 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hopefully this is a simple question which thousands of you can answer!
Have you bought snow chains for a 2006 MY RAV4 with 225/65 R17 tyres? If so what make are they, What size/ number, what did you pay and where did you get them?
I seem to specialise in getting cars whose tyre size or arch clearance means they are not listed as standard fit on chain application lists. It is hard to believe that there are not thousands of similar cars using chains, so hopefully someone can help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
alicecat, www.snowchains.co.uk I use Weissenfells Clack n' Go, self adjusting dead easy to use, no clearance issues. They should be easy to get.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Spyderman, Never thought you were a Rav 4 type 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
A lot of good that did then! Come on, somebody must have actually bought some chains for a similar vehicle!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
alicecat, given that it's a 4x4, why would anyone bother?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
That is exactly the trap that lots of people fall into. The RAV4 is a front wheel drive car with part time rear wheel assistance (up to 25 mph); so it's not a real 4x4.
Most importantly however, it comes equipped as standard with some har wearing, oh-so-quiet, grippy on dry tarmac road tyres which slip just like any other normal tyres in snow. To make even a 4x4 work in snow without chains you need M&S (winter) tyres.
For the 30 mins I am ever likely to be driving in significant snow, I don't really want the expense or storage issues of a spare set of winter wheels and tyres, so chains are the lesser weevil.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| alicecat wrote: |
To make even a 4x4 work in snow without chains you need M&S (winter) tyres.
|
I use their underwear. What are the tyres like for skid marks?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
alicecat, Does the Handbook recommend Chains on all 4 wheels or just the front?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Toyota are unusually helpful in that they actually mention chains in the handbook, unlike most manufacturers. Unfortunately they don't go into too much detail and UK dealers don't get involved with chains. Toyota recommend front fitment.
As a general rule, provided there is drive to the front wheels, I would always choose tofit chains to the steering axle. I think you really only need to consider rear chains if there is no road under the snow or you want to tow something heavy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
alicecat, possibly Spikes Spyder chains, but they're expensive, they were the strongly suggested chains for freelanders as there was very little spare room in the wheelarches and the wings are plastic so vunerable to damage
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
D G Orf, I'm very surprised that there is limited room in wheelarches of a freelander or RAV4, considering they are 4x4's, I would expect them to have a considerable amount of wheel articulation compared to a normal road car, which would therefore require extended clearance within the arches, easily accomodating snow chains, especially if the vehicle was to be kept on road.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spyderman, I think with the freelander the issue was the amount of space left at the extreme lock of the steering , the spyders are a closer fit to the wheel than normal chains and don't go between the wheel and the center of the vehicle, I never had a problem with the amount of space within the arches though so perhaps it was just a tale to get you to buy landrover branded spyders at nearly twice the retail price 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
There is a fair amount of clearance between unsprung and sprung parts on both vehicles. The problem is clearance between tyre and spring cup on the strut (approx 14 mm at closest with my tyre size). This would not be a problem in normal use (mud would slough off harmlessly on the strut) but by fitting a chain nyou effectively increase the rolling diameter of the wheel, thus reducing this (fixed) clearance.
Most 4x4 chains need 16 mm freeboard, so a little tight on RAV. I know of plenty of places who can supply a set of chains which will fit, but at a rather excessive cost for a maximum life usage of 30 miles.
What I would really like to know is whether anyone has tried products from e-bay dealers and what the exact type that fitted was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Right, so clearly nobody who reads this forum has ever actually bought chains for a car like ours!
Should anyone want any in future, I have found a reasonably priced set which fit.
They are Ice-grip POL245 chains. I got them from toys4cars.co.uk (http://www.toys4cars.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1488_1490_2613&products_id=13108) priced £65.99, delivered within 48 hours.
Alan at toys4cars was very helpful and was able to confirm that they had previously tried the chains on a similar vehicle. I communicated with pretty well every purveyor of snow chains in the UK, and some beyond, and this was the only company who could express any knowledge of our vehicle fitment who could offer a product at less than £130.
I suspect that any 16mm chain whose size is specified as "245" would actually fit, but have found no references to chain size specification to confirm this.
If, like most people buying snow chains in the UK, you only need them as a safety measure for visiting a ski resort a couple of times a year, I would suggest there is no sense paying for big brand-name chains. Cheap e-bay type chains are fine for the minimal use yours are likely to get.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
alicecat, Be sure to practice putting the chains on and taking them off a couple of times before you go 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
