BattlePope
BattlePope New Reader
1/23/18 1:34 p.m.

Hi guys,

I'm in the market for some snow chains and had a few questions since I've never had to buy any before. 

  • I've seen some chains listed as fitting sizes 1014, 1018, 1022, etc. What do they mean by this? I've mostly been looking for chains that fit my specific tire size (175/65R14) so was confused to see a different metric used. What size is my tire?
  • My car is a 1994 Geo Prizm. I only need chains for my front two tires, correct?
  • Would you recommend the traditional chains or something like this?
  • Any specific models that you'd recommend for my tire (175/65R14)? Preferably off of Amazon but not required.

Thanks!

Robbie
Robbie GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
1/23/18 2:31 p.m.

Dunno about the other questions, but you need chains for all 4 tires. 

Two on the front only and you may be able to go, but if you ever need to brake the rear tires will lock up. It will be like trying to drive down an icy hill with only a parking brake. NOT optimal in an emergency braking situation.

Blaise
Blaise Reader
1/23/18 2:42 p.m.

Why not just get snow tires? Chains are a pain.

NorseDave
NorseDave Reader
1/23/18 3:17 p.m.

I spend a lot of time in UT in the winter, but since I'm flying in, it means I'm always in a rental car.  Since I now keep a small self-storage unit out there, I have acquired an alarming inventory of chains.  I think I'm at 5 sets now.  Once I arrive, I check the tire size when I head into the self-store, and then look at the chart on each chain bag/box to see if I have one that fits.  If I do, it goes in the trunk.  If not, and snow is forecast, I swing by O'Reilly's (usually) and pick up a new set.  If I don't need them, they get returned, if I do it's $40 well spent.  

 

I don't know what the 1014, 1018, etc. codes actually mean (if they mean anything - I don't think that's a metric code), but each one of those will fit a wide range of tires.  You just need to find the one that matches your 175/65-14 tires.  Shouldn't be hard, but my experience says that often the counter person has no idea how to look this up.  If you ask to just go look at the chains, they'll be in a box,pouch that will list all the tire sizes that particular chain fits.  I would make sure your size is on there - it might seem like something else is "really close" but if it's not listed, it will not fit right and will cause problems.

 

As for 2 vs 4 chains, I've only ever used 2 chains, on the front (for FWD vehicles).  I'm not disagreeing w/ Robbie, but I've never had any issues with stopping.  If it's bad enough that I'm using chains, I'm leaving lots of distance between vehicles and not going particularly fast anyway.  If you've got a big hill to go down, just drop the transmission into a lower gear and stay off the brakes altogether.  

 

No suggestions on brand (can't remember what I have), but I just use the cable chains, not real chains. 

 

My only other suggestion is - practice!  Figure out how to put them on when it's dry out, and then again when it's snowy, but you're at home and not in a hurry.  They're a bit fiddly, but not a big deal if you know the tricks.  A few years ago I was heading up a road and it went from drizzling wet flakes to raging snowstorm w/ completely covered road surface in about 1/2 a mile.   Cars were everywhere, pointing every direction.  As usual, the rental had crappy tires, but I managed to basically coast uphill past one car so I could get pulled off.  The car behind me and another in front of me on the shoulder were already there, and both drivers were already working on getting their chains on when I pulled off.  I pulled the chains out of the trunk, had them on in 5 minutes, and drove away while the other two cars still sat there, the drivers trying to figure out how to get them on while on a steepish, snowy uphill.  

 

codrus
codrus GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
1/23/18 3:17 p.m.
Blaise said:

Why not just get snow tires? Chains are a pain.

I dunno where BattlePope lives, but if it's in CA then there are mountain roads with "chain controls' in the winter.  You're required to carry chains with you and to put them on (generally unless the car is AWD/4WD) in certain weather conditions.

 

I have no specific recommendations, though.  I've bought a couple of sets in the past, but never actually used them.

BattlePope
BattlePope New Reader
1/23/18 3:48 p.m.
Blaise said:

Why not just get snow tires? Chains are a pain.

I do indeed live in California. 95% of the time, I'm driving around on 60°F asphalt in the winter. It's the other 5% of the time when I'm up in the mountains that I'll (maybe) need chains.

NorseDave said:

I spend a lot of time in UT in the winter...

Thanks for the super informative reply Dave. Going to swing down to the local O'Reillys/AutoZone and see what they have in stock. 

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