Chains on 19" Peelers?

[joeinla]

I have searched high and low and people have said its not recommended. My question is this, is it possible to keep the Peelers on with Pilot Super Sports, and adjust the height (increase) on coil-overs to get some snow chains to clear?

Living in SoCal, I just can't justify spending money on a set of 18" wheels with chains or a set of 19 snow tires for the 2 or 3 trips to Mammoth a year.

Has anyone gone this route with chains on 19's?


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[BirdmanQ5]

Living in California and only dealing with snow 2 or 3 times a year...these are good problems to have.

[mike907]

Chains are not easy on tires, I can't imagine what they'd do to summer tires. It would be worth the money to get a set of steelies and some decent used snow tires if its only 2-3 times a year, they hold value and will keep your quality stuff, in quality shape.

[Audibot]

Living in California and only dealing with snow 2 or 3 times a year...these are good problems to have.

Seriously. First world problems...

[Arn560]

Just rent a car to go to the mountains.

[RudyH]

Just rent a car to go to the mountains.

agreed, I don't own a truck because for the 2-3 times a year I can go to U Haul for $20...likewise for those 2-3 times you might go to the mountains you can rent a car just as easy

[ojmcneill]

YEah, I wouldn't risk chains on my peelers or tires brother. Especially considering you'ld only need them twice a year. I'd just consider taking it slow those two or three times a year and not taking any risks getting stuck. I mean, a little common sense should keep you out of danger for that limited amount of poor weather exposure. I thought the 'truck rental' idea was a good one as well. Here in KY, we see significant amounts of snow in the winter so I'm riding on Conti DWS all seasons. I know I'm giving up some of the summer tire goodness but it's nice not to have to change to winters every year. My S4 is a freaking unstoppable beast in the snow as well, riding on them.

[switchedstance]

What about textile "chains"?

https://www.ecstuning.com/News/ISSE_...SnowChains_VW/

[mmm def]

People sell used s4 wheels all the time just keep an eye on the classifieds.

[The Fat Kid]

Chains on summers seems like a terrible idea.

You can probably buy a used 18" winter setup for $800, and get 5+ years out of it. I put ~2k miles on my WS80s this past winter (mostly dry roads since we had a warm winter) and barely put a dent in the treads.

Chains are not easy on tires, I can't imagine what they'd do to summer tires. It would be worth the money to get a set of steelies and some decent used snow tires if its only 2-3 times a year, they hold value and will keep your quality stuff, in quality shape.

Steelies won't fit on the S4.

[mr shickadance]

it's less about the summers with chains, and more about how hard a performance summer tire gets in a cold environment.

given that a set of 18's wheels and tires equates to the same price as winter tires on 19's with the added benefit of having a deeper sidewall, you should opt for that package, or, just rent a car for a few times you will need it.

Chains give you traction going forward, but it's the slits and softer rubber in a winter tire that is going to help you stop quicker. with an AWD car, traction going forward is rarely a problem, stopping in time is always the challenge, and chains+summer tires is trending in the opposite direction there.


so either rent a car (cheapest option) or get a set of winters?

[skiracerblah]

in freezing temperatures, it is very possible you can crack the rubber on summer tires.....

[grovlet]

What about textile "chains"?

https://www.ecstuning.com/News/ISSE_...SnowChains_VW/

Good idea - but won't do here - they state they do not meet the requirement for "Chains" in CA

Basically the mountain passes in CA require all vehicles to be properly setup for winter driving = either dedicated snows or full fledged chains....

OP - I wouldn't run chains over summer tires on the peelers - as noted the tires are not well suited for the temps you'll see - and the chains do a number on the actual rims themselves..... You're better off with an alternate set of wheels for this purpose - although if it's only for 2-3x per year - a rental vehicle is probably an even better solution (assuming you can rent one with the required winter hardware (chains or dedicated snows).

EDIT: You don't want to run just summer tires in the snow (no chains) - even on car of this nature - TRUST ME - I had my summers on for the last minor snow fall (2 inch) earlier this year - nothing like only getting 1/2 way up my 30 deg driveway to put on the brakes - only to notice the car is sliding backwards downhill - you may be able to get the car moving but steering/braking control will still be NILL

[SteveYem]

One of the benefits of living in southern California, as I understand it, is that you can go skiing in the morning and surfing in the afternoon. I don't think it's very practical to spend the time each morning before a ski trip to swap a set of dedicated winter wheels+tires onto the car. Having to rent a car may also take away some of the 'charm' or novelty of being able to wake up in the LA basin 70 degree weather and drive 5 hours to freezing temperatures in Mammoth.

If I were in the OP's position, I would do one of the following:
1) Buy a second set of wheels with good quality, high performance all-season tires such as Continental DWS 06, and swap that set onto the car for November thru March (assuming that's the time frame that Mammoth would be worth visiting). Swap back to your summer wheel+tire setup for April thru October.

-or-
2) Switch to a good quality, high performance all-season tire to use all year round. I personally rode on a set of Conti DWS (not the new and improved -06 version) for most of last summer and fall, and part of this spring. Other than the sidewalls being a bit soft for my taste, I found the tires to be very good in all temperatures including below freezing. I never used them in snow/ice/slush, but I have read that they are good in those conditions as well.

[SteveYem]

Good idea - but won't do here - they state they do not meet the requirement for "Chains" in CA

Basically the mountain passes in CA require all vehicles to be properly setup for winter driving = either dedicated snows or full fledged chains....

OP - I wouldn't run chains over summer tires on the peelers - as noted the tires are not well suited for the temps you'll see - and the chains do a number on the actual rims themselves..... You're better off with an alternate set of wheels for this purpose - although if it's only for 2-3x per year - a rental vehicle is probably an even better solution (assuming you can rent one with the required winter hardware (chains or dedicated snows).

I know that on I-70 from Denver CO into the mountains they will allow AWD with all-season tires. Is it more strict in California?

[grovlet]

I know that on I-70 from Denver CO into the mountains they will allow AWD with all-season tires. Is it more strict in California?

That's my impression from my friends who live there.... But since I'm in CT - I can't confirm that 100%.....

I do have 3 different friends in N. Cal - all have either dedicated winter vehicles (with snows) or wheels that they don't care about for chains just to go skiing (and I recall them all telling me that's why)

Would be nice if the OP could confirm that AWD + All-Season is an option here - as that would be a pretty easy & simple solution

[mungie]

I don't see why low profile tire cables would be a problem

[jomama229]

they don't require chains or winter tires if you have awd. you just need a/s tires that have m+s ratings, which is just about every a/s tire out there that i looked at. i had goodyear excellence summer tires on my Q5 for a bit. ended up replacing them with some conti dws06 b/c of tahoe trips. we got 6" of heavy wet snow one night in south tahoe and it took some work to break the car loose.