Anyone have any recommendations on winters chains for 19" wheels?

Kedis82ZE8

'15 CX-5 AWD GT w/Tech Pkg
Contributor
Probably the best time to buy now before winter.

I need these for pass travel during the winter just to be legal. I probably won't ever have to use them. I've only seen 2 times in the last 10-12 years when an ice storm on the pass required chains on AWD vehicles. This includes vehicles with snow tires or snow tires with studs.

Here are some vendor recommendations I have so far:

2317D - http://www.tirechainsupply.com/product117.html
2019C - http://www.tirechainsupply.com/product108.html

http://www.scc-chain.com/tire-chain-finder/traction-product-choices/super-z6-tire-chains/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned)
 
Probably the best time to buy now before winter.

I need these for pass travel during the winter just to be legal. I probably won't ever have to use them. I've only seen 2 times in the last 10-12 years when an ice storm on the pass required chains on AWD vehicles. This includes vehicles with snow tires or snow tires with studs.

Not really sure why you would want to run 19's if you are going to be driving through areas where snowfall/ice is an issue. All seasons are not really appropriate for such conditions and good winter tires are not available in that size/profile at reasonable cost. You would be better off running 17 or 16 inch steelies.

If you really want tire chains for 19 inch tires well I am all sorts of confused. Keep in mind you will damage your rims in all likelyhood when you put the chains on. In either case if you do chains you want them on all four tires and preferably with a tensioning system.

Something like this: http://www.tirechain.com/tensioners.htm

Other thing to keep in mind is the type of chain pattern. They all have advantage and disadvantages. Just make sure you get something with low clearance. Typically I like the diamond chain pattern.
 
The challenge I have in WA state (marine climate) is that 95% of the time I am near sea level with rain & 10C / 50F + temps. I traverse an extremely well maintained pass and aside from a few compact snow conditions at times it seems hard to justify snow tires for that short window. Aren't snow tires quite a bit less effective once you get into my normal low elevation temperatures?
 
The challenge I have in WA state (marine climate) is that 95% of the time I am near sea level with rain & 10C / 50F + temps. I traverse an extremely well maintained pass and aside from a few compact snow conditions at times it seems hard to justify snow tires for that short window. Aren't snow tires quite a bit less effective once you get into my normal low elevation temperatures?

Yeah that makes sense. Snow tires typically are made of softer compounds so they don't become rock hard when the temperatures goes below 0C so yeah the tires would wear out faster in high temps but handling wise it's probably not going to be dramatic. Granted though if you don't drive in snow 95% of the time probably not worthwhile having snow tires.

a bungee cord can work as a tensioner as well...

Sure but I wouldn't trust them frankly. You don't really get even tension and the bungee cord can start moving/stretching once you get some speed going.
 
The challenge I have in WA state (marine climate) is that 95% of the time I am near sea level with rain & 10C / 50F + temps. I traverse an extremely well maintained pass and aside from a few compact snow conditions at times it seems hard to justify snow tires for that short window. Aren't snow tires quite a bit less effective once you get into my normal low elevation temperatures?

I live in Western WA also and run snow tires all winter because I'm an avid skier.

A lot of snow tires (especially studded) are not that good at braking/handling on bare pavement. But these are good for bare and/or wet pavement:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...e=yes&CAWELAID=530007250000333822&CAGPSPN=pla



They actually grip in those conditions better than the all season tires my CX-5 came with but I still put the all-seasons back on in the spring because the winter tires would likely wear too quickly during our warm summers.
 
Thanks! I will have to check those out. I've traditionally just used siped all-weather tires, reasonable speed and a safe following distance without issues over the years on my SUV. The best rain tire I have ever had were Continental ExtremeContact DWS. These things pumped out the water like nothing I had ever experienced. It is good to hear the snows you suggested will work fine on wet pavement.
 
The Michelin X-ice Xi2 is another fantastic tire in cool, wet conditions and is excellent in snow. A bit more than the Goodyears but watch for their $70 per set rebate.
 
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