Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
Unfortunately .... yes ..... you can slide. You should have chains in your vehicle and possibly learn to put them on ( though there are usually police that help people put chains on in bad spots ). In winter conditions, you want to go SLOW . It's just not worth it . I don't want to scare you but I did wreck a car from driving too fast in winter, so I would rather tell you " be careful " to make sure you are careful!
You get chains at auto stores like Napa Auto parts . You'll want to become good friends with weather.com ! Then you can check road conditions / what the weather looks like.
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
^^ I'm the same as you...I hate driving in snow and I have a BMW - which sucks. Always getting stuck. You can get snow-chains from any Auto-parts Centre or Service Centre. You might even get them from your local Gas Station too.
The trick is to keep a steady sensible speed....and use the engine as a brake - by easing off the gas well in advance, not stabbing your foot on the brake pedal.
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
I am in Canada and yes snow tires are just a matter of life up here. Most people have two sets of tires-all seasons and then winters. We put the winter tires on in November and take them off in April.
winter tires can run you a lot of $$$ for a good pair. And trust me you want a good pair if you plan on using them regularly. I went for a top of the line model of tires and they cost me around $850 for a set of 4 on my Chrysler Sebring.
However if you are only planning on using these a few times then it really would not be worth it. I would just go with some chains.
Go in to your local auto parts store and ask about this.
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
Hopefully it just wont be snowing when I go thru Co. ! In about 2 weeks.... I could only wish. Yea I dont want to buy new tires since Im only making this trip one time. Ill go with the chains, and learn how to put em on. Reeeeally wish I had a smaller car now instead of my huge SUV!
Thanks guys..... :)
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
I doubt that you will find chains in fla or anywhere near there. I know you said you don't have 4wd, but what make and model is your vehicle?
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
Chevy Trailblazer.... :( Ive been trying to trade it in and get a smaller vehicle
(Id feel more comfortable) before I head out, but no such luck.
I didnt expect to find chains here...of course I'd have to drive out west a little before I find em.
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
It also depends on when you are going, there may have been no snow for a while chains are a must. Keep it slow and give everyone a lot of space. Mainly, relax and do not over react, to sliding. You can always get some one to help you put on your chains. Slow moving always gets You there safer.Do not buy chains once you need them. People will charge You tripple or more than normal. Good Luck and be safe.
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
I have driven in snow in Chicago a few times and even in a blizzard it was fun to me, I know to be very slow and careful...no worries :)
I will buy chains as soon as I am in an area that sells them.
I feel better knowing that someone will help put em on for me.
:)
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
Even though its only 2wd your vehicle should do really well in the snow. It has large diameter tires, rear wheel drive, and good ground clearance. Its new enough that it has 4 wheel abs and may have traction control.
I have found that most tires sold in warm weather climates have tread patterns and compounds that don't do well in ice and snow. Here are examples of winter tire packages at Discount Tire http://www.discounttire.com/content/...gesCoupon.html
I think you could do better if you go to your local tire dealers and see if you can get a package with basic steel wheels and winter tires providing you have time to get them ordered and shipped in time for your trip. I hope you aren't leaving this week, the midwest is looking at 2ft of forecasted snow.
For best traction I would pack my heavier items towards the back of the vehicle to get more weight over the rear axle for best traction. Too much weight behind the rear axle can be bad, but if you aren't packing heavy items like boxes of tools behind the axle you have nothing to worry about.
If you do get chains you should research cable vs the traditional tire chains so you don't have to make a split decision when you are at an auto parts store.
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
Thank you for that information. I am actually moving to Seattle, and even though I have already had everything shipped there last month, I still have what I have been living out of for this month which is tons of clothes and shoes, and my daughters clothes and shoes (we are ladies, we have TONS!) SO we will have a little weight in the back of the vehicle. So I should put most of this weight OVER the back tires, rather than BEHIND them? That would probably mean my third row of seats would carry the heavier items, and the other lighter stuff in the very back behind the seats? gotta remember to look at the anatomy of my truck tomorrow, so I can pack accordingly.
Also, U mentioned that my truck would do well in the snow. But that doesnt mean Im excluded from the chain law I see. I guess everybody has to have them, unless you have 4wd or studded tires.
Im considering looking at my usual used tire store up here for some used snow tires, since I will only need them for this trip, I really prefer not to buy expensive new tires. Im sure people from snowy climates move here and change out tires. But then that leaves me with my 4 original tires --which are brand new-- to tote along with me, so scratch that idea.
Ill look into the two different tire chains. Ugh this trip is turning into a head ache already!
Looking at a site now... and chains for what I believe is the size of my tire, say 58.45 I hope thats for all four chains!!:headache::optimist:
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
Well, all the miners around here carry a few cinderblocks in the beds of their trucks to increase traction (they gotta be at work or lose their jobs, regardless of road conditions). I've always heard that chains decrease your traction a lot if you aren't driving on snow or ice packed roads though, so be carefull!! (Less tire making contact with the road, so it makes sense, but is still scary!)
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
I think that price is per chain, so you would need to multiply it by 4. I don't think the chains are mandatory to travel through the states, only mandatory if you travel during bad road conditions. If you plan your trip when the weather is good or can afford to delay things a couple of days if a storm is coming through you may avoid the entire issue. Can you post the brand and model of your tire, they may be all season for all we know? How soon are you planning on traveling? From the link you posted it looks like you have the 17 inch wheels. If you decide to explore new tires and rims 16 inch would work fine as they were offered by the factory. Most of the time 16's are cheaper
Its a longshot, but if you have a trailer hitch they sell those carriers that slip in to carry bulky items. If you swapped out tires that might be a good way to transport the old ones.
The cinderblock trick is great for pickup trucks. With the rear seats, sheet metal, glass etc you have a lot of weight back there already. Loading the heaviest stuff directly over the rear axle is a good idea, Before you load up just take a look at the truck overall, you don't want to load it so it is squatting too much in the rear and raised up in the front. Its a bit of a balancing act.
Its true chains decrease traction when they are not needed. You would want to put them on at the last minute and take them off as soon as the road gets clear.
Re: Snow Tires and Chains??
February 6th and it was snowing pretty good yesterday for only leaving an inch of snow.
Chains are a must for going over I-70. The is at the top.
Chains are a Pain in the ass to put on. Helps to do the job in a flat level place. Parking lot for example.
Chains come in pairs as a set normally.
Open the sets and lay them flat on the ground in front of your tire (all four). They look like a long rectangle or ladder like with a bit of extra chain on each end.
Drive slowly onto the chain until your tire is at one end.
Now you can pull the chains up and over the tire and they will dangle there while you secure the ends.
Drive slowly like 45 MPH max.
Four wheel drive does not mean four wheel stop. The cars I see most oftem wrecked or on their roof is the AWD Subarus.