!!

 

[dartworth]

Chains seem a little extreme...I didn't even know people still used them.

I can see them being necessary in the mountains or something...hmm i dunno

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: LordSegan
Mammoth.. they got a few inches of snow last night, but no snow is predicted for the next few days

when i was up at mammoth, we were doing 4 wheel driving from about 30 miles past bishop all the way up and through mammoth lakes.

if you see my sister, tell her she's a bitch.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Walleye

Originally posted by: LordSegan
Mammoth.. they got a few inches of snow last night, but no snow is predicted for the next few days

when i was up at mammoth, we were doing 4 wheel driving from about 30 miles past bishop all the way up and through mammoth lakes.

if you see my sister, tell her she's a bitch.

Your mother the whore won't be there?

 

[BuckNaked]

I was just in Mammoth this afternoon, and the roads for the most part are clear, with a little ice here and there... chains would be overkill right now... just take it easy and keep a little extra distance between you and the person in front of you and you should be fine...

Driving on ice for the first time can be a little daunting, but just remember braking is where you usually get into trouble... your first instinct is to step on the brakes, but try and avoid braking as much as possible, give yourself extra room, and don't lock up the brakes... if you do, immediately take your foot of the brake and turn into the direction you sliding...

Dave

Edit: as a side note, not to point out the obvious, but I always LMAO when I see someone with a FWD car, and the chains are on the rear....

 

[MercenaryForHire]

*Pulls to lead, hits blinkers, waits as Americans eagerly crowd into file behind Canadian driver*

Just take it slow, give plenty of stopping room, and know where the edge of the highway is. And FFS, don't panic if you catch a little snowdrift. That goes for your passengers too.

- M4H

 

[SweetSweetLeroyBrown]

Originally posted by: pillage2001
Where would you be going?? I doubt you will need chains unless you're in Alaska now?

Seeing that you have all season tires, drive sensibly and you will ba alright.

Portland, Oregon

hot damn, you need chains to even drive in downtown!

 

[BuckNaked]

Originally posted by: SweetSweetLeroyBrown

Originally posted by: pillage2001
Where would you be going?? I doubt you will need chains unless you're in Alaska now?

Seeing that you have all season tires, drive sensibly and you will ba alright.

Portland, Oregon

hot damn, you need chains to even drive in downtown!

Heh, I hear Portland is an ice rink... the ice storms are horrendous, especially on the east side out towards the gorge... I-84 east of troutdale must be a nightmare...

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: LordSegan
Tomorrow Im driving in the snow for the first time. Ill be taking a Volvo S80 FWD car with snow chains that arnt really chains but are more like little metal tube/springs.

Tires are 245/45-17

Is this ok?

Any tips?

I don't understand why people use chains. A set of good studded tires > all chains.

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: pillage2001
I haven't seen anyone drive with chains in Michigan yet. It was snowing badly for the past 3 days but everything was fine. Just don't speed and don't brake till the point you lock the wheels, tap it.

Ha! Roads are terrible here in the southwest part of the state off the Lake. Doesn't help I have to drive 80-100 miles in the city everyday on some of the worst roads. I'm trying to find a solution for my 92' Honda Civic that will help me out. I don't know whether I should buy special tires, chains, or what.