[sax6345]

Hi forum folks - Just joined as I recently purchased a 2020 Ascent Ltd. Can anyone tell me if these type tire chain are suitable for the Ascent. Heading on a trip shortly and want to carry chains as required by law. May never need them but...

 

[SkiPro3]

It is a little known and even less enforced law in California that when chain controls of any sort are up on the roads all vehicles must carry chains. The only place I've ever seen it enforced was Yosemite Valley. But it is the law.
With that said, I had to sign a 'Tire Chain Disclosure' when I bought my Ascent. It says, "As equipped, this vehicle may not be operated with tire chains but may accommodate some other type of tire traction device. See the owner's manual for details."

 

[sax6345]

I too signed a tire chain disclosure and have read the info regarding alternative "spring" type chains. I already had these for a Ford Edge (same tire size) and tried them on the Ascent. They appeared to fit well without any hinderance. I have no intention of purchasing a set of winter tires so maybe just keep these in case I'm required to use them. Definitely looking forward to a little winter driving. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Jim_in_PA]

There is a whole thread on this in the Tires area of the Technical section of the forum that will be helpful to you. Chains are not permitted on the Ascent, but there are other options if you absolutely must have some additional assistance.

 

[sax6345]

As it turned out I was not required to install chains on my trip. Although a few days everyone was required to have chains on I decided not to drive. Big Bear Mountain received over 4' of snow in two days. Most November snow for over 50 years. The Ascent handled as expected....perfectly! I will however purchase 2 sets of cable chains (the correct ones I'm told) to carry per CA law and just in case I'm required use them.

 

[rockthebeef]

As it turned out I was not required to install chains on my trip. Although a few days everyone was required to have chains on I decided not to drive. Big Bear Mountain received over 4' of snow in two days. Most November snow for over 50 years. The Ascent handled as expected....perfectly! I will however purchase 2 sets of cable chains (the correct ones I'm told) to carry per CA law and just in case I'm required use them.
View attachment 2408

You’ll only need one set of chains for the front wheels per the manual. I’ve had a set since last year and have not used them going up to the mountains a few times. I avoided a route that had R-3 chain controls this past Friday. The rest was R-2 and the Ascent handled it beautifully. I think it would have even been ok on my stock tires with 18k on them. I chose to get new tires last week anyway.

By the time we left yesterday, a lot of the snow had melted. The trip back was uneventful.

 

[sax6345]

You’ll only need one set of chains for the front wheels per the manual. I’ve had a set since last year and have not used them going up to the mountains a few times. I avoided a route that had R-3 chain controls this past Friday. The rest was R-2 and the Ascent handled it beautifully. I think it would have even been ok on my stock tires with 18k on them. I chose to get new tires last week anyway.

By the time we left yesterday, a lot of the snow had melted. The trip back was uneventful.
View attachment 2410

thebeef, post: 123891, member: 2759"]
You’ll only need one set of chains for the front wheels per the manual. I’ve had a set since last year and have not used them going up to the mountains a few times. I avoided a route that had R-3 chain controls this past Friday. The rest was R-2 and the Ascent handled it beautifully. I think it would have even been ok on my stock tires with 18k on them. I chose to get new tires last week anyway.

By the time we left yesterday, a lot of the snow had melted. The trip back was uneventful.
View attachment 2410
[/QUOTE]

I agree but I figured if I ever did have to install chains it would be nice to have the ability to install them on all 4 tires. What brand/type of chains do you carry and are your new tires AT or AS?

 

[rockthebeef]

thebeef, post: 123891, member: 2759"]
You’ll only need one set of chains for the front wheels per the manual. I’ve had a set since last year and have not used them going up to the mountains a few times. I avoided a route that had R-3 chain controls this past Friday. The rest was R-2 and the Ascent handled it beautifully. I think it would have even been ok on my stock tires with 18k on them. I chose to get new tires last week anyway.

By the time we left yesterday, a lot of the snow had melted. The trip back was uneventful.
View attachment 2410

I agree but I figured if I ever did have to install chains it would be nice to have the ability to install them on all 4 tires. What brand/type of chains do you carry and are your new tires AT or AS?
[/QUOTE]
I don't remember the brand of chains I bought. I got them in person so I can't look my purchase up online. They're one of the most commonly available cable type chains that get discussed in these types of threads.

My new tires are AS. I bought the tires that suit my driving style 99.9% of the time, even with the tempation of cool-looking AT tires. Mountain trips are few and far between. I have the chains just in case, but would rather avoid R-3 roads if possible.

 

[sax6345]

Thanks for the input and I'm the same as far as mountain trips are concerned. I was lucky last weekend to avoid all R-3 conditions. Love AWD vehicles especially when all 2 wheelers have to install chains and AWD don't. Only done 500 miles so far and is comparable to off road as an LR3

 

[AscentInCA]

There is a whole thread on this in the Tires area of the Technical section of the forum that will be helpful to you. Chains are not permitted on the Ascent, but there are other options if you absolutely must have some additional assistance.

I couldn't find the thread in the Tires section. Can you please point me to it?

 

[sax6345]

AscentinCA
I just ordered the SCC Super Z6 cable type tire chains to comply with CA Law which requires you to carry them. They exceed S.A.E. class "S" clearance. Hopefully I will never need them.

 

[Merope]

Driving between Sac and Reno many many times in the winter, I've never needed to chain up my AWD or 4x4 vehicles. They did make me put chains on my utility trailer once since it was required on any trailer with brakes. Had the trailer not had brakes, I would have been good to go. I told them the brakes were non-functional. It didn't matter.

 

[packout]

AscentinCA
I just ordered the SCC Super Z6 cable type tire chains to comply with CA Law which requires you to carry them. They exceed S.A.E. class "S" clearance. Hopefully I will never need them.

Why the heck does CA require chains for an AWD vehicle like the Ascent, particularly if it had winter tires with good tread mounted? Or shouldn't I ask?

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I couldn't find the thread in the Tires section. Can you please point me to it?

Cable Chain Suggestion

So for California, there are times when we need to carry/install a chain even on the cars that are not equipped for chain installation. And I saw a few posts about the Cable Chains suggestion for Subaru cars. Have anyone purchased a cable chain type/brand/model that is suitable for Ascent...

www.ascentforums.com

Peerless Auto-Trac Tire Chains?

Does anyone know if the Peerless Auto-Trac tire chains will work with a 2020 Ascent touring? I see the manual (p 385) suggests no chains but that spring chains may work, and suggests only Class S (which Auto-Trac are). Has anyone used these or know if they'll work fine with the clearance...

www.ascentforums.com

passenger vehicle chain law * Colorado

Apparently, a number of them offer Subarus as rentals. My brother went to Colorado for some skiing and rented a Subie (it was suggested to him by them). The same rental company has literally ZERO Subies (as of 2 years ago, anyway) here on all of Long Island. We once flew into MacArthur Airport...

www.ascentforums.com

 

[rockthebeef]

Why the heck does CA require chains for an AWD vehicle like the Ascent, particularly if it had winter tires with good tread mounted? Or shouldn't I ask?

It would only be in the most severe conditions (R-3). Any Subaru with AS tires will technically be good to go for R-1 and R-2 conditions. I think some roads down here become R-3 due to lack of plows. Last week, we had snow in our local San Diego mountains. The roads up were R-3, for only a few inches of snow. This is only about an hour outside of SD proper. I've heard stories of it taking people 4 hours to get back home from that sort of mess. If you drive farther out where plows are probably more common, the roads are better maintained.

CA chain controls:

Chain Controls / Chain Installation | Caltrans

State of California

dot.ca.gov

 

[vitenite]

AscentinCA
I just ordered the SCC Super Z6 cable type tire chains to comply with CA Law which requires you to carry them. They exceed S.A.E. class "S" clearance. Hopefully I will never need them.

Hi,
I guess you mean tire cables right? Cause chains are not allowed on the Ascent. BTW can you post the link for the cables? I am looking to pick up a pair. Thanks!

 

[AscentInCA]

Thanks for kindly sharing the links!

The most likely scenario here in northern CA would be R2 chain control in which case we need to carry chains but not put them on. I think I'll go ahead and buy the superz cables which will be most easily recognizable as a traction control device by the folks enforcing it. But hope I never have to use it!

Cable Chain Suggestion

So for California, there are times when we need to carry/install a chain even on the cars that are not equipped for chain installation. And I saw a few posts about the Cable Chains suggestion for Subaru cars. Have anyone purchased a cable chain type/brand/model that is suitable for Ascent...

www.ascentforums.com

Peerless Auto-Trac Tire Chains?

Does anyone know if the Peerless Auto-Trac tire chains will work with a 2020 Ascent touring? I see the manual (p 385) suggests no chains but that spring chains may work, and suggests only Class S (which Auto-Trac are). Has anyone used these or know if they'll work fine with the clearance...

www.ascentforums.com

passenger vehicle chain law * Colorado

Apparently, a number of them offer Subarus as rentals. My brother went to Colorado for some skiing and rented a Subie (it was suggested to him by them). The same rental company has literally ZERO Subies (as of 2 years ago, anyway) here on all of Long Island. We once flew into MacArthur Airport...

www.ascentforums.com

 

[Ripvw]

At least in the Sierra around Tahoe, CHP/Caltrans will close the road before they go to R3.

 

[Tronic]

Hi everyone! New Ascent owner and longtime Subaru loyalist. Apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but wanted to get some opinions before buying cables / chains for my new 2021 Touring Ascent.

I'm a CA resident and frequent Big Bear traveler. This is our third Subaru and not once had to actually install chains. Always carry them since it's the law and with the amounts we received last year which made for R-3 road conditions I'm considering getting something better than the Z Cables we normally carry. Just for the chance of actually having to use them.

Found these on etrailer that they recommended for the 2021 Ascent. These are actual chains and I've read chains shouldn't be installed in an Ascent. Keep in mind I would only install them in a worst case unexpected emergency R-3 situation. They are class S compatible which leads me to believe they'd be ok.

Thoughts on these vs cables? Anyone have experience with these?

And one that makes me question etrailer is in the review video for these chains they say "if installing on AWD you need 2 pairs". Which I think we all know only to install 1 pair on the front tires, at least on Subaru AWD.

Thanks!

https://www.etrailer.com/Tire-Chains/Subaru/Ascent/2021/TC2323.html?VehicleID=202186842

 

[FourMoBro]

@Tronic
First thing, being a resident of CA, if you are local to a Les Schwab, make your purchase there. Next, decide if you really want cables/chains, or would rather go the Tire Sock route. The tire socks qualify as "chains" here in WA when the same type of road conditions exists. They may also qualify as such in CA as well. Again, check with Schwab. They are lighter, easier to put on, and barely take up any room when traveling. Lastly, if you go with Schwab, you can always return the cables/chains/socks if they are unused. This is useful for when you get a different vehicle, or ever decide to change tire specs!