Snow chains for a week?
January 8, 2012 12:20 AM Subscribe
Is it OK to leave snow chains on a car's tires for a week?
We just arrived at the mountain and have left our car in a covered parking. We won't touch it for a week. Should we take the chains off, or is it safe to leave them on for the week? We understand that we would need to re-mount the chains at the end of the week if they'd loosened.
We just arrived at the mountain and have left our car in a covered parking. We won't touch it for a week. Should we take the chains off, or is it safe to leave them on for the week? We understand that we would need to re-mount the chains at the end of the week if they'd loosened.
There's no problem with leaving the chains on for a week. I don't understand why the chains would loosen though, unless you put them on incorrectly to begin with, or the tires are deflating.
posted by dfriedman at 8:20 AM on January 8, 2012
posted by dfriedman at 8:20 AM on January 8, 2012
It's fine to leave them on indefinitely. If they loosen (and it's a good idea to check regularly) no need to remount them; just tighten them in place.
posted by Mitheral at 9:19 AM on January 8, 2012
posted by Mitheral at 9:19 AM on January 8, 2012
Leave them on with no worries.
The no-no is driving with chains on roads that are clear of snow and ice, as this will beat up the chains and the roads, limit your top speed, and compromise your car's handling.
posted by mosk at 10:30 AM on January 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
The no-no is driving with chains on roads that are clear of snow and ice, as this will beat up the chains and the roads, limit your top speed, and compromise your car's handling.
posted by mosk at 10:30 AM on January 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
When people say "Take your snow chains off after X amount of time," what they mean is "Don't drive on them when you don't have to." Like, don't put them on when it snows, and then leave them on for the next three weeks even though the snow melted after three days.
It's fine to leave them on the car when the car is not in motion. For six months to a year, maybe not. But for a week? Totally fine.
Chains only loosen with wear. If you drove around with them on for a week, it's conceivable they might loosen. But they won't just loosen on their own. No need to tighten.
posted by ErikaB at 11:33 AM on January 8, 2012
It's fine to leave them on the car when the car is not in motion. For six months to a year, maybe not. But for a week? Totally fine.
Chains only loosen with wear. If you drove around with them on for a week, it's conceivable they might loosen. But they won't just loosen on their own. No need to tighten.
posted by ErikaB at 11:33 AM on January 8, 2012
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posted by ook at 4:16 AM on January 8, 2012