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Old 12-30-2008, 01:04 PM   #1
canuck37
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 87491
Join Date: May 2005
Chapter/Region: International
Location: Seattle, WA
Vehicle:
03 Sport
Blk/Slvr

Default Sure Grip Z Cable Chains??

Has anyone tried this brand of tire chain on a Baja (front axle only)? Yes, I realize that our manuals say "no chains, now way, no how".

They advertise themselves as being able to go where no other brand can fit......just curious.

It sure would be nice to figure out a solution for this issue, particularly since we have to deal with highway closures "chains/4x4 only, etc." here in California and they will turn away AWDs with all-season tires.

We went through all this on the Forum a couple of years back, but thought there may be some newer technology, etc. since then.
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Old 12-30-2008, 01:42 PM   #2
seafajr.
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Member#: 120473
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Vehicle:
2006 Baja Sport
Atlantic Blue Pearl

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by canuck37 View Post
Has anyone tried this brand of tire chain on a Baja (front axle only)? Yes, I realize that our manuals say "no chains, now way, no how".

They advertise themselves as being able to go where no other brand can fit......just curious.

It sure would be nice to figure out a solution for this issue, particularly since we have to deal with highway closures "chains/4x4 only, etc." here in California and they will turn away AWDs with all-season tires.

We went through all this on the Forum a couple of years back, but thought there may be some newer technology, etc. since then.
I've used a set of Peerless Auto-Trac self adjusting chains on the front and they did fine as long as I kept it under 30 and didn't turn the wheel all the way left or right. These were actual chains and not cables. I did a little looking around behind the tire and can't find any kind of damage after a week of driving with them on.
Don't bother trying to put them on the rear, there definitely isn't enough clearance back there. I've hear that the the cable chains made by SCC will fit better. I also imagine that they should be fine since they take up less space than chains.

Here is a responce from SOA that I found on another forum regarding the use of tire chains:

Thank you for your inquiry.

You cannot use standard tire chains on your vehicle because of the lack of
clearance in the wheel wells. I always recommend that owners contact the State
Police to discuss the mandatory use of tire chains. The State Police enforce
tire chain usage and should be able to provide some guidelines for their
required use.

If you use the tire chains detailed below, you would need to install them on the
front wheels only. As also detailed below, we do not endorse this product, but
have not heard any complaints from owners who have used them.

We have been made aware of a tire chain (traction device) company's claim that
its devices are suitable for the Subaru Outback and Subaru GT models. The
company is:

Security Chain Company (SCC)
A Division of Burns Brothers, Inc.
Portland, OR

The company's Internet address is: scc-chain.com. This Internet site gives local
retail sources for the products. The model recommended by SCC for Subaru is SHUR
GRIP Z. There are different sizes based on tire size.

SUBARU OF AMERICA cannot endorse these or any other traction devices. However,
we can inform any owners who request information on traction devices of this
company's claim that its products are available and suitable for Subaru
vehicles. Customers must take the initiative and responsibility for securing the
products and satisfying themselves that it is safe to use them on their
vehicles.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us, and I hope that this information is
helpful in your decision-making.
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Old 12-30-2008, 08:47 PM   #3
Subie_Sleeper68
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Member#: 166403
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Center Valley Pa.
Vehicle:
2006 Baja Turbo
Silver 340 AWHP 365 AWTQ

Default

Try running a dedicated winter tire year round. Dunlop Wintersport M3s or 3Ds are a pretty hard compound but still work great on out vehicles in snow and ice. I wouldn't run chains on just the front.
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Old 12-30-2008, 10:16 PM   #4
canuck37
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Member#: 87491
Join Date: May 2005
Chapter/Region: International
Location: Seattle, WA
Vehicle:
03 Sport
Blk/Slvr

Default

Thanks, but this is not practical here in California, as 99% of the time I am on the freeway at 75 mph and don't need the road noise or handling that goes with them. When I lived in Canada, I used them all the time, but here it wouldn't work.

I use GY TripleTreds, which are awesome in all conditions (including snow, I know), however, they don't meet the government qualifications for being able to pass chain control stations, if things get to that point. Hence the chain option for rare occasions I get caught in them.

I wonder what the Forester/Outback crowd do.....

I have seen that post above from SOA, and was intrigued by their recommendation to only put them on the front (which makes sense), but even more interested in hearing from somebody who has actually used the SureGrips (the SOA folks seem to have heard from people who have used them, with "no complaints"....
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Old 12-31-2008, 02:56 AM   #5
seafajr.
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 120473
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Vehicle:
2006 Baja Sport
Atlantic Blue Pearl

Default

They take up less space than my chains so they should work. Have you thought about a set of Spike Spiders? They run about $300-$400 a set, are easy to install, and you won't have any clearance problems.
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Old 12-31-2008, 12:33 PM   #6
Subie_Sleeper68
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 166403
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Center Valley Pa.
Vehicle:
2006 Baja Turbo
Silver 340 AWHP 365 AWTQ

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by canuck37 View Post
Thanks, but this is not practical here in California, as 99% of the time I am on the freeway at 75 mph and don't need the road noise or handling that goes with them. When I lived in Canada, I used them all the time, but here it wouldn't work.

I use GY TripleTreds, which are awesome in all conditions (including snow, I know), however, they don't meet the government qualifications for being able to pass chain control stations, if things get to that point. Hence the chain option for rare occasions I get caught in them.

I wonder what the Forester/Outback crowd do.....

I have seen that post above from SOA, and was intrigued by their recommendation to only put them on the front (which makes sense), but even more interested in hearing from somebody who has actually used the SureGrips (the SOA folks seem to have heard from people who have used them, with "no complaints"....
Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds are REALLY quiet. Also the Pirelli Sottozeros but they are really pricy.
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Old 12-31-2008, 01:21 PM   #7
canuck37
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Member#: 87491
Join Date: May 2005
Chapter/Region: International
Location: Seattle, WA
Vehicle:
03 Sport
Blk/Slvr

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Subie_Sleeper68 View Post
Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds are REALLY quiet. Also the Pirelli Sottozeros but they are really pricy.
The whole issue here in California is that the DOT requires chains, not just snow tires, in certain weather conditions over the passes. Therefore, snow tires alone, regardless of brand, etc., will be turned back. You have to have chains, period. They are very strict about this and have check stations, that will turn you around if you don't have chains on the vehicle drive tires. No exceptions.

That is why I am trying to figure this out - I need to get over these passes periodically during the winter and can't risk getting turned back without chains.

Thanks for the ideas though....it doesn't look like we are any farther ahead than we were a couple of years ago when we last addressed this on the Forum.

Happy New Year, all!
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Old 01-05-2009, 07:24 PM   #8
Subie_Sleeper68
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 166403
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Center Valley Pa.
Vehicle:
2006 Baja Turbo
Silver 340 AWHP 365 AWTQ

Default

I googled the spikes spiders. They seem pretty cool but I'm not sure if they'd pass the checkpoints now.
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