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Snow Chain help

For early next season, I need to get snow chains for my 2002 Camry and I know almost nothing about the things. The tires are the P215/60R16 and I have been told I must get an "S" series chain to avoid damage to the car because there is too little space between the tires and the inside of the wheel wells. I also understand there are two types of snow "chains", with one being real chain and the other some sort of a cable or wire rope? ?Most snow chain sellers don't have much info on their web sites.

While I appreciate any advice or information my first questions are:

  1. What size do I get?
  2. What is the difference between the cable and chain designs?
  3. Which is better in this application?
  4. What should I expect to spend? Is one brand better than another or are they pretty much the same?
  5. Is one time of year better than another due to lack of demand, or lack of supply (summer?)(must have by late August,06.

TIA, bob in Los Angeles

Reply to
Bob Giel
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I'm pretty sure Wal-Mart (or maybe Target in LA) has both types of chains in the Auto Dept. at reasonable prices - the "jumprope" kind and the "real chains".

What does the manual say exactly? Bring it with you to Wal-Mart...

I actually bought the "real chain" kind, used it in the snow a few times, then noticed once something was loose (there was a noise), pulled over, and I noticed it wore away a small part of the fender. Wanted to get the "jumprope" kind, I think you can drive faster with it (and avoid the maniacs behind you who still want to drive 60+ mph in the snow). But haven't done it yet...

Reply to
mrdarrett

Kind of a bad time of year to be buying them, most places have already purged them from their inventory...Anyway, Security Chain has a great web site and they address what you are worried about. They have a new "pricey" top of the line cable that would work, I'm sure.....I have an '03 camry, same "generation" as yours and regular "ladder" cable chains fit just fine, so I am sure their new product would be fine on your car.

The real problem with the camry is the low clearance, any kind of depth and you are screwed...anyway

I'm providing the SCC link below, poke around their site, read their special page on limited clearance, take advantage of their "dealer locator" page. I'm sure you'll find two or three chain/cable choices that would work.

The quick fit "Z" models are easiest to install, but they are also the pricer of the line...

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Reply to
timbirr

=Bite= the 'bullet'.

Get a set of studded 'snows' , mount on a new/used 'rim' set. On =all= 'four(4) corners too ... A no_brainer choice with wify&kids in the car.

Kinda =expensive=, but work the best ... "automatically" =there= when needed the most ... :-) both braking and traction, on fwd cars. No damage to fender wells, no 'CVJ' damage. $35 per rim, used ; studded tires at $110 ea, all "US$" ; $600 est. ttl.

Work well in 6" semi_wet snow, on a 7% grade, 30mph up/down ... 94 Camry. I 'live' in deep snow_country.

You'd need full_around, good steel chains to =match= that performance. Installing/removing such 'chains', in the cold & wet, will convince you ... 1st time "out".

'Studs" arent all that noizy on clear, hard pavement either ... at

75mph.

One 'loop' "Strap_ons" , on all 'four', are very^10 =chancy= in braking. Nah, Dont. NFW.

=Bite= the 'bullet'.

E.

Reply to
0_Qed

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