Snow chains on an AWD

[DeathBeast]

I'm from CA so I don't know.
If you have AWD, where do you put the chains? Front/Back/All4/doesn't matter?

Thanx,
DeathBeast

 

[sjutrettioett]

hurm well
i think with 4 wheel, and awd u need em on all 4, but if ur running awd and mud and snow tires u shouldnt need chains, i used to live in tahoe, had my awd with mud and snows, and i never got stopped for chains, they wanted to stop me, cause hey they think little cars are wusses and cant be in the snow, then i just point them back to the tsi awd sticker, and they let me go through
hehehe.


i think its all 4.. but do some more checking, from someone who knows for sure.

 

[tsilover]

If you did do it on only 2 i would do it in the front. The engine is up there and will add a lot of traction. Also, that's where most of the power fro the engine goes.

 

[el aguila]

Originally posted by tsilover
If you did do it on only 2 i would do it in the front. The engine is up there and will add a lot of traction. Also, that's where most of the power fro the engine goes.

Youd have to have them on all 4 or none at all because of the AWD.

 

[Antilles]

Thats not true. Mitsu says that if you use chains on the new Evo 8, you can only use them on one axle. I dont recall whether it was back or front, probably front.

Also, i didnt even know people used chains much anymore with the advancements in snow tires and the fact that chains tear up paved roads.

 

[sjutrettioett]

like i said
if u got mud and snow's with awd. they wont stop you.
specially if ur heading up boreal, tahoe way.

 

[DeathBeast]

My sister totaled her 4wd Explorer last time we went to Tahoe, so I'm for chains if I can use them. We're CA drivers, we don't know how to drive in the ice/snow! Hell, there is an accident here the second it starts raining! EVERY time! Bay Area people don't slow down for turns .

Looks like all4 is the correct answer for the Talon?

Thanx,
DeathBeast

 

[bubbaGSX]

awd needs 4 chains. the previous owner of my car is from denver and he gave me his chains just in case.

 

[turbolaserAWDrs]

who puts chains on AWD? you either go, or you dont. my car dont get stopped until the snow is up to the hood. its lowered, and my car goes through snow fine? now if you're mudding..thats a diff. story...but who wants to do that to a DSM?

 

[TurboTalon90]

chains for ice more than snow, all 4 under 35 mph...

 

[Defiant]

The '93 owner's manual, p. 148:
"In an emergency, chains may be used... ...on the front wheels."
"CAUTION
Do not use snow chains on the rear wheels."
"Do not use snow chains on cars equipped with P205/55 16 tires"

As far as CalTrans is concerned, if your sidewall says "M+S" and you have all wheel drive, you won't need to use your chains. You _will_ be required to carry them, and _will_ be cited if stopped in an area designated "Chains Must Be Carried". They won't let you through a checkpoint if you don't have them with you. However, once it gets to where the road's so bad that AWD/4WD vehicles need chains, CalTrans just closes the road instead, so the idea of actually chaining up is usually moot.... unless you've already gotten stuck.
For those not familiar with the snow we get in the Sierra, it's hideous, wet, heavy, icy crap. I've driven in snow in Baltimore: it's not the same AT ALL. Also, the roads in CA that get snow are Alpine-like roads with _steep_ grades and high dropoffs. True you could make it along for the most part without chains, but having chains forces you to slow down, and never lets you forget the conditions you're driving in.
The Smithsonian magazine had a good article a few years ago about State Route 88, one of the snowiest roads kept open in North America.

 

[eclipse2via]

In my 91 GSX chains were verbotten according to owners manual. Shouldn't this be in general forum?

 

[fusion_ta66]

Originally posted by tsilover
If you did do it on only 2 i would do it in the front. The engine is up there and will add a lot of traction. Also, that's where most of the power fro the engine goes.

Completely, totally and utterly incorrect.

 

[sjutrettioett]

im still thinking its all or none, just my .02

 

[PhoenixRPR]

1G Eclipse GSX (stock) I was heading to Big Bear in Southern Cali last weekend and they turned me back down the mountain to pickup some chains. So I bought a set and they told me to chain up my rear wheels for an AWD. I chained them up and as I drove, they scraped hard against my frame/suspension. It was so loud/scary I got out and readjusted them over and over again, no luck. So then I moved them to the front. That was even worse, there wasn't even enough clearance between the tire and the springs for the tires to get through a revolution. It might be because I have such tall Yokohama tires, 215/65/R15's. Thoughts?

 

[kpt4321]

THE MANUAL SAYS TO PUT THEM ON THE FRONT ONLY. THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO PUT THEM ON THE FRONT ONLY. END OF STORY.

Arrgh. This thread is terrible.

 

[PhoenixRPR]

I understand that completely. But like I said, chains did not work at all on the front. I want to know why. Is it because of the size of my wheel/tires? The car is not lowered in any way. Are cables the only option?

 

[91awd]

Yes pheonix it is because of the size of your tires they are way too big. The stock tire size is 205/55/16.