Planning on going on a skiing trip with the extended family. Going to take my 2013 E350 4matic wagon on the trip.

Was told that snow chains are required for part of the trip. Didn't see anything in the manual about snow chains other then they are not recommended for E550's.

So has anyone gotten snow chains? any recommendations?

My car has the 18" rims with the AMG sport pkg so it's a little lower than the non sport.

Never bought snow chains before so not sure where to start. Looking online they seem to run anywhere from $40/pair to $1k/pair. I assume I will need 2 pairs (one for front, one for rear). We don't go often so don't need anything fancy, just something that would get us there and back safely. But don't want anything too cheap because we plan to go a couple times a year from now on so want the chains to last.

Thanks!

 

I always thought if you had snow tires that was good enough. Especially, if you have 4WD. Snow chain requirements are usually for cars not sporting snow tires. Where is this place you are headed?

 

Dodge Ridge Resort. My brother tells me sections of 108 require snow chains, even if you have snow tires.

 

even if you have snow tires , but for 4matic that should be just fine , what i cant say about rwd

 

Yes, the law there states you have to have snow chains, even if you are running snow tires. They don't care if you have 4WD or not. And they do stop and check and will ticket and not let you pass if you don't have chains on. So I'm looking for recommendations for chains.

 

That's crazy. The road must be poorly maintained and a sheet of ice. I have driven with chains many years ago in Colorado. It is no picnic. Good luck!

 

I've never been there, my brother has gone a couple of times and says the section of road is not plowed or sanded.
I'd like to not be one of those people that think because I have AWD I'm excused from the law of physics and then end up in a ditch on the side of the road.

 

Sorry, but chains will not keep you out of the ditch. Proper real snow tires and 4WD can handle snow. Ice, not so much. I hope you find the chains and have a great time. Please let us snow how it went when you head up there.

 

It will definitely help keep you out of the ditch especially if the ground is hard packed snow.

I used to live in New England for 20 years and have driven well over 100k miles in all kinds of snow, sleet, icy conditions in a RWD car with snow tires and all season tires. I know how to drive in snow.

 

Chains will definitely help keep you out of the ditch, that's why they're required above and beyond snow tires on many roads in the USA.

FYI Dodge Ridge is typically plowed and sanded...it's Hwy 108 and Cal Trans is always up there...but yes, carry chains required.

You'll find areas that are "Carry Traction Control Devices" (they'll pull you over to check that you're carrying them or driving on them)...or "Traction Control Devices Required" which means they must be in-use. Traction Control Devices are snow tires, studded tires, and chains.

But then there are areas that are "Carry Snow Chains" (also can be pulled over to verify) and "Snow Chains Required" which means you must have them mounted...snow tires don't count.

Also studded tires count in most areas as chains...as long as they are on all drive wheels (2WD uses 2, AWD uses 4). Some areas count them but still require chains to be carried just in case the snow gets too thick for studs.

And of course studs are also not okay anywhere in some states and often have seasonal usage allowances.

I've always preferred studs as I hate chaining up...and ice is the most dangerous part of winter driving (and can be hard to detect until it's too late and you wish you had chained up earlier)...so studs give you extra security as they're on the entire drive.

But for a vacation trip obviously that doesn't matter.

I'd suggest the Super Z6. Operates in half the space of typical Chain Class S (chains for low clearance vehicles).

You can find info on them here: https://www.peerlesschain.com/brands...6-tire-chains/

And you can buy them on Amazon.

 

You could probably rent them like this guy did


lol