Subaru Forester (2010) and Chains, WTF

My new Subaru Outback came with Continental Contipro Contacts, seemingly the most fitted OE tire on Euro and Japanese vehicles and the most despised. So Wednesday I am going to have them replaced with Toyo Observes (one of those walnut shell tires) at Les Schwab (I have had very good luck with Toyo tires and my LS dealer) UNLESS someone can give me compelling reason not to. I have tire pressure monitors on my Sub and that makes getting spare rims too much of a problem. LS will remount the Contis in the spring for $75--not too bad. Eventually, in a couple of years, I'll probably go to an all-around tire like the Goodyear Assurance Tripletred. I will keep in the chains in the car .

I agree with most of the posters. I have a 2010 Outback, and while "ordinary chains" aren't recommended, ordered low-profile diamond chains for tirechains.com and haven't had any issues. I've seen guys use cables, too.

In the last few years, I can only recall once seeing "Chains required on all vehicles" in WA. Generally there's a short time window between "Chains required on all vehicles except 4WD" and "Closed". I certainly wouldn't sweat it.

For years I thought the requirement was all vehicles must carry chains on passes from Nov 1st to April 1st, but yesterday as I was driving over Snoqualmie Pass I saw a sign that said all vehicles must carry chains except 4WD, so I might be wrong about that.

On Snoqualmie pass I have seen chains required on all vehicles twice in the last 5 years. Going to Paradise the rangers sometimes do a verbal check asking if you have chains, lie in this situation. I can fit cable chains on the front of my 07 outback, I have never driven with them, just test fitted in the garage.

good FAQ here:  www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/faq

acarey's post sums it up pretty good:  "WSP rarely if ever requires AWD/4WD with traction tires to chain up, but their spokesperson stated they reserve the right to do so and if you do not have chains you are free to go home and come back with a car with chains"

The way I have understood it thru the years - when the sign says 'chains required' as long as you have 4wd/awd and have chains in your car for 1 set of wheels then you are good to go.  & then there could be the occasion that the WSP will require 4wd/AWD's to chain up (the sign will specially call out 4wd/AWD must chain up or the WSP will tell you verbally).  I've never had it happen in 20 plus years but I guess it could.

also, according to the FAQ, to qualify as traction tires, the "m&s" rating needs to be on the sidewall which I think you find on most all season tires.

the continental tires:  I have the ContiExtremeContact on my audi a4 and they have performed really well in dry, wet and snow.  In fact I’ve never had another car or SUV that does as well in the snow.  I figured the tires were big part of it but really have no idea.  I have to replace them soon and was going to get something similar (Continental ExtremeContact DWS which I believe has the ‘triple tread’ concepts like the goodyear tire) but sounds like there are better tires to consider?  I didn’t realize the continentals were not well regarded.

...  I have the ContiExtremeContact on my audi a4 and they have performed really well in dry, wet and snow.  In fact I’ve never had another car or SUV that does as well in the snow.  I figured the tires were part of it but really have no idea.  I have to replace them soon and was going to get something similar (Continental ExtremeContact DWS which I believe has the ‘triple tread’ concepts like the goodyear tire) but sounds like there are better tires to consider?  I didn’t realize the continentals were not well regarded.

The continentals you have (and the ones my wife has on her Volvo XC70) are highly regarded; the ones I have are not (ContiproContacts). There may or may not be better all-season tires, but there are better 'winter' tires (Nokian Hakkapeliittas, the Toyo Open Count H/Ts I had on my truck and various other with or w/o walnuts, silica, studs, etc.), but these are not good for year-round use (wear too quickly, too expensive, poorer handling on wet and dry pavement, etc.).

good to know, thanks for the additional info.

Chris