Tire chains & cables on the MS3, share your experience

nhluhr · Nov 8, 2009

OK, I am moving to WA where they require chains many times throughout the winter when in mountainous areas. To that end, it's time to get some chains.

I do already have dedicated winter tires on 16" alloys but I'm curious to hear people's experience with chains/cables.

The main problem I have right now is my studless winter tires are too large to allow room for chains in the wheel wells (they are 225/55R16 and they already rub the rear fenders sometimes on cornering with luggage or people in the back).

So, I'm probably going to buy a new set of tires and mount them as soon as these wear out (shouldn't be too long, since I'm driving across the USA from VA to get there). I will likely go with the TireRack "recommended size" of 205/60R16 which should give me almost a half-inch more space on both sides of the tire.

I'm just curious to hear what others' experience with tire chains or cables has been and what tire/wheel combination they have used them with.

Thanks!

zx2man · Nov 8, 2009

Where are you moving to??? In western washington we get alittle snow but nothing your snow tires couldnt handle with ease. If its eastern washington..you should still be fine with good pair of winter tires as long as you drive responsible. Yes over the moutain passes you need chains or studs when the weather is yukky..but unless your hitting the ski mountains all the time and humping over the high elevation passs on a daily basis..your winter tires will wuit you fine. As of now..I dont have any experience using chains or cables on this car. Goodluck.

nhluhr · Nov 8, 2009

Seattle, and I'm not worried about the ability to "handle" anything, as I learned to drive in a michigan winter... snow is never challenging for me.

What I AM concerned about is legality for when I (frequently) go skiing or climbing or backpacking in the mountains.

zx2man · Nov 9, 2009

lol..I lived in Alaska for 15 years so yeah I came from own winter driving school as well

I hear ya man..I really dont know..I know that when your driving up through the passes in the winter time,that the signs say cable or chains required..ive seen plenty of people running without em..and basicly what i get from all this....is the cops are not gonna just pull you over if your driving just fine and the roadsarnt to bad..but lets say it dumps 2 feet of powder and your on the side of the road cause you dont got chains thats when the state troopers get involved.

RedKatanax9 · Nov 17, 2009

Legality wise, a dedicated set of winter tires are going to get you through 99% of situations. Only under very extreme condition, they require tire chains on all vehicles.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/faq.htm

flomulgator · Nov 19, 2009

"very extreme" happens all the time on Snoqualmie Pass, especially last winter. But what a previous poster said was true.....The troopers only get involved if you blew past the "check point" (they don't check) and then are found on the side of the road halfway up the big climb. But w/ studless snows on FWD I have never found anything that turned me back. However, I too am interested in chains, as today I was up there "snowplowing" my front fender......I really milk my cars for all they're worth!

BLAZEONE · Nov 22, 2009

Horrible. Used cable chains when going to the snow w/ stock summer tires. I felt like I had no control, and the chains were a B to put on/remove. Thank god I was on stock suspension or else I woulda been screwed. Get a winter set up.

I live in SoCal so I never plan on having a winter set up; thats why I used chains.

Oh, and my stock front rims paid the price

turbos3 · Dec 10, 2009

BLAZEONE said:
Horrible. Used cable chains when going to the snow w/ stock summer tires. I felt like I had no control, and the chains were a B to put on/remove. Thank god I was on stock suspension or else I woulda been screwed. Get a winter set up.

I live in SoCal so I never plan on having a winter set up; thats why I used chains.

Oh, and my stock front rims paid the price

wow you just described my day at bear mountain last week. my poor rims too.

M12 · Dec 10, 2009

turbos3 said:
wow you just described my day at bear mountain last week. my poor rims too.

what happened to your rims? what type of cables/chains?

Big bear last year on thule chains. everything came out fine.

Olestra · Dec 10, 2009

I just can't even imagine putting chains on my alloys.

If you want a winter beast, go with steelies with winter tires and chains.

turbos3 · Dec 11, 2009

i used cables. they claimed to fit the tire but just didnt look right. im not knew to the whole chain and cable thing so i cant blame newbe. ill get a pic to show but basically the tires are too narrow so the circumferance where you put the tensioner was too small. its supposed to be right on the edge of the tire like the above pic but mine was on the rim. hard to explain.

turbos3 · Dec 11, 2009

M12 said:
what happened to your rims? what type of cables/chains?

Big bear last year on thule chains. everything came out fine.

what model number?

M12 · Dec 11, 2009

turbos3 said:
what model number?

Thule CG-9.

turbos3 · Dec 12, 2009

i tried looking them up on the site but i dont see them. where did you get yours from? how much were they? they seem a lot better than what i have which are cables, not chains. there isnt much room from the top of the tire to the bottom of the spring so whenever i would go between 25 and 30 mph it would hit and make a horrible sound. no damage just sounded awful.

M12 · Dec 12, 2009

I got them from amazon.com
They used to be on thule's website but i guess theres a limited market for these chains. They are more expensive than cables though.

i would rate my experience with these chains as good.
I do get some noise that comes and goes from hitting something in the suspension. I dont know what it hits either but im guessing the bottom of the spring perch. I have looked under the car after i got back from big bear and did not see any scratches anywhere on the strut. But it doesnt happen all the time so its okay for now.

Traction with these chains are a lot better than with cables that go straight across since there is always a chain link between the tire and the ground. Whereas with cables, i would end up on a section of tire and i feel like the tire just plays jump rope with the cable. It would spin a bit before taking off slowly.

turbos3 · Dec 12, 2009

thats exactly what i felt but i have the cables that are like a Z. claims to be better but they suck. cant complain though, got them for like 20 bucks new. ill check out amazon. thanks

turbos3 · Dec 12, 2009

well i found them on amazon but they left out a minor detail, THE SIZE! they do have the model number though. Item model number: CG9-00023 104-00023 104. when you get a chance M12 can you check your box to see if this is a match? I wanna go back up to bear but that wonjt happen with the crappy cable i have. thanks

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

M12 · Dec 12, 2009

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

Theres a drop down box.

Sizes for 215/45(stock) and 225/40 both use 097.

225/45 uses 100.

BLk98xC · Dec 19, 2009

chains on ms3? if you require chains to travel through terraine with that bad of a snow....you should not be driving a speed3...chains are only required on really bad snow weather!

M12 · Dec 19, 2009

BLk98xC said:
chains on ms3? if you require chains to travel through terraine with that bad of a snow....you should not be driving a speed3...chains are only required on really bad snow weather!

Oh no....i shouldnt be driving my collector mobile in the snow.

Chains might only be required for bad weather in your area but not in mine.
Chains required for any snow unless awd and snow tires.

Tire chains & cables on the MS3, share your experience

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