It is 90+ here today, but, going to Yosemite for a week in December and wondering if anyone has actually used snow cables on a 2001-2003 CL-S ? I know the manual says no, but the wife's IS300 is not as comfortable on a long drive and it is definitely not happy in the snow with its summer tires!

 

WTF are snow cables? do you mean chains? If that's what your talking about it makes a car very sure footed in snow, and makes very poor performance the rest of the time. You can't drive fast in any condition, they vibrate, are very loud, difficult to put on and take off and will destroy your fender/wheel well/quarter panel if they brake while moving. In addition, I don't think they make tire chains for low profile tires, it will probably damage the wheel. I would suggest renting a vehicle for the week on vacation, in particular since you don't have any experience driving in snow, this way if anything happens its not your car. Even with good tires/chains/4 wheel drive you will not be a good river in winter conditions if you've never driven in them before. Its sort of like riding a bike, no one gets the first time, but once you've learned you never forget. Don't rent a 4x4 thinking you'll be safe either, 4 wheel drive will help you get going but does nothing for lateral traction(steering) or braking.

 

Chains are normal and routine for driving on California's mountain passes during the winter. They are required by CHP on many roads during the winter. At the very least you are required to carry them in the trunk. It's pretty normal to come to a roadblock that will make you turn around if you have no chains.

Dan - I have no experience with chains on the CL-S...sorry cannot help here.

 

These are snow cables;

They take up much less room than real tire chains and also do not work as well. What I need to know is has anyone tried them on a CL-S and is there enough clearance? As far as the CHP is concerned, they can bite my furry ass! They have you put chains on 10 miles before there is even any snow sticking to the road! I liked the Utah patrolman's answer in Kanab during a storm one November when I asked him if I would need chains to get to Bryce Canyon Nat'l Park. He asked where I was coming from and I told him the south rim of the Grand Canyon. He said if you don't have them on by now you probably don't need them, but if I have to pull you out of a ditch you get a ticket!

 

Thats pretty serious, in NY snow conditions can get a little hairy, in particular in the hill towns, and I have NEVER seen a car with tire chains.

 

CHP does that in Cali because 95% (or more?) of our drivers cannot drive in a straight line on a four lane freeway on a bright 80 degree day with not a cloud in the sky!!!

 

from what i have been told in NY its illegal to have chains on your tires. its illegal to have studded tires as well. so thats prob y you dont see them often. the only vehicles u will see with chains are the sanitation turcks and the trucks that plow the streets and salt them.

 

Chains may be illegal, I wasn't sure either way. Studs are completely legal from Oct. 15 through Apr. 15, I have run studded snows for the last two winters.

 

rent an Explorer and be done with it