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      12-23-2008, 03:53 PM   #1
gr8000
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Snow chains for the M?

I am having significant trouble in getting snow chains for the 19" wheels for my M. It seems that there are very few options really for this wheel size and at the moment I am stuck with none actually! I visited a few auto accessory stores and either they dont have anything to offer for this size or they are out of stock.

Any recommendations? Anyone tried Spike Spider? Does it fit?
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      12-23-2008, 04:12 PM   #2
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18" wheels.
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      12-23-2008, 09:41 PM   #3
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Super Z6 from SCC. They list the size.

http://www.scc-chain.com/Traction%20Pages/Trac_sz6.html

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      12-23-2008, 10:06 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Advskier View Post
18" wheels.
SUV or Subaru for bad weather.
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      12-24-2008, 06:42 AM   #5
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Look at his location "Athens". He doesnt need snow tires or a beater for the couple of days a year they get an inch of snow.
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      12-24-2008, 07:00 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbyz View Post
Look at his location "Athens". He doesnt need snow tires or a beater for the couple of days a year they get an inch of snow.
If he doesn't need snow tires, why is he asking for snow chains?
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      12-24-2008, 07:08 AM   #7
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That's right, Athens gets little to no snow each year so it does not justify having a SUV or even winter tires. I will need the snow chains for a trip to northern Greece which is currently under snow / ice.

Anyway, thanks for the recomendation. Seems that SCC products are simple and effective. Well, it seems as this is the only choice to be honest but if it works well and it is reliable that's perfect!

Has anyone tried actually putting these on the M over 19"s? Seems pretty much mission impossible due to the tight clearance...
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      12-24-2008, 07:11 AM   #8
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chains are perfect for someone like him. He would wear througha set of winters in 1 winter in Greece. There are only a couple days a year it snows and when it does, its onlty on the ground a day or two. But for those few days, it would be nice if he could get to work I guess.
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      12-24-2008, 09:51 AM   #9
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wouldn't it be easier just to rent something w/ AWD or 4WD? I know in the states I can grab a 4x4 from some rental company for around $40 a day. Plus, if you crash it who cares!
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      12-24-2008, 10:04 AM   #10
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Great point. I agree with lugnut. rent a car for the weekend you go in the mountains.
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      12-24-2008, 10:07 AM   #11
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Part of the fun is the driving experience to this place in the M (assuming I can get to fit some sort of a snow chain). Plus it is not guaranteed it will have snow - I want to be prepared just in case (or if it starts snowing like hell whilst I am there, which is also very possible).
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      12-24-2008, 10:28 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon View Post
SUV or Subaru for bad weather.
Yuck! No thanks. I drive my M3 here in Boston in snow, dirt, wet, grime, etc. It's a car. Even if I had money to throw around, I'd never, ever get a "winter" car - waste of money IMO. SUV???? Yuck again..
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      12-25-2008, 08:41 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon View Post
SUV or Subaru for bad weather.
He needs a 600HP RWD on summer tires.

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      12-27-2008, 03:37 PM   #14
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Thule (Konig) K-Summit (K-34)

http://www.konig.it/SchedaProd.aspx?ID=920

They'll fit 265/35-19.

Can be purchased from here:

http://www.vulcantire.com/cgi-bin/ch...eKSummit_l.htm

But as you're in Greece you'd probably be better off hunting around for them in your own neighbourhood.

These things are bad-arse. Just a shame Seattles weather cleared before I could give them a work out on my FWD torque steering Viggen jalopy.
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      12-27-2008, 04:46 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gr8000 View Post
I am having significant trouble in getting snow chains for the 19" wheels for my M. It seems that there are very few options really for this wheel size and at the moment I am stuck with none actually! I visited a few auto accessory stores and either they dont have anything to offer for this size or they are out of stock.

Any recommendations? Anyone tried Spike Spider? Does it fit?
I think that 18" Snow tires would be cheaper in the long run. With 19" tires and you mentioned the factory tires, thre is not very much clearence especially with the front tires. Not knowing what the laws are in Greece (do they require chains on all four wheels or just the drive wheels) etc... Anyway if one of the chains comes just ever so slightly loose (as most chains do) then this could cost you dearly for the damage that could occur to the body of your M3. There are plenty of good snow tires out there that will support some spirited driving when not in snow. I used 18" wheels with Dunlop Sport 3D 235/40R18 on all four wheels. I've been is some pretty good snow so far this year and no problems. Yea you can force the car to slide etc... if you want. But normal driving I've had no issues.
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      12-29-2008, 05:22 PM   #16
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Greece's multitude of local micro-climates make tyre choice a hard puzzle, when it comes to winter.
The idea of getting an M3, as an Athens inhabitant, is to enjoy spirited driving on weekend excursions (not to commute in Athens daily traffic). Athens rarely gets any snow, btw. And the road to many weekend destinations should be not frozen in most cases, especially if you stay close to the coastline and not opt for the mountainous mainland.
But your usual final destinations in wintertime (ie picturesque mountain villages) are usually snow- or ice- covered. Hence , you need a grip aid for at least the final 20% of your weekend journey distance, let's say.

Given all that, winter tyres may be too much [still the ideal solution if you can afford an extra set of wheels], especially now with f**king climate change, due to which the weather can get crazy (sunny) enough to provide tarmac temperatures in February capable of destroying winter tyres (especially under spirited driving).

Having All Weather tyres year-round is not an option for an M3 driver (and they wouldn't really help anyway, in real winter conditions you will certainly meet in Greece in winter, over a certain altitude).

19s are not really suitable for chains.

My suggestion would be the "Auto-Socks", a synthetic fabric cover for the wheels. It poses no danger to the car's body and rims and it is lightweight and easy to store.
It should be stressed that they 're not very durable, but that's OK for occasional use over limited distance.

Mounting them on the rear wheels, of course, should be a pain in the ass, as with any set of traditional chains, so be prepared for lots of traditional Greek cursing and blasphemy
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