Is there a problem using tire chains (cable-type) on the AWD Element? :shock:
I had a Subaru prior to getting my E, and I know that running chains was a big no-no (unless you ran them on all 4 wheels). Since the Element usually thinks it is a FWD vehicle, I thought I might be able to run chains on just the front. Of course, this would be done for short distances during icy weather. I live in the mountains of Virginia, where we often get more ice than snow, but we don't usually get enough of either to justify running studded tires.

I apologize if this topic has been addressed upmteen times before, but I didn't have much luck finding this topic during an exhaustive 5 minute search. Laziness being next to godliness, I figured I would give up and start a new thread!

Thanks!!

[quote:702a383da4=" "]I had a Subaru prior to getting my E, and I know that running chains was a big no-no (unless you ran them on all 4 wheels).[/quote:702a383da4]

The search function on this forum sometimes has problems, especially when it comes to giving more than one page of results. I must have a magic touch, since I got three relevant threads on the first page when I did a search on 'chains'.

The manual also has a 'search' function - there is a 'chains' entry in the index. The manual is nearly as informative as the forum discussions on this topic.

Hopefully the answers you get here will be as useful as the ones you got when you asked the Subaru forum about chains.

paulj

(In the 2003 manual.) You got any idea what the page number is for the 2004 manual, paul? :wink:

From the manual (page 176 of the canadian manual)


"Because your Honda has limited tire clearance,mount only SAE Class "S" cable-type traction devices on the front tires.Use traction devices only when required by driving conditions or local laws.Make sure they the correct size for your tires.Metal link-type "chains" should not be used.

the diamond z chains (not cables) meet the sae class s standards, and work just fine.

Page 176 of the U.S. 2004 manual as well.