Need to pickup snowchains today, where to buy
 

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

In Atlanta? I have no idea. I don't think anybody will stock them. I think you can order them from JC Whitney...

If you have a Sears near you, you could try them. The one near me has different sizes available. I think the Pep Boys does too.

I would go to Sears and make sure you get cable chains! These don't break and chew up your wheel well.;)

It might be cheaper just to stay home. Latest has the rain/snow/sleet mix starting somewhere around 3 to 5 AM Sat morning, and continuing during the day, with a hard freeze Sat night. No more precip after midnight Sat.

The problem with chains here is that normally, we will not have enough snow on the roads, or it is ice. You might be able to drive in it, but others cannot.

A perfect example..

Good point! If drivers in your area are as stupid as Seattle drivers, your going to get your car totalled!:eek:

There is no way I would be on icy roads in Atlanta. People drive terrible enough on nice days...I can't imagine the carnage from a deep freeze.

Snow chain advice from Canada
 

Chains work well to provide traction through deep snow where it is not packed down, or where you have new snow sitting on a layer of ice or very hard packed snow. Up here in igloo-land we only see them used on country roads or in the mountains during heavy snow fall.

Notice I said TRACTION on DEEP SNOW. Steering and braking are another question. What tires are you running on?? Remember the poor soul who drove his car into a tree last week in his driveway??

If you do not have a full set of full winter tires (none of that "all season" Bull$hit) and are not experienced in winter driving, then chains can lull you into an incredibly dangerous situation - rather like a 4WD SUV driver who does not understand the difference between traction and tire adhesion to snow on braking or steering.

Please consider staying home unless you are going to buy a decent set of full winter tires (Nokian Hakka 1's or 2's, Bizzaks, etc.) or at least a full set of Nokian WR's (the only all season tire with decent snow and ice performance). My beloved 300SD on Michelin Harmony's (so called quality tires) is a dangerous POS on snow and ice because of the tires - the rubber compound is way too hard for cold weather use. I am buying a set of Nokians on Monday.

I sincerely hope no one got seriously hurt in any of that footage because I laugh my @$$ off every time I see it. You just have to wonder what makes each subsequent driver think that they're the one that's going to make it.

My experince with tire CHAINS is right in line with yours, but tire traction CABLES work well in an inch or two on compact snow and ice as long as you don't try to climb big hills and your cables are tight. My favourite trick is to let about 1/3rd of the air out, put on my cables and blow the tires back up to 4/5ths pressure. Lower inflation pressures with cables makes them last longer and you get better traction!:D I also only use my 4X4 Dodge Ram in Snow too!

what about the local tire shop? I have ordered mine on line. But have not got any for the MB

NAPA had em for $75

Only thing I ever put chains on is the Jeep when I am plowing. It cannot do the slope of my driveway without chains on the rears even in 4L0 Too much weight on the front with the plow down.

Did you see the version of the Portland video made to look like a pinball game? It is too funny. I love he guy jetting backwards down the street on a beeline for the cars parked a block away. That takes skill!

This being said, ice is no laughing matter. Check out my post about flipping the Suburban on ice at 8 mph! Doesn't take much speed to loose it on ice.

Yeah, us locals were wondering about htat guy too. Seemed intent on causing as much carnage as possible since he'd have done less damage if he'd just have locked up the wheels and waited till he stopped :)

Glad I was lucky enough to live far away from that bozo and smart enough to decide the schools should really be closed and turn around. Amazingly enough, the Beaverton school district had the school busses out on those roads for the K-12 kids while they sat in their office waiting to hold the meetings so they could discuss whether they should close the schools. They are so lucky no kids got hurt, but heads didn't roll like they should have over it. Still makes me mad.. think maybe I'll poke my head into the central office over lunch today and inquire since we've got some cold weather predicted for next week.

Stay Home !!!
 

I would stay home. About 5 years ago, everything was shut down here in Memphis with like 2 inches of snow/ice.....and we had an out of town trainer coming in from Canada. I had to go to work....drove my wife's beater, old Saab (RIP), front wheel drive helped but not some places.

it has snowed seriously only 3 times in the 25 years I have been in Charlotte area, and in those times I did not use chains. the BEST way to avoid being in an accident or getting stuck is don't drive in conditions that are unusual for your area! chains are good for one thing, getting you out of a tough spot that you are in. they are not for driving around for added traction. That's what studded tires are for. they are for getting you out of a jam. and IF you need them, you should not be out in the first place. chains/cables, are great for destroying roads, and tires, and cars when they pop off and slam into your fenders etc. I remember when 18" of snow hit charlotte one winter, it fell on top of already ice covered roads. all the freeways and roads were totally impassable. yet many drove anyway. I was driving an astro van service vehicle, and had studs on (heh, I came down from SD... ) so I was able to navigate the frozen roads, many customers knew me, and insisted since I came from snow country I could navigate their roads too... 30° slopes covered with ice and snow, with trees all along the side... I told them this... I DO know how to drive in bad weather... avoid steep hills, park the car and walk! if there are no snowplows, the roads are bad. packed snow is REALLY hard to drive on.