Snow chains for a '98 Camry?

I need to get snow chains (or cables) for my 1998 Toyota Camry.

I've never owned snow chains before so I really don't know what I'm doing.

A friend recommended these:
[url]http://www.scc-chain.com/Traction%20Pages/Trac_SZ6.html[/url]

And I'm confused by the clearance issues. I've read that chains can hit
the struts as well as the wheel wells. This is hard for me to imagine
because it seems like there's plenty of room in there. And I can't find
any hard data on compatibility.

My tires are Goodyear Assurance TripleTred P195/70T14.

Can anyone recommend chains or cables for a '98 Camry?

Thanks for your help.

"Bruce W.1" <sorry@noDirectEmail.com> wrote in message
news:do%eh.4544$Ga1.2102@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net...[color=blue]
>I need to get snow chains (or cables) for my 1998 Toyota Camry.
>
> I've never owned snow chains before so I really don't know what I'm doing.
>
> A friend recommended these:
> [url]http://www.scc-chain.com/Traction%20Pages/Trac_SZ6.html[/url]
>
> And I'm confused by the clearance issues. I've read that chains can hit
> the struts as well as the wheel wells. This is hard for me to imagine
> because it seems like there's plenty of room in there. And I can't find
> any hard data on compatibility.
>
> My tires are Goodyear Assurance TripleTred P195/70T14.
>
> Can anyone recommend chains or cables for a '98 Camry?
>
> Thanks for your help.[/color]

Chains can be troublesome. Have you considered a set of serious snow tires
first, with studs installed?

"Bruce W.1" <sorry@noDirectEmail.com> wrote in message
news:do%eh.4544$Ga1.2102@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net...[color=blue]
>I need to get snow chains (or cables) for my 1998 Toyota Camry.
>
> I've never owned snow chains before so I really don't know what I'm doing.
>
> A friend recommended these:
> [url]http://www.scc-chain.com/Traction%20Pages/Trac_SZ6.html[/url]
>
> And I'm confused by the clearance issues. I've read that chains can hit
> the struts as well as the wheel wells. This is hard for me to imagine
> because it seems like there's plenty of room in there. And I can't find
> any hard data on compatibility.
>
> My tires are Goodyear Assurance TripleTred P195/70T14.
>
> Can anyone recommend chains or cables for a '98 Camry?
>
> Thanks for your help.[/color]

Please explain as to exactly WHY you think that you need tire chains.

"sharx35" <sharx35@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:wm0fh.59009$hn.25941@edtnps82...[color=blue]
>
> "Bruce W.1" <sorry@noDirectEmail.com> wrote in message
> news:do%eh.4544$Ga1.2102@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net...[color=green]
>>I need to get snow chains (or cables) for my 1998 Toyota Camry.
>>
>> I've never owned snow chains before so I really don't know what I'm
>> doing.
>>
>> A friend recommended these:
>> [url]http://www.scc-chain.com/Traction%20Pages/Trac_SZ6.html[/url]
>>
>> And I'm confused by the clearance issues. I've read that chains can hit
>> the struts as well as the wheel wells. This is hard for me to imagine
>> because it seems like there's plenty of room in there. And I can't find
>> any hard data on compatibility.
>>
>> My tires are Goodyear Assurance TripleTred P195/70T14.
>>
>> Can anyone recommend chains or cables for a '98 Camry?
>>
>> Thanks for your help.[/color]
>
> Please explain as to exactly WHY you think that you need tire chains.
>[/color]
I can't speak for the OP, but when I lived in California, during certain
winter conditions, the California Highway Patrol requires 2 wheel drive
vehicles to either carry or install chains in the mountains. On the way to
Lake Tahoe, if snow if falling or forecast, the CHP will have road blocks
where drivers have to show that they have chains in the car, or if the roads
are bad, they have to install the chains. It is not reasonable to make
people who see snow 1 or 2 weekends a year to invest in snow tires, so
chains seem to be a reasonable compromise. 4WD vehicles were exempt from
the chain requirement most of the time, although IIRC, in some conditions,
the only vehicles that were allowed through the road block were 4WD vehicles
with chains. I don't know if that is still the case, or if any other
locations have similar rules. I suspect that those rules were put in place
because so many Californians have so little experience driving in snow. I
remember being elected to drive back to San Francisco from Reno during a
snow storm because I was the only one who had ever driven in snow.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Bruce W.1 wrote:[color=blue]
> I need to get snow chains (or cables) for my 1998 Toyota Camry.
>
> I've never owned snow chains before so I really don't know what I'm doing.
>
> A friend recommended these:
> [url]http://www.scc-chain.com/Traction%20Pages/Trac_SZ6.html[/url]
>
> And I'm confused by the clearance issues. I've read that chains can hit
> the struts as well as the wheel wells. This is hard for me to imagine
> because it seems like there's plenty of room in there. And I can't find
> any hard data on compatibility.
>
> My tires are Goodyear Assurance TripleTred P195/70T14.
>
> Can anyone recommend chains or cables for a '98 Camry?
>
> Thanks for your help.[/color]


Read your manual, but I think the Camry needs chains that meet SAE
Class S. And these seem to meet those requirements...

These cable chains are probably better than real chain links (which
I've got, and which also happen to be Class S). With the cables, you
can drive a little faster, and there's less risk of damaging the wheel
well (which I managed to do, a couple years back, coming back home to
Sacramento from Lake Tahoe).

Michael

Bruce W.1 wrote:[color=blue]
> I need to get snow chains (or cables) for my 1998 Toyota Camry.
>SNIP[/color]

It would help if you mentioned why you needed them....there is a
difference if you are going to be in heavy snow in the passes of the
Cascades of Washington vs. a "I need them because I am going to drive
interstate 5 and during this time of year you are required to carry
chains."

If you are really going to be doing a lot of driving where you KNOW you
will be using them in very adverse conditions, I would suggest going
with an actual chain.

The diamond chains are easy to put on and give much better grip than
the cables. But, in most cases, cables should be fine...

[url]http://lesschwab2.reachlocal.net/tires/winter/chains.asp[/url]

I live in the snowy woods, where if it weren't for the diamond chains I
would never be able to closer than a half-mile to my house for part of
the winter.....

If you go to an actual tire dealer (like les schwab), you'll get a
perfect fit, be shown how to put them on and will know they will work
before YOU NEED them.

And, I am not schilling for LES, I actually don't patronize them
anymore, but any local tire store should be happy to help. Yep, you
might pay more than at a bargain auto parts place, but on the middle of
a mountain pass in 6-degree weather with a blizzard blowing in.....

[email]spswanson@gmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
>
> It would help if you mentioned why you needed them....there is a
> difference if you are going to be in heavy snow in the passes of the
> Cascades of Washington vs. a "I need them because I am going to drive
> interstate 5 and during this time of year you are required to carry
> chains."
>
> If you are really going to be doing a lot of driving where you KNOW you
> will be using them in very adverse conditions, I would suggest going
> with an actual chain.
>
> The diamond chains are easy to put on and give much better grip than
> the cables. But, in most cases, cables should be fine...
>
> [url]http://lesschwab2.reachlocal.net/tires/winter/chains.asp[/url]
>
> I live in the snowy woods, where if it weren't for the diamond chains I
> would never be able to closer than a half-mile to my house for part of
> the winter.....
>
> If you go to an actual tire dealer (like les schwab), you'll get a
> perfect fit, be shown how to put them on and will know they will work
> before YOU NEED them.
>
> And, I am not schilling for LES, I actually don't patronize them
> anymore, but any local tire store should be happy to help. Yep, you
> might pay more than at a bargain auto parts place, but on the middle of
> a mountain pass in 6-degree weather with a blizzard blowing in.....
>[/color]
=================================================================

Those Les Schwab Quick Fit Diamond Chains look pretty nifty.

The reason I'm getting chains is because I will be driving around in the
Appalachian Mountains this February. I will not install them unless I
really need them.

This is just a safety precaution. I've driven there before in the
winter and have had considerable difficulty in the snow at times.

One time a group of cars (including me) sat all night long on a hill
because noone could get up the icy road. Not even the 4-WD vehicles
could make it. In the morning the sun melted the ice. I'm not sure how
much chains would do for ice.

Bruce W.1 wrote:[color=blue]
> [email]spswanson@gmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=green]
> >
> > It would help if you mentioned why you needed them....there is a
> > difference if you are going to be in heavy snow in the passes of the
> > Cascades of Washington vs. a "I need them because I am going to drive
> > interstate 5 and during this time of year you are required to carry
> > chains."
> >
> > If you are really going to be doing a lot of driving where you KNOW you
> > will be using them in very adverse conditions, I would suggest going
> > with an actual chain.
> >
> > The diamond chains are easy to put on and give much better grip than
> > the cables. But, in most cases, cables should be fine...
> >
> > [url]http://lesschwab2.reachlocal.net/tires/winter/chains.asp[/url]
> >
> > I live in the snowy woods, where if it weren't for the diamond chains I
> > would never be able to closer than a half-mile to my house for part of
> > the winter.....
> >
> > If you go to an actual tire dealer (like les schwab), you'll get a
> > perfect fit, be shown how to put them on and will know they will work
> > before YOU NEED them.
> >
> > And, I am not schilling for LES, I actually don't patronize them
> > anymore, but any local tire store should be happy to help. Yep, you
> > might pay more than at a bargain auto parts place, but on the middle of
> > a mountain pass in 6-degree weather with a blizzard blowing in.....
> >[/color]
> =================================================================
>
> Those Les Schwab Quick Fit Diamond Chains look pretty nifty.
>
> The reason I'm getting chains is because I will be driving around in the
> Appalachian Mountains this February. I will not install them unless I
> really need them.
>
> This is just a safety precaution. I've driven there before in the
> winter and have had considerable difficulty in the snow at times.
>
> One time a group of cars (including me) sat all night long on a hill
> because noone could get up the icy road. Not even the 4-WD vehicles
> could make it. In the morning the sun melted the ice. I'm not sure how
> much chains would do for ice.[/color]

I live out in the West. Odds are a set of "S" diamond chains can fit
your vehicle, but odds are you won't need them and cables are usually
cheaper and easier to work with.

Chains however DO give better traction than cables, especially on ice.
Last week I had to chain up after an ice storm and spent most of the
day taking other folks about, because even their 4X4 weren't able to
get around, while my chained mini-van had no problem.

SCC used to have a chart on their web site that give the various
stopping distances for the various types of chained vs cable vs "non"
chained rigs in various types of snow and ice, but I don't see it
anymore. They probably got sued by someone who didn't stop within the
guidelines on their page.

Anyway, as I recall, the diamond chains were the very best, followed by
ladder chain and then z-cable. If the cables fit, and I doubt very much
that you would have any trouble in that respect, go for them. They are
a great product. I know many folks around here that use them or a
competitor's "identical" product.

I live in Germany and drive my Camry all Winter on Winter-Conti snow tires.
We're required here to change over to snow tires around 1 Nov - 30 Mar each
year. Germans are big on safety. I'm a believer, too. We get around 25
inches of snow a season and only slow down when it's on the ground. The
snow tires take a little off your gas mileage and run noisier than Summer
tires, but the peace of mind of knowing you can drive through that white
stuff is great.

"Bruce W.1" <sorry@noDirectEmail.com> wrote in message
news:Ocifh.28637$wP1.19041@newssvr14.news.prodigy.net...[color=blue]
> [email]spswanson@gmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=green]
>>
>> It would help if you mentioned why you needed them....there is a
>> difference if you are going to be in heavy snow in the passes of the
>> Cascades of Washington vs. a "I need them because I am going to drive
>> interstate 5 and during this time of year you are required to carry
>> chains."
>>
>> If you are really going to be doing a lot of driving where you KNOW you
>> will be using them in very adverse conditions, I would suggest going
>> with an actual chain.
>>
>> The diamond chains are easy to put on and give much better grip than
>> the cables. But, in most cases, cables should be fine...
>>
>> [url]http://lesschwab2.reachlocal.net/tires/winter/chains.asp[/url]
>>
>> I live in the snowy woods, where if it weren't for the diamond chains I
>> would never be able to closer than a half-mile to my house for part of
>> the winter.....
>>
>> If you go to an actual tire dealer (like les schwab), you'll get a
>> perfect fit, be shown how to put them on and will know they will work
>> before YOU NEED them.
>>
>> And, I am not schilling for LES, I actually don't patronize them
>> anymore, but any local tire store should be happy to help. Yep, you
>> might pay more than at a bargain auto parts place, but on the middle of
>> a mountain pass in 6-degree weather with a blizzard blowing in.....
>>[/color]
> =================================================================
>
> Those Les Schwab Quick Fit Diamond Chains look pretty nifty.
>
> The reason I'm getting chains is because I will be driving around in the
> Appalachian Mountains this February. I will not install them unless I
> really need them.
>
> This is just a safety precaution. I've driven there before in the winter
> and have had considerable difficulty in the snow at times.
>
> One time a group of cars (including me) sat all night long on a hill
> because noone could get up the icy road. Not even the 4-WD vehicles could
> make it. In the morning the sun melted the ice. I'm not sure how much
> chains would do for ice.[/color]

"Richard Cheney" <richcheney@arcor.de> wrote in message
news:45809475$0$27617$9b4e6d93@newsspool2.arcor-online.net...[color=blue]
>I live in Germany and drive my Camry all Winter on Winter-Conti snow tires.
>We're required here to change over to snow tires around 1 Nov - 30 Mar each
>year. Germans are big on safety. I'm a believer, too. We get around 25
>inches of snow a season and only slow down when it's on the ground. The
>snow tires take a little off your gas mileage and run noisier than Summer
>tires, but the peace of mind of knowing you can drive through that white
>stuff is great.
>[/color]

25 inches of snow a winter is FUCK ALL. You do NOT need snow times for that
little snow. What the FUCK is wrong with simply ADJUSTING your driving to
the very temporary (5% of the time) conditions?



[color=blue]
> "Bruce W.1" <sorry@noDirectEmail.com> wrote in message
> news:Ocifh.28637$wP1.19041@newssvr14.news.prodigy.net...[color=green]
>> [email]spswanson@gmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=darkred]
>>>
>>> It would help if you mentioned why you needed them....there is a
>>> difference if you are going to be in heavy snow in the passes of the
>>> Cascades of Washington vs. a "I need them because I am going to drive
>>> interstate 5 and during this time of year you are required to carry
>>> chains."
>>>
>>> If you are really going to be doing a lot of driving where you KNOW you
>>> will be using them in very adverse conditions, I would suggest going
>>> with an actual chain.
>>>
>>> The diamond chains are easy to put on and give much better grip than
>>> the cables. But, in most cases, cables should be fine...
>>>
>>> [url]http://lesschwab2.reachlocal.net/tires/winter/chains.asp[/url]
>>>
>>> I live in the snowy woods, where if it weren't for the diamond chains I
>>> would never be able to closer than a half-mile to my house for part of
>>> the winter.....
>>>
>>> If you go to an actual tire dealer (like les schwab), you'll get a
>>> perfect fit, be shown how to put them on and will know they will work
>>> before YOU NEED them.
>>>
>>> And, I am not schilling for LES, I actually don't patronize them
>>> anymore, but any local tire store should be happy to help. Yep, you
>>> might pay more than at a bargain auto parts place, but on the middle of
>>> a mountain pass in 6-degree weather with a blizzard blowing in.....
>>>[/color]
>> =================================================================
>>
>> Those Les Schwab Quick Fit Diamond Chains look pretty nifty.
>>
>> The reason I'm getting chains is because I will be driving around in the
>> Appalachian Mountains this February. I will not install them unless I
>> really need them.
>>
>> This is just a safety precaution. I've driven there before in the winter
>> and have had considerable difficulty in the snow at times.
>>
>> One time a group of cars (including me) sat all night long on a hill
>> because noone could get up the icy road. Not even the 4-WD vehicles
>> could make it. In the morning the sun melted the ice. I'm not sure how
>> much chains would do for ice.[/color]
>
>[/color]

[toyomoho]

For those few occasions when traction devices are required or mandated on paved roads, cables work fine. You should have no problem on a freeway like I5. Chains work better or course, but remember the Camry has low ground clearance. How much snow and ice do you really want to plow through.

[color=blue]
>
> 25 inches of snow a winter is FUCK ALL. You do NOT need snow times for[/color]
that[color=blue]
> little snow. What the FUCK is wrong with simply ADJUSTING your driving to
> the very temporary (5% of the time) conditions?[/color]
Geez you ARE a rude little prick, fuck off!

"Wonko the Angry" <wonk@wonk.com> wrote in message
news:SNKih.11659$HU.6385@news-server.bigpond.net.au...[color=blue]
>[color=green]
>>
>> 25 inches of snow a winter is FUCK ALL. You do NOT need snow times for[/color]
> that[color=green]
>> little snow. What the FUCK is wrong with simply ADJUSTING your driving to
>> the very temporary (5% of the time) conditions?[/color]
> Geez you ARE a rude little prick, fuck off!
>
>[/color]

Sharx disagrees with absolutely everything. I suspect that moments after he
decides what to have for lunch, he begins cursing at himself for making a
lousy choice.

"JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:rsSih.8263$ya1.240@news02.roc.ny...[color=blue]
> "Wonko the Angry" <wonk@wonk.com> wrote in message
> news:SNKih.11659$HU.6385@news-server.bigpond.net.au...[color=green]
>>[color=darkred]
>>>
>>> 25 inches of snow a winter is FUCK ALL. You do NOT need snow times for[/color]
>> that[color=darkred]
>>> little snow. What the FUCK is wrong with simply ADJUSTING your driving
>>> to
>>> the very temporary (5% of the time) conditions?[/color]
>> Geez you ARE a rude little prick, fuck off!
>>
>>[/color]
>
> Sharx disagrees with absolutely everything. I suspect that moments after
> he decides what to have for lunch, he begins cursing at himself for making
> a lousy choice.[/color]

Haven't YOU ever ordered something in a restaurant and THEN regretted it?
[color=blue]
>[/color]

"JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:nbWih.8283$ya1.4667@news02.roc.ny...[color=blue]
> "sharx35" <sharx35@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:F9Wih.91763$hn.23438@edtnps82...[color=green]
>>
>> "JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:rsSih.8263$ya1.240@news02.roc.ny...[color=darkred]
>>> "Wonko the Angry" <wonk@wonk.com> wrote in message
>>> news:SNKih.11659$HU.6385@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 25 inches of snow a winter is FUCK ALL. You do NOT need snow times for
>>>> that
>>>>> little snow. What the FUCK is wrong with simply ADJUSTING your driving
>>>>> to
>>>>> the very temporary (5% of the time) conditions?
>>>> Geez you ARE a rude little prick, fuck off!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> Sharx disagrees with absolutely everything. I suspect that moments after
>>> he decides what to have for lunch, he begins cursing at himself for
>>> making a lousy choice.[/color]
>>
>> Haven't YOU ever ordered something in a restaurant and THEN regretted it?[/color]
>
>
> Of the last dozen messages you've posted, this is the first that wasn't
> full of obscenities or insults. Are you OK?[/color]

Just my usual pre-Christmas malaise! Too many people laughing and joking.
Bah! Humbug! You little denizens of Whoville will pay and you will pay
dearly.



[color=blue]
>
>[/color]