Can I use chains?

[car audio dave]

im not even sure if im posting this in the right section.

my car is currently 2 hours away from my house, stuck up in lake arrowhead because of the snow. i went up there becuase it wasnt supposed to snow at all, but it did, 1.5 feet.

Can I use chains on the car? its lowered with H&R springs and ive got 18s with 225/45ZR18 tires on it. im not sure if i have the clearance, ot is tires that thin will cause the chains to damage my rims (like driving on a bunch of pot-holes)

please help, i need to get my car back soon. thanks.

[rabidpanda69]

You dont want to use chains. I'd call a flatbed before I put chains on them wheels.

[car audio dave]

thanks for the response rabidpanda69

i had already called a flatbed, and they said they cant get to me til later this week. ill go up there thursday and see if that access road is cleared. if not then ill try AAA again for a flatbed.

[DowmaceWH99]

if you use chains get the FWD chains, and you should be ok, but really I would see if I couldn't wrangle up some steelies with winter tires and do a swap real quick

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by DowmaceWH99
if you use chains get the FWD chains, and you should be ok, but really I would see if I couldn't wrangle up some steelies with winter tires and do a swap real quick
I don't know about your size of wheels/tires/'99+

My '96 with 245/50-17 is maxed out, at the upper inner shoulder of the tire.
There is only 1/4" clear between the rubber and the lower spring mount on the strut.

That's not adequate for a set of spinning chains, even if they are "radial/fwd"-type.

If it were me, I know the weather is clearing and CalDOT is doing triple-overtime to clear the roads.
Unless the car was far up an unimproved roadway that won't be plowed, I would wait 'til Thursday and drive it out on the street tires.
FWD does GREAT in light snow, IMO even better than old 4WD.

Good luck.
-Rick

[sunrunner_pei]

According to my owners manual, chains are not reccomended on anything but the 15" wheels/tires on the '99+. I imagine the chains would hit with your wider wheels and lowered stance. I wouldn't risk it. :(

[car audio dave]

thanks. yea what all of you said is helpful and reaffirms what i was thinking.

the access road that my car is on is about 1/8 mile long and DOES NOT get plowed, but i hope to make it past that, where the rest of the way does get plowed. i can get info on that access roads conditions before i go up.

[rixGAphx]

Read the Owner's manual.

One of the few reasons for the 'OFF' button on the ETS is for use in snow.

One wheel is almost guaranteed to spin.
To maintain a little forward while one wheel spins, you want the ETS 'off' so it doesn't reduce the engine speed during this intentional slippery manuver.

Lighten the trunk as much as possible (spare in back seat) so there's as little 'dead' weight on the rear as possible.

If the snow is lightly packed, you can 'air-down' the front tires to about 25psi.
This gives a larger 'footprint' and keeps you more atop the snow (as 4-wheelers do in sand). Do NOT drive over 25 mph once on the road, until you re-air to normal pressure.

If the snow is powdery and the subgrade dirt is frozen solid, the best tire is usually very SKINNY, so it grooves into the snow and gets decent grip on the hard stuff beneath.
Your 225 tires will never be skinny enough for this.
BUT, if the snow is powdery like this, do NOT air-down or you'll create a giant tractionless pillow under each tire footprint.

Take gloves, shovel, garbage bags (for lying upon), and boots for your recovery effort.

Good luck.
-Rick

[car audio dave]

that really helps, thanks.

[car audio dave]

well my car is finally down from the mountain and safe from harms way. the snow melted enough to where none of the suggestions were needed. thanks for all of the help everyone.