Aids HIV FAQ

Tire Chains for 97 Town & Country

Question:

Most people do not realize that Blizzak’s are only 2/3 high traction rubber. After that you are on an all season tire. Tires do not always wear at the same rate. Then you are  different traction tires; a very poor idea. Blizzak’s are not a good idea in my book. The recent Consumer Reports tested shows and found that there were other viable options. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I highly recommend that you get a set of very sticky special purpose snow > tires. The Yokohama 600 series is superb and comes in the correct size and > seem to get good wear. > >Ron, > >Thanks for the info.  Have you used chains on the Town & Country? > >Dave > >> The factory service manual states that you can use snow chains. But… > you > >> must use …"Only compact snow chains or other traction aids meeting > >> SAE-type "Class S" specifications."  This is out of the ‘97 manual. I > >> would note that the T&C has 16 inch wheels (I think that the combined > tire > >> and wheel takes up more space than the 15 inch wheel and tire > combination) > >> so that the already tight clearances around the fender wells (especially > the > >> front) would be reduced.  From looking at the car, in my judgement the > most > >> critical clearance is between the inside of the front wheel and the > >> suspension strut and coil spring. >   Blizzak is supposed to be one of the best snow tires around for >vehicles . I think I would check into something like that as opposed to >chains .  Unless you live somewhere where there is ice all the time >chains won’t help you much more than good snow tires . >– >?_

Response:

I have never used chains.  Prior to "all season" tires, living in Albany New York, I would buy four snow tires and wheels and rotate them in the winter season.  They would last for years and years.  With the use of "all season" tires I usually waited one winter and would then buy two tires and wheels. My ‘97 T&C AWD has 47,000 miles and has gone through two winters on the original equipment all season tires.  The tread is still legal but I know that the performance of these tires in the winter would be marginal at best. I have four Michelin Alpin tires with wheels on order.  I plan to keep the car for as long as possible so these tires should be a good investment.  In the spring I plan to buy summer tires. All season tires are a compromise, I regret that all the new cars now have them.  They make sense for much of the country, but there is enough snow here that I would prefer summer tires and winter tires. I think ABS makes the use of two snow tires a bad idea.  In addition, AWD, if you have it also means that four snow tires are preferred. Chains are a problem in that you must go slow and they wear out very very fast on dry pavement. Not to mention the way they chew up roads and your tires.  I think they are better than snow tires in deep snow conditions that would prevail on unplowed roads.  On glare ice I think they may be better as well.  I’d reserve them for getting up and down a steep unplowed driveway. I’d take them off on the road (if I had them).  I don’t even use them on my snow plow. If you use them, good luck, go slow, and inspect them carefully before each use.  If they  break, they can fly off and wrap around all kinds of expensive suspension stuff.

Response:

The factory service manual states that you can use snow chains.  But… you must use …"Only compact snow chains or other traction aids meeting SAE-type "Class S" specifications."  This is out of the ‘97 manual.   I would note that the T&C has 16 inch wheels (I think that the combined tire and wheel takes up more space than the 15 inch wheel and tire combination) so that the already tight clearances around the fender wells (especially the front) would be reduced.  From looking at the car, in my judgement the most critical clearance is between the inside of the front wheel and the suspension strut and coil spring.

Response:

Ron, Thanks for the info.  Have you used chains on the Town & Country? Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > The factory service manual states that you can use snow chains.  But… you > must use …"Only compact snow chains or other traction aids meeting > SAE-type "Class S" specifications."  This is out of the ‘97 manual.   I > would note that the T&C has 16 inch wheels (I think that the combined tire > and wheel takes up more space than the 15 inch wheel and tire combination) > so that the already tight clearances around the fender wells (especially the > front) would be reduced.  From looking at the car, in my judgement the most > critical clearance is between the inside of the front wheel and the > suspension strut and coil spring.

Response:

I highly recommend that you get a set of very sticky special purpose snow tires. The Yokohama 600 series is superb and comes in the correct size and seem to get good wear. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Ron, >Thanks for the info.  Have you used chains on the Town & Country? >Dave > The factory service manual states that you can use snow chains.  But… you > must use …"Only compact snow chains or other traction aids meeting > SAE-type "Class S" specifications."  This is out of the ‘97 manual.   I > would note that the T&C has 16 inch wheels (I think that the combined tire > and wheel takes up more space than the 15 inch wheel and tire combination) > so that the already tight clearances around the fender wells (especially the > front) would be reduced.  From looking at the car, in my judgement the most > critical clearance is between the inside of the front wheel and the > suspension strut and coil spring.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I highly recommend that you get a set of very sticky special purpose snow > tires. The Yokohama 600 series is superb and comes in the correct size and > seem to get good wear. >Ron, >Thanks for the info.  Have you used chains on the Town & Country? >Dave >> The factory service manual states that you can use snow chains.  But… > you >> must use …"Only compact snow chains or other traction aids meeting >> SAE-type "Class S" specifications."  This is out of the ‘97 manual.   I >> would note that the T&C has 16 inch wheels (I think that the combined > tire >> and wheel takes up more space than the 15 inch wheel and tire > combination) >> so that the already tight clearances around the fender wells (especially > the >> front) would be reduced.  From looking at the car, in my judgement the > most >> critical clearance is between the inside of the front wheel and the >> suspension strut and coil spring.

   Blizzak is supposed to be one of the best snow tires around for vehicles . I think I would check into something like that as opposed to chains .  Unless you live somewhere where there is ice all the time chains won’t help you much more than good snow tires . — ?_

Response:

Hi, I have a 97 Town & Country LXI.  I’ve heard various reports that it’s not use to use or advisable to use tire chains (for snow) on the Town & Country.  Does anyone have any info on this?  Has anyone tried the aftermarket plastic chains with some sort of front wheel mounted adaptor? Thanks, Dave

Response:

Hi, I have a 97 Town & Country LXI.  I’ve heard various reports that it’s not use to use or advisable to use tire chains (for snow) on the Town & Country.  Does anyone have any info on this?  Has anyone tried the aftermarket plastic chains with some sort of front wheel mounted adaptor? Thanks, Dave

Response:

The factory service manual states that you can use snow chains.  But… you must use …"Only compact snow chains or other traction aids meeting SAE-type "Class S" specifications."  This is out of the ‘97 manual.   I would note that the T&C has 16 inch wheels (I think that the combined tire and wheel takes up more space than the 15 inch wheel and tire combination) so that the already tight clearances around the fender wells (especially the front) would be reduced.  From looking at the car, in my judgement the most critical clearance is between the inside of the front wheel and the suspension strut and coil spring.

Response:

Ron, Thanks for the info.  Have you used chains on the Town & Country? Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > The factory service manual states that you can use snow chains.  But… you > must use …"Only compact snow chains or other traction aids meeting > SAE-type "Class S" specifications."  This is out of the ‘97 manual.   I > would note that the T&C has 16 inch wheels (I think that the combined tire > and wheel takes up more space than the 15 inch wheel and tire combination) > so that the already tight clearances around the fender wells (especially the > front) would be reduced.  From looking at the car, in my judgement the most > critical clearance is between the inside of the front wheel and the > suspension strut and coil spring.

Response:

I highly recommend that you get a set of very sticky special purpose snow tires. The Yokohama 600 series is superb and comes in the correct size and seem to get good wear. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Ron, >Thanks for the info.  Have you used chains on the Town & Country? >Dave > The factory service manual states that you can use snow chains.  But… you > must use …"Only compact snow chains or other traction aids meeting > SAE-type "Class S" specifications."  This is out of the ‘97 manual.   I > would note that the T&C has 16 inch wheels (I think that the combined tire > and wheel takes up more space than the 15 inch wheel and tire combination) > so that the already tight clearances around the fender wells (especially the > front) would be reduced.  From looking at the car, in my judgement the most > critical clearance is between the inside of the front wheel and the > suspension strut and coil spring.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I highly recommend that you get a set of very sticky special purpose snow > tires. The Yokohama 600 series is superb and comes in the correct size and > seem to get good wear. >Ron, >Thanks for the info.  Have you used chains on the Town & Country? >Dave >> The factory service manual states that you can use snow chains.  But… > you >> must use …"Only compact snow chains or other traction aids meeting >> SAE-type "Class S" specifications."  This is out of the ‘97 manual.   I >> would note that the T&C has 16 inch wheels (I think that the combined > tire >> and wheel takes up more space than the 15 inch wheel and tire > combination) >> so that the already tight clearances around the fender wells (especially > the >> front) would be reduced.  From looking at the car, in my judgement the > most >> critical clearance is between the inside of the front wheel and the >> suspension strut and coil spring.

   Blizzak is supposed to be one of the best snow tires around for vehicles . I think I would check into something like that as opposed to chains .  Unless you live somewhere where there is ice all the time chains won’t help you much more than good snow tires . — ?_

Response:

I have never used chains.  Prior to "all season" tires, living in Albany New York, I would buy four snow tires and wheels and rotate them in the winter season.  They would last for years and years.  With the use of "all season" tires I usually waited one winter and would then buy two tires and wheels. My ‘97 T&C AWD has 47,000 miles and has gone through two winters on the original equipment all season tires.  The tread is still legal but I know that the performance of these tires in the winter would be marginal at best. I have four Michelin Alpin tires with wheels on order.  I plan to keep the car for as long as possible so these tires should be a good investment.  In the spring I plan to buy summer tires. All season tires are a compromise, I regret that all the new cars now have them.  They make sense for much of the country, but there is enough snow here that I would prefer summer tires and winter tires. I think ABS makes the use of two snow tires a bad idea.  In addition, AWD, if you have it also means that four snow tires are preferred. Chains are a problem in that you must go slow and they wear out very very fast on dry pavement. Not to mention the way they chew up roads and your tires.  I think they are better than snow tires in deep snow conditions that would prevail on unplowed roads.  On glare ice I think they may be better as well.  I’d reserve them for getting up and down a steep unplowed driveway. I’d take them off on the road (if I had them).  I don’t even use them on my snow plow. If you use them, good luck, go slow, and inspect them carefully before each use.  If they  break, they can fly off and wrap around all kinds of expensive suspension stuff.

Response:

Most people do not realize that Blizzak’s are only 2/3 high traction rubber. After that you are on an all season tire. Tires do not always wear at the same rate. Then you are  different traction tires; a very poor idea. Blizzak’s are not a good idea in my book. The recent Consumer Reports tested shows and found that there were other viable options. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I highly recommend that you get a set of very sticky special purpose snow > tires. The Yokohama 600 series is superb and comes in the correct size and > seem to get good wear. > >Ron, > >Thanks for the info.  Have you used chains on the Town & Country? > >Dave > >> The factory service manual states that you can use snow chains. But… > you > >> must use …"Only compact snow chains or other traction aids meeting > >> SAE-type "Class S" specifications."  This is out of the ‘97 manual. I > >> would note that the T&C has 16 inch wheels (I think that the combined > tire > >> and wheel takes up more space than the 15 inch wheel and tire > combination) > >> so that the already tight clearances around the fender wells (especially > the > >> front) would be reduced.  From looking at the car, in my judgement the > most > >> critical clearance is between the inside of the front wheel and the > >> suspension strut and coil spring. >   Blizzak is supposed to be one of the best snow tires around for >vehicles . I think I would check into something like that as opposed to >chains .  Unless you live somewhere where there is ice all the time >chains won’t help you much more than good snow tires . >– >?_

Response:

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