June 13, 200817 yr Picking up our Outback from seller next week and need to pick up tires right away and don't have the car manual - does anyone know the max tire size I should get that will allow me to chain up in winter? Will also check with dealer.
June 13, 200817 yr I'd imagine that you'll need to keep the stock tire size (225/60/16 i believe) in order to use tire cables. Manual says not to use chains because of clearance issues. There is only about "2 fingers" of space between the tire and front strut.
June 13, 200817 yr Author I'd imagine that you'll need to keep the stock tire size (225/60/16 i believe) in order to use tire cables. Manual says not to use chains because of clearance issues. There is only about "2 fingers" of space between the tire and front strut. I'm not doubting you, but a bunch of other members here in my tire post all recommended Les Schwab chains, they just advised being careful to check max tire size you can get with them. At least some of them are Outback drivers, including four-fleet-four. I'll try to ask them as well.
June 13, 200817 yr Of course. I'm sure they'd know best! I haven't used chains in a very very long time. I'd bet that as long as you keep them tight you can fit them over the OE sized rubber.
June 13, 200817 yr I haven't used chains in a very very long time. I haven't used chains since I've been a subaru purist and have awd or 4wd at my command... Where you headed that makes chains look attractive? I was wondering the same thing... gotta be some deep unpacked snow or seriously harsh conditions... oh, sorry I don't have an outback to give any real input on the topic of this thread... --Spiffy
June 13, 200817 yr Are you serious??? Chains on a subaru. A- I lived in tahoe for 8 years never once did i need chains and i was a broke ski bum with bald tires. B-if you do use chains you'd better put them on all for tires.
June 13, 200817 yr Are you serious??? Chains on a subaru. A- I lived in tahoe for 8 years never once did i need chains and i was a broke ski bum with bald tires. B-if you do use chains you'd better put them on all for tires.
June 13, 200817 yr Author I didn't think I needed chains, but a bunch of posters in my tire thread said I should be using Les Schwab chains when necessary in winter with all-seasons, and only for short stretches. I've never driven to ski resorts out west, only New England winter driving for me up to now. See my tire thread.
June 13, 200817 yr if you do use chains you'd better put them on all for tires. exactly! I would never buy an AWD car from somebody that had one set of chains for it... unless you like replacing your center differential... mountainwalker, it's a subaru, it doesn't NEED chains... unless you want to go off-roading in the snow... just get a decent all-weather tire that has a good snow rating... there are sites like tirerack.com that give you the winter rating on tires... just make sure you're in the green and you won't need chains... but when you're in the snow drive like you're in the snow... like I said, I own subarus because I don't need chains (I lived in the Sierra's near Dodge Ridge when I discovered subaru) and they have all the other good creature comforts... if you really want serious traction invest in some snow tires... les schwab will swap them out for free every season... you just need about a 27" diameter piece of garage floor to store an extra set of tires... --Spiffy
June 13, 200817 yr Forget the chains. If you have decent all seasons on your car, you'll do just fine. I've lived in Tahoe for many years, never needed them on my Subaru, or any of my Company's Subarus. Ever. Matter of fact, on more than one occaision I've used a Subaru to pull out (of snow) Explorers, XTerras, Yukons, much Eurotrash, and of course many 2-wheel drives:rolleyes: .
June 13, 200817 yr It's not the "going" you have to worry about in the winter, its the "stopping", or lack of, that is the worry here.
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