Has anyone used chains on the Element, and in particular, used them with larger than stock size tires?

Last winter I took a test drive with cables on the stock tires, and had no problems with fit. I wonder though, whether chains or cables would fit with 225 or 235 width tires.

Besides the common use of chains in snow, they are sometimes mentioned as a traction aid in mud, particularly the slick clay that is found in some dry regions after a heavy rain.

paulj

I get my chains from a local auto supply. They can supply any size even for tractors (the ones for my rear tires on my large tractor are so heavy I can barely lift them). They just use a bolt cutter & cut them down to size.
I plan on having a set for the rears. Won't be enough clearance up front.

It is the clearance in the front that I am worried about. Honda recommends putting chains on the front rather than the rear. That makes sense, since the Element is normally front wheel drive. I wonder if there would be any problems if you did put them on the rear only. It might trigger 4wd more often. That might be ok, provided it doesn't happen so often that the thermal cutoff is activated.

paulj

I would think that chains on the rear would be OK. I've commuted using chains on the front of a FWD sedan. Clearance was tight, and anything coming loose would cause slapping. On the E, the rear chains would help you stop straight more so than the front. I don't think stopping would be an issue. As far as takeoff or climing hills, your right, the front would have to slip first to get power to the back chains, but thats just how the system works. I don't think it would be different with or without chains, which has been a question with me all along-how the system will really perform in really bad conditions since the front has to loose traction before the rear kicks in to help.....I'll find out soon enough. The real question with chains on the rear is directional controll. But remember, chains were always used on the rear when all we had was RWD. But the chains are only used in the worst of conditions when nothing else will get you through, meaning you'll be going very slow and not many people on the road. Chains are much easier to install on rear also.