Discussion:
Snow chains & alloy wheels
(too old to reply)
Matt
2004-07-20 07:18:59 UTC
Permalink
Hi,

Myself and friends are taking a trip up to Mt Hotham this weekend, and
the car we are taking is a 2002 A4 1.8T. It has alloys on it
(205/55R16) and not much of a rim-guard on the tyres, so I'm wondering
how snow chains affect alloys - do they damage them, are there
"special" for-alloys chains, etc.

For reference, the wheels that are on the car are pictured here:
Loading Image...

TIA.

Cheers,
Matt
Arnie
2004-07-20 08:19:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by Matt
Hi,
Myself and friends are taking a trip up to Mt Hotham this weekend, and
the car we are taking is a 2002 A4 1.8T. It has alloys on it
(205/55R16) and not much of a rim-guard on the tyres, so I'm wondering
how snow chains affect alloys - do they damage them, are there
"special" for-alloys chains, etc.
the snow chains I've got doesn't actually touch the rims (15x6.5 rims) when
it is installed.
elZee
2004-07-20 08:48:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by Matt
Hi,
Myself and friends are taking a trip up to Mt Hotham this weekend, and
the car we are taking is a 2002 A4 1.8T. It has alloys on it
(205/55R16) and not much of a rim-guard on the tyres, so I'm wondering
how snow chains affect alloys - do they damage them, are there
"special" for-alloys chains, etc.
http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/content/reviews/audi/2004A404b.jpg
TIA. Cheers, Matt
Got a suggestion for you that worked very successfully for me.

Got a space saver wheel? Pump it up .. !

Get a set of chains that fit the space saver. (you'll only need one of the set.)
No doubt the Audi has PSD right? .. so .. place one chain on the space saver take
one alloy off and use the space saver with chain attached.

The PSD will stop any wheel spin and one chain will be enough to get you on your
way.

Only problem where to put the spare alloy but I'm sure you'll work that out =)

HTH

elZee
Graham W
2004-07-20 15:26:24 UTC
Permalink
Post by elZee
Got a suggestion for you that worked very successfully for me.
Got a space saver wheel? Pump it up .. !
Get a set of chains that fit the space saver. (you'll only need one of the set.)
No doubt the Audi has PSD right? .. so .. place one chain on the space saver take
one alloy off and use the space saver with chain attached.
The PSD will stop any wheel spin and one chain will be enough to get you on your
way.
Only problem where to put the spare alloy but I'm sure you'll work that out =)
It's not April 1st.
elZee
2004-07-21 12:16:26 UTC
Permalink
Post by Graham W
Post by elZee
Got a suggestion for you that worked very successfully for me.
Get a set of chains that fit the space saver. (you'll only need one of the set.)
No doubt the Audi has PSD right? .. so .. place one chain on the space saver take
one alloy off and use the space saver with chain attached.
The PSD will stop any wheel spin and one chain will be enough to get you on your
way.
Only problem where to put the spare alloy but I'm sure you'll work that out =)
It's not April 1st.
No it's not and It worked successfully for me. =)

elZee
Michael Culley
2004-07-20 22:25:04 UTC
Permalink
Post by elZee
Only problem where to put the spare alloy but I'm sure you'll work that out =)
When do you do when the ski resort refuses you entry for not having a chain on both driving wheels? :-)

--
Michael Culley
elZee
2004-07-21 12:17:40 UTC
Permalink
Post by Michael Culley
Post by elZee
Only problem where to put the spare alloy but I'm sure you'll work that out =)
When do you do when the ski resort refuses you entry for not having a chain on
both driving wheels? :-)
Post by Michael Culley
Michael Culley
Michael,

I drove right through Hotham to Dinner Plain using this method and no one blinked
an eye. =)

elZee
James Whitehead
2004-07-20 23:03:23 UTC
Permalink
I certainly would NOT recommend this one.
Post by elZee
Post by Matt
Hi,
Myself and friends are taking a trip up to Mt Hotham this weekend, and
the car we are taking is a 2002 A4 1.8T. It has alloys on it
(205/55R16) and not much of a rim-guard on the tyres, so I'm wondering
how snow chains affect alloys - do they damage them, are there
"special" for-alloys chains, etc.
http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/content/reviews/audi/2004A404b.jpg
TIA. Cheers, Matt
Got a suggestion for you that worked very successfully for me.
Got a space saver wheel? Pump it up .. !
Get a set of chains that fit the space saver. (you'll only need one of the set.)
No doubt the Audi has PSD right? .. so .. place one chain on the space saver take
one alloy off and use the space saver with chain attached.
The PSD will stop any wheel spin and one chain will be enough to get you on your
way.
Only problem where to put the spare alloy but I'm sure you'll work that out =)
HTH
elZee
elZee
2004-07-21 12:23:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by elZee
Post by elZee
Got a suggestion for you that worked very successfully for me.
Got a space saver wheel? Pump it up .. !
Get a set of chains that fit the space saver. (you'll only need one of the
set.)
Post by elZee
No doubt the Audi has PSD right? .. so .. place one chain on the space
saver take
Post by elZee
one alloy off and use the space saver with chain attached.
The PSD will stop any wheel spin and one chain will be enough to get you
on your way.
Post by elZee
Only problem where to put the spare alloy but I'm sure you'll work that
out =)
Post by elZee
HTH
elZee
I certainly would NOT recommend this one.
James, so .. don't try it!

All I'm saying is I _did_ use this method and it worked quite successfully on my
('95MY) European Car with 17" rims that would NOT take a snow chain.

I also have a couple of pictures if anyone is seriously interested.

No rants, no wild claims, it simply worked.

Cheers,

elZee
Fred Ferd
2004-12-20 13:08:54 UTC
Permalink
Post by elZee
Post by Matt
Hi,
Myself and friends are taking a trip up to Mt Hotham this weekend, and
the car we are taking is a 2002 A4 1.8T. It has alloys on it
(205/55R16) and not much of a rim-guard on the tyres, so I'm wondering
how snow chains affect alloys - do they damage them, are there
"special" for-alloys chains, etc.
http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/content/reviews/audi/2004A404b.jpg
TIA. Cheers, Matt
Got a suggestion for you that worked very successfully for me.
Got a space saver wheel? Pump it up .. !
Get a set of chains that fit the space saver. (you'll only need one of the set.)
No doubt the Audi has PSD right? .. so .. place one chain on the space saver take
one alloy off and use the space saver with chain attached.
The PSD will stop any wheel spin and one chain will be enough to get you on your
way.
And the cops will tell you to fit chains as required if they find that you
are stuck and blocking the traffic.
you either do it or get charged for refusing to obey the directions of a
police officer.

The defense that its unreasonable wont work, you already knew that you need
four chains, one for each tyre. when you entered the chains area.

They cant make you fit them if you are moving , they make you fit them only
when you are stuck.

My idea was to fit cheap plastic hub caps when you use chains, but I guess
the hub cabs will mark the alloys. only a little bit. maybe you can put
tape the clips on the hub cab so that they dont mark.

The Interceptor
2004-07-20 12:48:49 UTC
Permalink
Is the Audi AWD? I thought that snow chains were optional if you had
4WD/AWD. I wouldn't know of course, living in WA where desert is more
prevalent than snow.

Brett
Post by Matt
Hi,
Myself and friends are taking a trip up to Mt Hotham this weekend, and
the car we are taking is a 2002 A4 1.8T. It has alloys on it
(205/55R16) and not much of a rim-guard on the tyres, so I'm wondering
how snow chains affect alloys - do they damage them, are there
"special" for-alloys chains, etc.
http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/content/reviews/audi/2004A404b.jpg
TIA.
Cheers,
Matt
PlaneGuy
2004-07-20 13:14:24 UTC
Permalink
Having driven a Liberty in the snow, I will reiterate that all wheel drive
DOES NOT ASSIST braking in slippery conditions. Anything on the tyres that
will assist in stopping (ie will prevent you sliding into snow banks, or
other vehicles is essential). Oh, BTW I think that snow chains are optional
by law, but as you could have guessed, I am not so sure that they should be
(especially for an AWD with low profile tyres).
Post by The Interceptor
Is the Audi AWD? I thought that snow chains were optional if you had
4WD/AWD.
Bushy
2004-07-20 13:47:32 UTC
Permalink
If you're lucky, the chain itself may not damage the rims, but you can bet
the sticks and rocks they flick up and catch on will!

Either that, or a link breaks and the chains thrash the inside and outside
of the left front guard!

Lifes a bitch and then you die!

Hope this helps,
Peter
James Whitehead
2004-07-20 23:05:16 UTC
Permalink
If you don't carry them I believe you can be refused entry to the mountain
and if you get up and caught can be fined.
Post by PlaneGuy
Having driven a Liberty in the snow, I will reiterate that all wheel drive
DOES NOT ASSIST braking in slippery conditions. Anything on the tyres that
will assist in stopping (ie will prevent you sliding into snow banks, or
other vehicles is essential). Oh, BTW I think that snow chains are optional
by law, but as you could have guessed, I am not so sure that they should be
(especially for an AWD with low profile tyres).
Post by The Interceptor
Is the Audi AWD? I thought that snow chains were optional if you had
4WD/AWD.
Matt
2004-07-20 14:14:39 UTC
Permalink
Thanks for the replies guys...

Cheers,
Matt
malakasoy
2004-07-21 22:09:32 UTC
Permalink
Post by Matt
http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/content/reviews/audi/2004A404b.jpg
I've just come back from Selwyn snowfields with a friend, his chains
scratched the shit out of the mags on his VY commodore.
ANDY
2004-07-23 01:33:33 UTC
Permalink
maybe try ladder chains and make sure they are a tight fit- ie the cables
are not overlapping the wheels, but are still resting on the tyres. Take
some old rags to wedge in between if there is some overlap. I have a
picture of some being installed if you want to get the idea...

ad
Post by Matt
Hi,
Myself and friends are taking a trip up to Mt Hotham this weekend, and
the car we are taking is a 2002 A4 1.8T. It has alloys on it
(205/55R16) and not much of a rim-guard on the tyres, so I'm wondering
how snow chains affect alloys - do they damage them, are there
"special" for-alloys chains, etc.
http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/content/reviews/audi/2004A404b.jpg
TIA.
Cheers,
Matt
John Smith
2004-07-24 03:28:23 UTC
Permalink
Post by ANDY
maybe try ladder chains and make sure they are a tight fit- ie the cables
are not overlapping the wheels, but are still resting on the tyres. Take
some old rags to wedge in between if there is some overlap. I have a
picture of some being installed if you want to get the idea...
Or fit a set of cheap $10 wheel covers.
Ok, this might not be possible on all types of rims.

If the wheel covers wont clip on, then remove the clips and use the snow chains
to hold the wheel covers in place.
Post by ANDY
Post by Matt
Hi,
Myself and friends are taking a trip up to Mt Hotham this weekend, and
the car we are taking is a 2002 A4 1.8T. It has alloys on it
(205/55R16) and not much of a rim-guard on the tyres, so I'm wondering
how snow chains affect alloys - do they damage them, are there
"special" for-alloys chains, etc.
http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/content/reviews/audi/2004A404b.jpg
TIA.
Cheers,
Matt
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