This has come up a bunch of times, again!<p>In my trusty 1998 manual it states that in fact chains are not to be used with the car. The manual actually gives lots of great info about snow and performance tires, etc. <p>I think we can guess why chains would be inappropriate with aluminum A arms!? Can you say stress fatigue? Catastrophic failure? I'm sure someone will try though, then sue the company for not putting a blinking sign on the dash.<p>Thirty lashes to those sport package folks with P8000's in the snow. Just because you can kill some pathetic bimmer with the sportq in the snow (ix's notwithstanding) does not mean it is safe. I was just rammed by some gomer who couldn't stop in the snow/sleet with summer tires, now I too get the rear bumper clearcoat.

In previous cars I have carried chains on winter trips to places that might <br>have snow. Now I have a 2.8 QMS on order. I hate to buy snow tires <br>that might be needed once every 2 - 3 years. Any suggestions?<br>

I am going to be using these tires as soon as the damn<br>car gets in (stuck in port). Reveiws I've read make this<br>tire sound like it's still a very good dry pavement performer.<p>I will post my own review once I've logged some miles<br>in the snow and on the dry & twisty.<p>http://www.tirerack.com/tires/pirelli/pi_p7000.htm<p>the pirelli site has good info on this tire as well.<p>Jay<p>otherwise, buy a set of $50 cables (not chains) for the<br>front wheels...

<br>But a properly installed set of high quality cables isn't going to hurt a thing. It's not going to damage the tires, wheels, fenders, or your drive train.<p> (performance products catalogue ~$60)

Had dealer exchange standard sprots tires for 7000s prior to delivery. Can't say to much as I only have 850 miles on the car...except...they look great and there doesn't seem to be any road noise, even at 80 mph.<p>gramps 2.8qms