Dan

How many of you in snow country were told BEFORE you bought your CL-S that you could not put snow chains on it?

Shawn S

I didn’t ask, but I assumed you couldn’t because of the RIM design & minimal clearance.
When I bought my CL-S I had already planned to buy 16” wheels with dedicated snow tires.

I have (4) 16” TL rims & BLIZZAK snow tires mounted for the winter and they worked GREAT last year.

Shawn S

acura_service

i got extra rims so i'm going to mount blizzacks on them this winter

lead_sled_dog

I would normally be driving to Lake Tahoe where chains are mandatory. Everyone in the Bay Area knows that ... but no one told me I couldn't have chains. You would think the wheel gap we have would be ample enough for chains ... what a pisser ...

fbazakos

i had zero problems up here running the stock rim/tire setup.

gto2050

I understand where you are coming from also. The CA/NV state police don't care if you have 8 wheel drive! If it snows and they require chains, they require chains. Period. The more signs you pass the bigger the fine gets. I, like Shawn S went for the extra rims and snow tires but that won't help you. The dealer made no mention of chains. Chains are an uncommon fact here in snow country but we don't have the mountains you do either.

Scooter

the VSA really messes things up...where i am on the north shore of Long Island, we got lots of hills, and the VSA just KILLS any momentum u got goin for ya...my house sits towards the top of a 45 degree slope...it took me about 15-20 minutes one night to get up to my driveway b/c of my damn VSA...i wound up turning it off and getting a couple hundred foot head start, flooring it, spinning wheels, and fish-tailing...not a winter car by any means if hills are involved...plus, if roads aren't plowed/plowed very well, ferget it

tel1sps

Buy a WRX for the winter

Actually I plan a getting Blizzak's this winter on the stock wheels. Then Toyo's on a set of light wheels next spring.

sigs21

Did not have much problem last winter.. just in parking lots and such.. were there was some ice.. will have to see this year with the tread on the tires...

sundance_gold

We don't get much snow in the DC area but on those days we did, I had zero problems with the CL. While I don't have a 45-degree climb, the car did great on the slippery surfaces and I felt completely safe. The traction control system helped a lot!

Brians_CLS

At the end of your manuals, it says NO chain on the "S". Just check the clearance before you venture out too far.

macon

I knew about it before I got the car from these forums.

CLpower

is it a wheel gap clearence? i would think it's more the rims setup. Cause i've seen bmw's w/ 18" and snow chains...no problem

jscharp

Chains? You don't need no stinking chains! We had more than 12" on the road one morning this winter, and my POS 300M with bald front tires did fine. You just get started and NEVER TOTALLY STOP. That's the key to driving in the snow.
I've lived with this all my life. Guess I didn't realize that some states forced the chain issue. My sympathy to you.