REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

Volvo-brickster · 01-01-2009, 06:10 PM

So i tried looking on transport Canada's webpage as well as province of BC's webpage, didn't get a lot of info.

When it snows, what are ( if there are any ) the requirements for passenger cars and tires?

All seasons?
Winter tires?
Chains?

TIA

RRxtar · 01-01-2009, 06:15 PM

i recall hearing you need winter tires or all seasons with chains.

Volvo-brickster · 01-01-2009, 06:16 PM

i saw their "guide for chains"

on 2wd's, chains must go on the drive axle

for 4WD / AWD chains must go on ALL drive axles

i have a 4x4 with all seasons, so does that mean i need chains on all 4 tires? or cani get away with chains on only 2?

metal · 01-01-2009, 09:12 PM

Err you just said it yourself, 4x4's need chains on all four..

StewartJD · 01-01-2009, 10:47 PM

Chains are relatively inexpensive....i bought a bunch a few years ago (or am i wrong?)...so it wouldn't be too expensive buying an extra set. It is a PITA to get them on though, especially in the kind of weather that requires it.

Volvo-brickster · 01-02-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metal

Err you just said it yourself, 4x4's need chains on all four..

well it was a "guide" to chains, but not the actual requirements

i did find the answer today though, when it snows hard, RCMP will require chains on all drive axles, 4wd = chains on all wheels

johny · 01-03-2009, 07:51 PM

I'm going to say that most 4x4 manuals say don't use chains on the front...

if they let a RWD car with 2 chains go though, but not a 4x4 with rear chains go through, that would be retarted

Alatar · 01-03-2009, 08:40 PM

They don't require that you have the chains on the wheels at all times, just that you carry the chains with you in case you need to chain up.

OffroadZuki · 01-03-2009, 08:41 PM

If you're driving a 4x4, you can just slap the t-case into 2H if a cop stops you and tell him it's technically a 2x4

If you drive AWD, you're boned

tonyvu · 01-03-2009, 09:25 PM

I used to work at Canadian Tires Auto parts and they sell chains in pairs. I was told that you need to put them on your drive axles. If you have a 4x4 or an AWD, the chains would go on the rear axles.

underscore · 01-03-2009, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johny

I'm going to say that most 4x4 manuals say don't use chains on the front...

if they let a RWD car with 2 chains go though, but not a 4x4 with rear chains go through, that would be retarted

except the power will go to the wheel with the least resistance, which would be the 2 without chains, so now the 2 wheels that do have chains are useless anyways

johny · 01-03-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by underscore

except the power will go to the wheel with the least resistance, which would be the 2 without chains, so now the 2 wheels that do have chains are useless anyways

not on a real 4x4. they lock the front and rear. which is why you can't drive real trucks / SUV's in 4x4 on bare roads. you destroy things pretty fast.

Death2Theft · 01-03-2009, 10:18 PM

Listen you numbskulls, the reason you need 4 chains on 4wd is because on a 2wd 4 chains wont do anything more than 2 chains. Hence if you have 4 wheels that are able to benifit from chains with traction,you'd be quite the idiot to only have 2.

Volvo-brickster · 01-03-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OffroadZuki

If you're driving a 4x4, you can just slap the t-case into 2H if a cop stops you and tell him it's technically a 2x4

If you drive AWD, you're boned

that was what i was thinking
and if they really gave me a hard time i could say i had no front drive shaft

Quote:

Originally Posted by underscore

except the power will go to the wheel with the least resistance, which would be the 2 without chains, so now the 2 wheels that do have chains are useless anyways

with my transfer case , 4 hi locks both front and rears spinning at the same speed, so chains at either axle should have the same effect

i'll go chain shopping tomorrow

RRxtar · 01-03-2009, 10:26 PM

the reason you arent supposed to have chains on only one set of axles on a 4x4 is the same reason you arent supposed to have different size tires front and rear on a 4x4 and to a more extreme extent, different gear ratios in your front and rear difs.

johny · 01-03-2009, 10:33 PM

if you're on a road that really needed 4 chains all 4 will be spining at different speeds anyways. gear ratios only matter on dry / bare roads.

underscore · 01-03-2009, 10:44 PM

I stand corrected, in that case I'd stick the chains on the front to aide the steering as well, 4 chains would be better tho, moar grippy = moar betta

Soundy · 01-03-2009, 10:54 PM

One very important thing to remember with chains is that they have pretty serious usage limits. DO NOT drive over 35-40km/h with them, and DO NOT drive on bare pavement with them unless you want to destroy your tires.

They're handy to get you out of a pinch, but winter/snow/ice tires are far preferable if you're going to do any serious amount of winter driving.

There's a great article comparing different types of "winter tires" here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...cialGlobeAuto/