Need Snow Chains By Friday!

Tires. Oh yeah That's a good point.

Fronts:
2 "Dominator" Tour MR II tires
(alignment had worn fronts down to the wear bars, and needed 2 tires bad)
America's Tire - The "DOMINATORS!!" Specs
these have already been balanced/rotated to the back and back to the front again
Treadlife: 560
Traction: A
Temp: B

Rear Left:
"Road Rebel" Radial tire
(tire got slashed in college parking lot, needed a cheapie)
Can't remember where I got this one
Treadlife: 440 (I told you it was cheap)
Traction: A
Temp: B

Rear Right:
Continential ContiTrac
The only original tire left on the car
Treadlife: 520
Traction: A
Temp: B

As far as tread depth goes:
Front Left: .235"
Front Right: .240"
Rear Left: .220"
Rear Right: .155" (the original continental, )
did it with the caliper in several locations on tire, keeping caliper perpendicular to tire

Looks like I'll at least get a new tire for the continental and have them all re-balanced and rotated.
I'm deathly affraid of sliding on black ice is the problem and I'd rather have chains than slide. Are there something like "thin" chains that just give some bite for ice, but not quite as thick as a full "chain?" Help me out guys, I gotta have these by thursday.

-mobiuslogic

They will probably salt and/or plow the roads so there shouldn't be much ice. We have 10* weather here all the time and the roads are perfect and dry because of the salt and plowing. But if you have at least decent tires and go slow you should be OK. I live in Ohio, part of the snowbelt and we get TONS of snow and I've never seen anyone with chains. You probably read not long ago that I had a problem due to sliding. This was during the worst weather of the season and I was out on the roads right after it rained and then froze and then snowed on top of it which is really rare. So just stop far in advance, leave yourself lots of room and take it easy and you should be just fine. Also, if you do try to stop quick and don't have ABS - DO NOT LOCK UP THE BRAKES!! pump them easily - do not put all your pressure on the brakes either. Just take it easy and you'll be fine.

OH - and HAVE FUN!

Originally posted by mobiuslogic@Feb 23 2004, 12:07 AM
Yeah, I definitely have ABS. And I checked and made sure to boot.

I'm sure I'll get a pair of chains in case I need them. I'll also air my tires down a bit to give me a bigger contact patch.

Why don't chains help with the ice though? I would think they would be able to cut through the ice and grip the ice better right?

-mobiuslogic

EDIT: Where can I buy chains at? And what kind of chains should I get. The cable kind or the actual "chain" type?

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Well I didn't mean chains wont help with ice they do, but lots of snow is the reason chains are usually made mandatory. In Colorado they usually make chains mandatory when it is snowing so hard that road crews cant keep up. Thats makes for a lot of snow on the roads. Once the roads are clear enough they spray magnesium chloride to melt the ice. When there is just ice on the roads your chains really take a beating, I take them off if I can so they dont wear out or break. I'd get me a pair just in case at a store with a good return policy. If you don't use them, return them. If you do you don't have to cancel your trip because some troopers made you turn around and gave you a big ticket. You'll also be a lot safer for obvious reasons. Most auto places or tire stores sell chains. Get the kind that are easiest to put on if you have never done it before. Ask the tire guys to instruct you so your not trying to figure it out on the side of the road. I think the cable kind are easir to put on.

Originally posted by Kermitec@Feb 23 2004, 02:39 AM
Most auto places or tire stores sell chains.

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Ay, it's too late in the night to be planning for Tahoe and I'm studying for my Art test. Yeah, I'll get them when I get the tires balanced and rotated. Do you guys think I should replace my right rear tire (the continental) or if it'll be ok for the trip?

Yeah, I wanted to take chains anyways, just in case. I'd be pretty pissed if I didn't get them, hoping I wouldn't need them, only to get there and need them and not have them. Donner's Pass is the worst place on I-80 and the most likely place to require the chains. Also, do I need 4 chains or just 2. I really don't want to lose the back end of course here also.

Thanks for all the help so far guys. I've never been driving in the snow before, and I really appreciate all the help so far. I'll be sure to post lots of pics when I get back.

-mobiuslogic