I just moved this from the wheels forum. I di not get any answers there.........


I have read many times in this forum that their are either no chains made for the S, or chains can not be used.

I have looked online and their are many types of chains and Spike Spiders that should fit the tire on an AP2. Is there a reason that they can not be used? I need to carry chains for just in case emergencies when traveling over the mountain pass.

BTW, I am not on summer tires for the winter season.

Thanks!

 

Honda has printed this in the owner's manual saying that no chains be used on the S2000. Now, I don't know if they meant in general or because they don't want to risk the possibility of owners using chains with the performance summer tires.
When the S2000 first came out, Honda Japan actually had a plastic snow chain for sale for the S2000 but no other Honda network could get them and they were not allowed to import them from Honda Japan. I know. I tried.

It is possible that due to the clearance between the tire and the fender parts, chains could cause extensive damage to the car. In most areas that have mountain passes, it is a must to have "winter tires". And when conditions are too severe for those, the pass is closed. They won't allow you through just because you have chains. Personally, I wouldn't use chains on this car. The risk is too great for damage. I can get through foot deep snow with winter tires in an S2000. I don't think I'd try it in conditions that required chains.
I guess you could carry them in the event of an emergency. If it was that bad out, risking damage or even sustaining damage from the chains might be a secondary consideration.

ps. Just because you never got any responses when you put this in the "correct" forum, doesn't mean this belongs here.

 

Xviper, thanks for the response. It is such a pain here in Seattle to have full time winter tires. We almost never get snow in town, but skiing is just 50 miles away. I tend to go up to the pass to go skiing in the evenings after work, and the S is my only car. I normally bum rides from friends, but there are times when that is not possible. The pass is almost always clear, but you never know when chains may be necessary (like when it snows 8 inches while you are skiing and you need to get out of the parking lot).

Tire clearance was the only reason I could come up with too. Maybe I will give it a try sometime soon and report back.

BTW, my S did not come with an owners manual. It was 10,000 miles when I got it. (yes, I have checked the secret compartment ) You guys are my owners manual !!!!!!

 

If you look at most chains that are installed on tires (especially trucks), you will notice that the chain that runs across the face of the tread do not lay flat against the rubber. When the tire rotates, those chains get flung out considerably. I can easily see that this would rip your fenders to shreads.
What kind of winter tires are you running? If they are all seasons tires or performance winter tires, you will not make it out of the kind of parking lot you describe. I have dedicated "snow" tires and I can drive in and out of a parking lot that has a fresh snow covering of up to nearly 15 inches (deeper if I have momentum going for me). Anything short of real snow tires won't make it.

 

By the way, the law in Washington is as follows:

1) no restrictions or traction tires recommended: anybody can drive on the passes

2) traction tires required: approved winter tires must be used, or else chains must be used, chains must be carried in the car

3) chains required: chains must be used on all non-4wd vehicles; 4wd vehicles with approved winter tires may proceed without chains but must have chains in the car; at the order of a State Patrol officer, any vehicle must stop and put on chains regardless of 4wd or not

4) pass is closed

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Due to the way it works around here, the S2000 just is not a practical car for driving into the WA passes.