Volvo AWD Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 4/2012

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

Chains for driving in mountains

posted by  tina on  Mon Dec 19 04:32 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
last visit: Thu Nov 24 09:34 CST 2011
[RELATED]

I'm going to be driving back to California from Ontario in January, and I was told that often tire chains are required through the mountains (CHP will stop vehicles and check).

I have never used chains before...

1. where can i get them (Canadian Tire?) and how do i get the right size
2. how do I put them on correctly
3. any cautions or tips?

We are definitely not using a uHaul trailer, on top of the chain requirement a trailer would just be a nightmare. So we're shipping our stuff and driving.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Chains for driving in mountains

    posted by  MadeInJapan on  Mon Dec 19 09:34 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Sat Oct 2 06:34 CST 2010
    [RELATED]

    If you go the chain route rather than the tire "bands" then I have seen them for a reasonable amount (for Volvo, OEM) at www.volvopartsworld.com Good luck on your trip and have a very merry season.
    Regards,
    MIJ (Dave)
    --
    1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

    Chains for driving in mountains

    posted by  KlausC on  Mon Dec 19 06:47 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Tina,
    Whew, you had me worried for a while. A trailer through the rockies in the winter time is not a picnic. Chains come in 2 types, chain link and cable. If you find cables, they are better for radial tires and need less clearance. Most auto parts stores carry them.
    Remember, don't use tire chains on dry pavement and try not to exceed 50kph!

    If you take the southern route, Oklahoma and Las Vegas, you will not need chains. I80 will take you through at least two high mountain passes, where cahins are required if the road is snow covered. If course, you cold stop and ski at Lake Tahoe...

    Klaus
    Merry Christmas
    --
    (V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      Chains for driving in mountains

      posted by  tina on  Wed Dec 21 12:45 CST 2005
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Thu Nov 24 09:34 CST 2011
      [RELATED]

      Thanks for the tips guys! I don't think the online stores deliver to Canada and if they do I always get stuck paying a huge amount of duty, so i guess I will stop by Candian Tire and get the cable ones Klaus suggested.

      We will have our 3 cats in the car with us so no stops for skiing on the way :)

      I ditched the uHaul trailer idea after reading the responses here and imaging myself trying to learn to drive with a traile rin the winter, having to drive under 50mph and through the mountains... just did not sound fun at all! And could end up with us wrecked or more damage to the car than we'd save in shipping.

      Too bad we'd not just left our stuff in storage when we came up here, but of course we didn't plan on coming back again less than a year later!







      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        Chains for driving in mountains

        posted by  someone claiming to be bl on  Wed Dec 21 14:05 CST 2005 [RELATED]



        If you go with the "standard" chain, carry a set of "slack" reducers which are basically very large, heavy rubber bands with about 5 "S" hooks. Once the chain is installed (messy, cold job about any way you do it), attach them and they'll pull the chain tight. Be safe!

        bl







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.