I have also posted this message on the Wheels and Tires forum. I've read from previous postings that "normal," i.e., link, chains can damage an A4 with quattro. Is there a type of chain that is safe to use with quattro and, if so, do you have any brand-name recommendations? Thanks.

With the Quattro chains are not needed. Just like you don't have to put chains on Ford Explorer tires.

You're probably right. Unfortunately, the law in my state requires that a car, even if equipped with AWD, carry some sort of chain/traction device under certain road conditions. (Evidently, the police do check at certain mountain pass locations.) Thus, even if there is a good chance that I may never put them on, I would still need chains that would not damage the car in the event I did need to use them.

<br>They'll work fine if you need them, which of course you won't<br>ever need them

Okay a week ago I would have agreed with the comments here but yesterday changed my mind. I have a Quattro with good snow tires (Dunlop winter sport M2s). Like someone else said the state patrol can force you to carry chains. They do here in Washington when the weather conditions get bad - regardless of AWD, Quattro, Synchro, etc.<p>Yesterday Steven's Pass required all vehicles to carry chains. I didn't anticipate needing to use them so I bought a cheap set (pair not all 4) from the Shell garage on the way up. I made the climb without needing any extra traction.<p>However, after a days snowboarding we returned to the car to discover it needed to be dug out. The mountains saw a lot of snow that day. Some dickhead parked directly behind me so I had very little room to manouver. Subsequently I got stuck!! The wheels were spinning good and proper - it made quattro look more like NOTtrro!<p>We had to jack the car up and fit the chains to the rear wheels. Even then it took several good strong men pushing to get any motion. Once I was out of the rut it was plain sailing.<p>However I could tell the difference in traction between the snow tires and the snow tires with chains. I am going to get another pair of chains for the front wheels for when the going gets rough again. If they say chains are required I am going to fit them as we spent over 90 frustrating minutes trying to free this state of the art 4 wheel drive system!<p>I looked at my manual today and to say that Audi is vague is an understatement. There is discussion in one section that tells what to do if you get a flat when using snow chains (implying they can be used) and yet another section says not to fit snow chains to the manufacturer installed wheels and tires. So when can I use them?!? When I'm stuck, cold, frustrated and desperate that's when!!!<p>I still think that the quattro system is probably the best AWD system on the market but it is not without its limitations. Yesterday I found those limitations. People need to realise that 4 wheels x zero grip is the same as 2 wheels x zero grip!! I am not just referring to Audi's here. I see too many 4x4 owners flying along on ice totally unaware of just how quickly they can lose control - their overconfidence in 4x4 engineering could cost them their (or worse MY) life.<p>I cannot see any reason why chains would damage the quattro system. It monitors wheels spin in exactly the same way and transfers power accordingly. Chains don't weigh so much as to cause a huge torque load on the drive shaft. So why would damage occur? Only if the chains are badly fitted could I see problems.<p>Incidentally, a Ford Explorer was spinning just as badly yesterday. He fitted chains too. Pretty much everyone was struggling. One over confident guy offered me a tow in his Cherokee only to find he couldn't move it either....<p>Just to give you an idea of how bad the conditions were, the mountain pass was closed due to 2 avalanches. It is also closed all day today for avalanche control. I loved the snowboarding but the journey home did not make it worthwhile.

I think Audi advises against using chains because of the very tight fit between the tires and the various suspension pieces, especially for the rear tires. I don't think quattro is the problem. Even with my skinny tires on my A4, there's precious little room between the tire and suspension parts on my car, and I can just imagine the damage a loose-fitting chain would do when it catches on one of those suspension parts.<p>But, living in Oregon and being a weekly (or more frequent) traveler to the mountains, I also carry chains in my trunk anyway, just in case. Now that I've got the studded Hakka 1s on my car, I hope to be able to avoid ever needing to find out whether or not the chains will actually work.

In California, even for conditions when you don't need chains (AWD + Mud/Snow tires), you still have to CARRY them.<br>

I second Greg's comments. I haven't chained up in a few years, but I've put chains (real chains, not those "cable" losers) on Quattros in the past. I always run narrower tires for the snow - 195/65-15 instead of summer 205/55-16 - so there's enough room for the chains. I kinda doubt there's enough clearance for chains with a 205, and I'm sure the bigger tires would be impossible with chains. But I'm sure the issue is one of clearance between chains and suspension.<p>I've never heard of chaining up all 4 wheels. If you do chain (or cable) up, do it on the front wheels only.<p>In California, R-3 conditions require ALL vehicles to chain up, even 4wd. And anytime that ANY chain restrictions are in effect, ALL vehicles are required to CARRY chains. CHP/Caltrans can and sometimes will make you show them your chains!

It explicitly says in the owner's handbook that tire chains of any kind can damage the car. Get a good set of snow tires than are studable and you're set.<p>Marcin R.<br>---<br>'98.5 A4 1.8Tqms