Chain recommendations?

[sellersm]

Got a trip from here in COS to Montrose coming up this weekend. I'm thinking Monarch Pass or Wilkerson may need chains, so looking for recommendations.

Driving a 2012 Honda Pilot, 18" wheels/tires.

ETA: I'm not too nimble, too many years of Rheumatoid Arthritis has damaged my fingers/joints, so the easier to install the better!

Thanks!

[Irving]

These are what I have and I like them a lot.
https://www.peerlesschain.com/brands/traction-product-choices/super-z/

The directions say to lay them out and drive over them to install, but it's WAY faster to just drape them over the tire. I can have each corner on in 60 seconds once I lay them out.

[sellersm]

These are what I have and I like them a lot.
https://www.peerlesschain.com/brands/traction-product-choices/super-z/

The directions say to lay them out and drive over them to install, but it's WAY faster to just drape them over the tire. I can have each corner on in 60 seconds once I lay them out.

Thanks. I forgot to add (will up my OP) that I'm not too nimble, too many years of Rheumatoid Arthritis has damaged my fingers/joints, so the easier the better!

[Erni]

I have the peerless auto-trac. The beauty of those is that they auto tighten. Probably easier on your fingers.
The only issue might be pulling the tightener cable out, but then there is no pulling and fenangling.

[Irving]

Hmmm, if you could try a set, that might be ideal. While a little practice goes a long way, and it doesn't require dexterity like finger picking a banjo or anything, it still might be difficult for you.

[sellersm]

I have the peerless auto-trac. The beauty of those is that they auto tighten. Probably easier on your fingers.
The only issue might be pulling the tightener cable out, but then there is no pulling and fenangling.

Thanks!

[TheNash]

There is the tire sock or sometimes called the snow sock. Then there are MICHELIN Composite Easy Grip Evolution Snow Chain. Theses are not as good as true cross bar chains. For people with challenges this is what I recommend besides having real studded snow tires.

[Hummer]

Another option is to get a set of studded snow tires for the winter and change them out in the spring. That's what I do with my wife's car. We have dedicated wheels and the tire dealer changes them without charge, or I can do it in about an hour. The advantage is that traction and braking are outstanding and it's always on. No crawling under in the snow to put them on, no dangerous exposure to traffic, and no crawling under in the snow to take them off. Chains wear, break and come off, wrap around front end parts, all kinds of potential problems. For women and older drivers studded tires make a lot of sense.

I carry 4-wheel chains in my truck but seldom need them. I always wear good Michelin LTX MS Defender tires that work great on snow and ice. My wife's cars wears them too for 3-season use but studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta SUV tires are safer for her in winter.

[Erni]

Hummer, do you have any comparison on the Hakkas vs Michellin Ice or Blizzaks.

[sellersm]

Our Pilot actually has the Michelin LTX MS Defender tires on it! But they're not severe snow rated, so if chain law's in effect, they don't qualify.

For dedicated snows, we've always run Blizzaks (in fact I have some for sale!). They have a new DMV tire line for SUVs that get good ratings and much longer wear life...

[Hummer]

Hummer, do you have any comparison on the Hakkas vs Michellin Ice or Blizzaks.

Haven't used the others but we're impressed with the Hakkapeliita for traction and wear. This is the 3rd winter for them and I'll buy new ones for next winter. I trust Michelin too but no experience with Blizzaks.. Of course any studded tire will dramatically out perform an all-season tire.

[Irving]

Agreed that for paved roads (plowed or not), I'd take snow tires over 4wd with A/T or M/T tires any day. 4WD/AWD + snow tires must feel like a miracle.

[kidicarus13]

Hakkapeliita for the win!

[Gman]

Hakkapeliita for the win!

I seem to recall that Nokian was building some manufacturing here in the US. Found it. Dayton, TN - https://www.nokiantires.com/daytonfactory/

If you're looking for test info, including winter track testing, check out TireRack.com. There's a lot of info over there. I bought my tires elsewhere, but the data was very useful.

[Hummer]

Our Pilot actually has the Michelin LTX MS Defender tires on it! But they're not severe snow rated, so if chain law's in effect, they don't qualify.

For dedicated snows, we've always run Blizzaks (in fact I have some for sale!). They have a new DMV tire line for SUVs that get good ratings and much longer wear life...


Thanks for pointing that out about the LTX MS Defender, I wasn't aware of the recently new rating for winter traction tires. It kept me up half the night reading. I don't know if the previous Michelin LTX M/S 2 would have qualified but I've run 5 or 6 sets of them on my Tundra and they have performed really well in most all road conditions. I bought a new set of the LTX MS Defenders last month so I'll be interested to see if they perform differently. Tire manufacturers are forever changing tire compounds and tread designs. Keeping up is like shopping for mattresses. Apparently Michelin is focusing on higher mileage for their 3-season tire lines.


https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=125

Winter / Snow Tire Tech: What is the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Symbol?


A three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol branded on a tire's sidewall indicates the tire meets required performance criteria in snow testing to be considered severe snow service-rated. Originally used as a designation for winter tires, the 3PMSF symbol is now featured on some all-season and all-terrain tires with snow performance that meets the testing criteria.

Testing measures a tire's acceleration traction on medium-packed snow only. Braking and turning on snow, along with ice traction are not components of the test.
Tires branded with the 3PMSF symbol are expected to provide improved snow traction beyond a standard M+S branded all-season tire.

Note: 3PMSF-branded all-season and all-terrain tires cannot match the traction of dedicated winter / snow tires in all winter weather conditions and should not be considered a replacement for where and when a dedicated winter tire is needed.

In 1999, The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) agreed on a performance based standard to identify passenger and light truck tires that attain a traction index equal to, or greater than 110 (compared to a reference tire which is rated 100) during the specified American Society for Testing and Materials traction tests on packed snow. The standard helps ensure drivers can easily identify tires that provide a higher level of snow traction, and tires meeting that standard are branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.