tdoggydog Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Okay - I know you guys answered my question about which cable to get for my Legacy in order to better handle the snow (and more importantly, get passed the checkpoint). But now I have another question - front wheels, or rear? Would clearance be better in the rear? Or would having assistance on the front (steering) wheels be better? Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimy101 Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Okay - I know you guys answered my question about which cable to get for my Legacy in order to better handle the snow (and more importantly, get passed the checkpoint). But now I have another question - front wheels, or rear? Would clearance be better in the rear? Or would having assistance on the front (steering) wheels be better? Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdoggydog Posted August 23, 2007 Author Share Posted August 23, 2007 Why open a book (shyeah!) when I have all of you talented, knowledgeable drivers on tap??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimy101 Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Why open a book (shyeah!) when I have all of you talented, knowledgeable drivers on tap??? Do yourself a huge favour and Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meier motor sports Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 do you mean snow chains for your tires? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreoSTi Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Just keep a box of chains/cables in your car's trunk... I've never had to put them on going to Mammoth, Tahoe, or Big Bear. This is assuming you're using (at least) M+S rated tires. From the Caltrans web site; R1: Chains are required - snow tread tires allowed.R2: Chains are required on all vehicles except four wheel drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels.R3: Chains are required - all vehicles - no exceptions.R1 and R2 are the most common conditions. The highway is usually closed before an R3 condition is imposed.Don't over-drive conditions, and you should be fine. -Mike- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedDevil Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 This is something I wasn't sure of: Just keep a box of chains/cables in your car's trunk... I've never had to put them on going to Mammoth, Tahoe, or Big Bear. This is assuming you're using (at least) M+S rated tires. From the Caltrans web site;R1: Chains are required - snow tread tires allowed.R2: Chains are required on all vehicles except four wheel drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels.R3: Chains are required - all vehicles - no exceptions.R1 and R2 are the most common conditions. The highway is usually closed before an R3 condition is imposed.Don't over-drive conditions, and you should be fine. -Mike- M+S == snow tires? My understanding is that M+S is a designation on all-season tires. So when they say snow tires in the R2 condition, do they really mean dedicated snow tires or all-season with M+S is fine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabydanimal Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Wow, never heard of them referred to as "snow cables," just chains. I've can't imagine driving through snow that requires chains in a Legacy. At that point I would imagine it would be more of a clearance issue than anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meier motor sports Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 a snow tire will say m+s on it. m+s means mud and snow. a dedicated winter tire that should be used in snow only will have the snowflake in the triangle logo. m+s tires are allseasons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvrick Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 They usually wave you pass when they see the stars. My Outback Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 a snow tire will say m+s on it. m+s means mud and snow. a dedicated winter tire that should be used in snow only will have the snowflake in the triangle logo. m+s tires are allseasonsNope. M+S is the old rating that corresponds to any tire that meets certain tread design requirements meaning it won't be a slick in the snow or mud. (Doesn't mean it is actually a good winter tire) The snowflake label has to be on the tire for it to be considered a "snow" or winter tire. There are LOTS of snow and winter tires (not M+S all season) that perform better than the RE-92s and many other all-seasons on dry warm pavement, or wet warm pavement. And then they spank the All-seasons in snow and ice too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeTrout Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 In the mountains, you would be surprised. You get packed, icy snow on steeply banked roads, and bets are off. All seasons become pretty much useless. H2s with off-road tires are sliding sideways without control. An OB or Legacy with dedicated snow tires will track like it's on dry concrete and brake like it's a pleasant, rainy day. Add studs and even the braking comes back within normal parameters. If you ski, snowboard, or do other winter sports in the mountains, a dedicated set of snow tires is very much worth the price. Ich bin echt viel netter, wenn ich nuechtern bin. Echt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdoggydog Posted August 23, 2007 Author Share Posted August 23, 2007 I know you guys all think that you can get past checkpoints without chains/cables, but I'm telling you, CHP makes EVERYONE do it - regardless of AWD or 4-wheel drive. I don't know why, they just do. So I have a 3.0 with all-seasons, and the question is still - front, or rear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdoggydog Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 OK, one last time - for all of you who live outside of CA, let me tell you something - we don't get enough weather here to justify having an extra set of rims with winter tires on them. (Breathe...) I could see doing this if you live in say...Colorado, North Dakota, etc. I can't seem to get it clear to some people that CHP will not let you pass a checkpoint if a severe storm is in effect, regardless of your vehicle's handling capabilities. Chains ARE required at times. I've had this happen numerous time in numerous years. I'll have cables handy, but just wanted to know if people though the front or rear would be better places for installation, with pros and cons. For example, I used to drive a front wheel drive, and of course would install them there. The downside, less clearance in the front and the turning radius was increased. Perhaps this is a non-issue with the Legacy? Perhaps rear is better anyways? I know getting the chains on the front is easier as you can turn the wheel to gain access to the inside of the tire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meier motor sports Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 i would think being awd you would want chains on all 4 wheels for the same reason you want matching tires on all 4 wheels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdoggydog Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 i would think being awd you would want chains on all 4 wheels for the same reason you want matching tires on all 4 wheels Are you mocking me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meier motor sports Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 i dont think so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimy101 Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 i would think being awd you would want chains on all 4 wheels for the same reason you want matching tires on all 4 wheels I would think that just having one set while driving on snow at slow speeds for a limited time is not going to do much harm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSFW Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 My last car had a VC and the owner's manual said chains were OK for short periods and low speeds. I'm pretty sure that VC grabbed tighter and quicker than the Subaru's, too. Plus it's something you're only going to do in cold weather, so that'll help dissipate any extra heat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praedet Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 if you do this, please do it on all four corners and use a set of low profile cables... And I have lived in SoCal. Even then I had a set of rims/winters to throw on when I headed up to the mountains. It is not a big deal.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilson Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 If you only have a 'pair' of chains, always use them on the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeTrout Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 When I've seen Subies using chains, they were on all 4. Cables are cheap, you might as well go with two sets. Ich bin echt viel netter, wenn ich nuechtern bin. Echt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSFW Posted August 25, 2007 Share Posted August 25, 2007 I had a set of rims/winters to throw on when I headed up to the mountains. It is not a big deal.. That's the solution to a different problem, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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