Hi, I just got a 2006 WRX Wagon in OCT. I plan on driving it up to the snow this winter and had a few questions. In the manual it says "Caution: Tire Chains cannot be used on tires listed in the following because of lack of clearance between the tires and vehicle body. - 215/45R17" That's the size I have. I live in socal so I'm not going to get snow tires. I was wondering if I would be able to use cables like..

http://www.vulcantire.com/cgi-local/...=chainz6_c.htm

The wheel gap looks huge which is why I was surprised the manual said not to use tire chains.

I know there is a restriction where I have to have chains unless I have snow tires. I thought I read that using tire chains could void warrenty, but cables have better clearance so Im not even sure if they are necessarily considered tire chains.

Any advice or experience with this would be appreciated.

 

I have a 03 wrx sedan and I drove in the snow on low profile 18's for an entire season in wyoming.. Didnt need chains.. Awd+Snow=no chains

 

I was just wondering because theres a restriction where we need chains unless we have snow tires to get up the mountain.

 

Stock Bridgestone RE92 is All-Season tire (M+S sign on it). You should be able to pass the check point w/ AWD & M+S tires when others (FWD & RWD) are required to put on snow chains/cables. That's the beauty of Subaru! ;-)

There are sometimes when snow chain/cable is required on AWD w/ M+S tires... then I wouldn't drive through at all even I have the snow chain/cable because the condition is too dangerous.

 

I went to Tahoe with Summer tires on when there was no chain control. Of course, it started to dump snow and my car was having traction issues. I had brought tire cables just in case and they worked fine. This was on a lowered 04 Wagon with 215/45/17s.

 

Get some cables and carry them. As long as you have all season tires, you won't need them. Of course, this doesn't mean drive around like an asshat in the snow. A cheap set of cables come in around $35.

 

The only reason you would need them in combo with M+S tires would be for ice. If you know the place where you are staying has steep roads that could ice up it would be a good idea to have them. As everyone else said you won't need them for the highway if you have M+S. Most of the time if you have a subaru they don't even check the tires @ chain control.

 

Do us all a favor and please don't do this again!

 

Lol, trust me, i learned my lesson.

 

Can't find this answer anywhere...do we need to put cables on all four wheels to protect the awd components from getting screwed up?

 

never-mind...I am an idiot

https://www.i-club.com/forums/wheel-tire-59/tire-cables-chains-front-wheels-rear-wheels-151881/

 

Thanks for the responses.. I probably will go with a cheap $30 set just for the comfort of knowing i have them.

 

Good call. Better safe than sorry.