Looking for sources of chains.
Winter is on its way.
I have the base model with 16" tires
Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Where do you live?

OOOhhh winters coming...yippee !!

New Mexico

Hey Republic, How are you doing? We love New Mexico. In 2000 we drove from Santa Fe to Taos and there was plenty of snow. Our Subaru Outback handled it just fine. Are you sure you'll need chains?

Howdy!
We have the 4x2 version......
& friends that live north of Denver...
Most of the time around here south of Albuquerque we are not needing chains.
Thought it would be nice to pick up some chains if we needed to take a winter trip.

1st tank = 26.7 MPG
2nd tank= 28.2 MPG

Hey Republic, Don't worry about chains. I live in canada, where we actually get buried in snow every winter. My wife drive a small car all the time in it. She does just fine without chains. I never heard of people putting chains on car before. That's something we put on tractors. You might want to stay home, if you want chains on your patriot.

If my memory serves me well, the owner's manual specifically says not to use chains on a Riot.

Hi Republic, I would just get a set of snow tires and replace the all seasons with them for the winter if you're really worried about snow. The FWD really does very well in snow. The 4x4 does better, but you will be surprised how well the FWD can do with a good set of tires.:smiley_thumbs_up:

Damn that sucks for ya'll up north. I have never seen a big body of snow in my life. Only seen the stuff where it comes down and then melts in 5 mins when it hits the ground...

just about to finish our snow season in OZ - and missed with the new patriot
will have fun next year in it though....

had a good seaon this year in oz about 1.5m of snow which is heaps here

there is a review of the patriot driving in New zealand as the Ozzie and NZ launch

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22254273-5010760,00.html

enjoy

Howdy!
We have the 4x2 version......
& friends that live north of Denver...
Most of the time around here south of Albuquerque we are not needing chains.
Thought it would be nice to pick up some chains if we needed to take a winter trip.

1st tank = 26.7 MPG
2nd tank= 28.2 MPG

Good winter tires and some common sense when you are driving in winter conditions will be a reasonable option to chains any day. Remember to use winter tires on all 4 wheels (yes all 4 even with the 4X2) as control of your vehicle will be better than with only 2 on the driving wheels and maximum control is what you need under adverse conditions.

Looking for sources of chains.
Winter is on its way.
I have the base model with 16" tires
Thanks in advance for any ideas.

any auto store should carry them,
they even carry them in walmart,
wouldnt worry about chains,
good to have in emergencies,
but FWD 4x2 should be fine,
all comes done to driving style and tires,
have used my FWD neon for years without a problem,
have been through blizzards in northern NY and canada,
and northern NY averages 250" of snow a year,
slow driving and good snow tires can get you through any storm,

You might want to try studded snows. I live in the mountains of Colorado and drove a honda civic (tiny base model) up here for 5 years. Both of my kids drive fwd and have made it up here in almost anything. The only problem would be driving around all winter on studs with no snow.

Speaking of studded snow tires, looking around the web I don't seem to find anything in a 205/70/R16 that is the OEM size on my sport. Might have read something about this on anther thread, but what size would be closest? As in no reprograming?
I was thinking of Nokian Hakkapilttas, studded.

never mind, found the old thread that answers my question.
(pray for snow)

Howdy Mr. old skid Dog I was looking at discount tire web site last weekend they have a tire calculator & it will tell you the closest tire & differences
in height & width & if you have 65 mph on one tire what it would exactly
be on the other. might be worth a little surfing......they do not
carry hakkapilttas tho/ I used to live in the city with a smile
(Moscow) years ago.

Hey Republic, Don't worry about chains. I live in canada, where we actually get buried in snow every winter. My wife drive a small car all the time in it. She does just fine without chains. I never heard of people putting chains on car before. That's something we put on tractors. You might want to stay home, if you want chains on your patriot.

In the U.S., there are plenty of mountain passes that require you to at least carry chains and often require you to put them on. If caught withouth them, the state/highway patrol won't allow you to proceed. Chains aren't just for tractors.

If my memory serves me well, the owner's manual specifically says not to use chains on a Riot.

I read that too... it says there "isn't enough clearance" for chains. When I look at it, there seems to be PLENTY of room for at least cables if not chains.

We received and had to sign off on the following from the dealership:



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.

"As equipped" is FDII with the stock 17" x 6.5" wheels and P215/65R17 tires.

I have had my patriot for a month and I was curious how much people paid (ballpark)for "regular" or winter tires and/or any recommended brands?

I was quoted $105/tire mounted, balanced. For some 215/60/17 Mastercraft Glacier Grip II's.

You might want to try studded snows. I live in the mountains of Colorado and drove a honda civic (tiny base model) up here for 5 years. Both of my kids drive fwd and have made it up here in almost anything. The only problem would be driving around all winter on studs with no snow.

Speaking of studded snow tires, looking around the web I don't seem to find anything in a 205/70/R16 that is the OEM size on my sport. Might have read something about this on anther thread, but what size would be closest? As in no reprograming?
I was thinking of Nokian Hakkapilttas, studded.


Studded snow tires are only better on pure ice (or snow packed to ice). On asphalt they give way less traction than unstudded tires. So unless you live in a really snowy place with a lot of icy roads a majority of the season unstudded tires is a better option.

chains are good if you're going to be going into the mountains every once in a while.

snow tires are great if you're seeing snow more than maybe 10x a winter. no pain of putting on/taking off chains every time you go over the pass, etc.

also depends on the type of snow you have. i lived for years in minnesota and a couple of years in russia and finland, and with the dry snow there, i never felt it necessary to have chains or snow tires. for that matter, never saw anyone with chains and i think snow tires were illegal in MN. you could nearly always power out of the snow and there was little ice to deal with.

however, here on the west coast, i wouldn't go into the mountains without chains or snow tires. doesn't have to be on the car, but needs to be available at the very least.

the snow is MUCH wetter, slicker, and the drops from the edge of the road are much further. in Minnesota, the worst that would happen is that you'd put your car in the ditch/in a snow bank/etc. in Oregon, if you go off the road on the way up to the mountain pass, you're looking at a 2000' free-fall off the side. not so much with the fun.

Studs in winter tires are really for ice. Snow itself can be handled quite well without them (I of course mean with studless winter tires, not summer tires). In other words, what mitakuuluu said. :)

The above posts are indeed correct in asserting that studded tires do not help on packed snow. The climate (and elevation) of my area results in a freeze/melt cycle many days that often leaves "Black" ice on the highways in the early mornings and evenings. In that situation I believe studs do add a measure of safety.
However, driving sanely with due regard for the conditions encountered is the primary response to winter travel, whatever you are driving. In other words, pretend you are driving an old Pinto with no tread on the tires, even though you may have a riot with studs all around.
I ended up with Cooper 215/70/16 discoverer M&S studded, union made in the USA. My riot EATS SNOW. After wondering how the high-tech 4x4 system would work in the new riot, I have become reassured ( by our (finally) recent snowfall) that it is, indeed, a Jeep and acts like one.

walmart has em. Just make sure you get your tire-size down, so you can get the right ones ;)

I had to get em for my 1gen neon cause in CA, they require them when you're going up the mountains during winter while its snowing [for skiing 'n stuff].. always a good thing to have ;)

I had to sign an agreement when picking up my Pat as well. No chains - but cables are OK.

When I asked how much they charge at the dealership for cables, the salesman told me that I would be better off going to K-Mart or Wal-Mart to get them. Hey...at least he was honest!

Here in the central valley, I don't see a need for winter tires. But I'll probably wind up picking up a set of cables, in case we decide on a winter jaunt up to one of the national parks. There are signs up all over the place in the Sierras in the winters..."chains required, 4x4 OK."

I have the 07 Patriot North. It came with Goodyear Mud and Snow tires. We're building a 110 acre nature park just north of Ottawa. I had no problem driving through mud. Now with 10" snow falls and 2' drifts and slush I have had no problem. Drives great on bare roads too.:pepper:

MikeV: Are these the Wrangler SR-As?

I had to sign an agreement when picking up my Pat as well. No chains - but cables are OK.

When I asked how much they charge at the dealership for cables, the salesman told me that I would be better off going to K-Mart or Wal-Mart to get them. Hey...at least he was honest!

Here in the central valley, I don't see a need for winter tires. But I'll probably wind up picking up a set of cables, in case we decide on a winter jaunt up to one of the national parks. There are signs up all over the place in the Sierras in the winters..."chains required, 4x4 OK."

I drove in my very first snowstorm this weekend and the little rig went through like it was nothing. Unless there is 4 feet of snow on the ground, you will have NO trouble getting up to Yosemite or Kings Canyon Park--or even up around Shaver Lake. Just stick it in 4 wheel drive-go slow and follow behind another vehicle in their track if you can. When I lived in Fresno I had only driven in snow that was packed down for a few weeks going up to Yosemite. This weekend all up and down the passes their were folks chaining up because they did not have 4x4.

Nope. Says Goodyear M/S. I can check the complete tire info tomorrow. These are the standard Patriot tire for the Canadian market. Works for me. They should be available from any Chrysler dealer in the States. That's where they come from.

Quasimoden51,

The tires that came on my 07 Pat North are the Goodyear MS Eagle LS2 P205 70R16 96T. Great winter snow and mud, ice, rain and dry.