Time to time in my job, my boss lets us use her company car which is a 2006 Chevy Uplander to travel to inventories that are a long distance.

Anyways, Oregon State Law requires us to carry chains on roads posted as such. In this case, its US 26 that goes from Portland to Seaside over the Coast Range of mountains which gets snow. Yes, I know, Samarui (and probably everyone else) chains are kind of worthless.

I decided to inquire to my boss about where she keeps her chains in case Oregon State Police wants to setup a checkpoint to make sure people have them.

She informed me she does not have chains for her car because when she looked into getting them from one retailer here in the west called Tire Factory, the sales person informed her that "Uplanders can't use chains because Chevy made the rims too narrow"

I thought this was bullshit so I looked what stock tires come with the Uplander, which is P225/60R-17 and of course, found out that the same tire came with the Chevy Venture and numerous other GM products so I am sure if what the yahoo said was true, people would be whining about GM making "lame rims"

Realizing this was fishy still, I called up a friend who works at Les Schwab Tires, which I know sells chains for even big rigs. I explained the whole story to him and of coruse, he had a good laugh. I was right, GM puts that same tire on that entire platform and them some and of course they make chains for such a common tire.

Samarui and the others, there any explaination to the "narrow rim" nonsense?

What that guy said doesn't make sense. tire chain manufacturers don't make just one size tire chain. They would make different product for different vehicles. If the Uplander actually did have narrower rims then the chain maker would make chains to fit such vehicle. It sounds like an automotive parts store around here. I needed a part for my truck, and my buddy that works there ordered it in (he had to do some warehouse searching , But he got it), then a month later I needed the same part for the other side and the guy I got on the phone was busy (probably lazy)so he said it was a dealer only item which would have increased the cost . I had to argue with him that yes the could order it in and I actually had to tell him which warehouse to get it at. The best bet would be to walk in and just bitch slap them behind the counter just to show them that they better give you what you want.

Posted by Agent Skelly Samarui and the others, there any explaination to the "narrow rim" nonsense?

ignorance.

Posted by Samurai ignorance.

Ah, yeah that what I thought. but I was hoping for that 1% chance there was some old timer story about GM rims

Posted by Agent Skelly Ah, yeah that what I thought. but I was hoping for that 1% chance there was some old timer story about GM rims

when it comes to tire chains, it's not about the rim, it's about the tires and the profile. It says in my owners manual that tire chains on 18" wheels are not recommended because of the tire, not the wheel.

Posted by Samurai when it comes to tire chains, it's not about the rim, it's about the tires and the profile. It says in my owners manual that tire chains on 18" wheels are not recommended because of the tire, not the wheel.

Yeah...thats what I thought was fishy too.

BTW, do any of you guys actually believe in tire chains? I have them but I have never used them because my Honda Passport does great in the snow.

Posted by Agent Skelly Yeah...thats what I thought was fishy too. BTW, do any of you guys actually believe in tire chains? I have them but I have never used them because my Honda Passport does great in the snow.

in my experience, if you're needing tire chains, maybe you should just stay home. I've never needed more than a studded snow tire. On my Cavaliers, I ran a 215-60-14 white letter radial in the snow and went everywhere.

this Cobalt SS, though, this thing fucking sucks in the snow.
the tires on it are great for going 140+mph, but try getting out of the fucking driveway!!!

yeah up here in quebec they are making snow tires mandatory next year, so i guess my sport of watching off the plane tourists from hot climes put rent a cars into ditches will come to an end. As for the tire chains here in quebec on paved roads they are forbidden (odd since we allow studded tires until may 1)

studs are ok until April 15, but the fuzz will let them slide until May 1.
When i lived in Tennessee, those people were a trip in the snow, what little they got. They'd slow way down and go like 20. You could always tell someone who was from the north because we'd be blasting along in a snowstorm at 65+mph changing lanes like we were rally drivers! And boy would they be pissed!

i always get a kick out of southerners in snow on the news too, they gun it hit one guardrail then chuck it in reverse and do the same, last week on new years during a snowstorm i saw a guy spinning in the snow from cali i chuckled and didnt help

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! i always get a kick out of southerners in snow on the news too, they gun it hit one guardrail then chuck it in reverse and do the same, last week on new years during a snowstorm i saw a guy spinning in the snow from cali i chuckled and didnt help

True statement, down here in Texas we usually get one or two days of winter weather and its usually just black ice. People drive like complete idiots when that happens.

Last year I saw a 911 Turbo gun it coming out of McDonalds cut me off and smack a telephone pole.

In some parts of NS they will not let you on the road unless you have the chains on your tires.

Posted by atomx In some parts of NS they will not let you on the road unless you have the chains on your tires.

Yeah...they must also like to repave roads

I had a good conversation about this yesterday with my boss. We both come from states where tire chains are illegal and how people think they magically give you traction.

Posted by Agent Skelly Yeah...they must also like to repave roads I had a good conversation about this yesterday with my boss. We both come from states where tire chains are illegal and how people think they magically give you traction.

chains aren't really entirely about traction... in some cases, the chains are trying to shatter the ice under the show. Seriously, as I said above, if you need chains, you should just stay home.

They help on Loveland pass (continental divide).... but in most weather they are useless.