Does anyone local sell tire chains/cables? Headed to Yosemite later this month and looks like I should have them on hand. Are they hard to install? Thanks!
COMMENT 220552
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2011-10-06 10:14 AM |
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Yosemite Valley is less than 4000' elevation. Unless you are going to the high country, I doubt you will need chains in late October. But O'Reillys should have them if need be.
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COMMENT 220555
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2011-10-06 10:19 AM |
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@220552 At certain times of the year the NPS will not let you through the entrance unless you show that you have chains in your vehicle.
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COMMENT 220561
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2011-10-06 10:27 AM |
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what kind of car. i bought some last year, cable chains, still in the box, never used for a toyota 4runner. if you have similar vehicle, i'm looking to sell.....
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COMMENT 220563
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2011-10-06 10:32 AM |
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You will probably not need chains in October, but it is occasionally necessary. If you will not expect to use them regularly, you can rent them at a number of locations in the communities of Coarsegold, Oakhurst and Mariposa. Link chains are difficult to put on and heavy, cable chains are much easier and lighter to handle. During a heavy storm where chains are mandatory there are often "chain installers" at several locations that will install/remove for a fee. Bear in mind that if you expect to drive in on Route 41 you will be driving at elevations up to 8000' before desecending to the 4000' valley elevation. If weather is poor, consider driving through Mariposa and taking Route 140, the "all-weather highway" into the valley. If you do elect to buy chains my absolute BEST advice is to practice putting them on in the comfort of your warm, dry garage first. Drive carefully when temperatures drop to freezing since "black ice" is treacherous.
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COMMENT 220576
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2011-10-06 10:52 AM |
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The Alpha Thriftstore on Milpas had tyre chains (In a box) for sale in the room where the appliances are. Bottom shelf. They should say tyre size on the box.
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COMMENT 220590
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2011-10-06 11:17 AM |
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You can check with Cal Dot for road conditions before you go. The low road in through Mariposa gets less snow. The NPS does ask if you are carrying chains. Because you never know and it can snow at higher elevations and you would be stuck. FYI the CHP is more strict about using the chains than the NPS. The hwy in, 41 is controlled by the CHP up to the park boundary. I have purchased my chains through Costco, they will do home delivery. And for those of you who do not think it snows in October, I suggest you check out the Yosemite Webcams today, Glacier point is gray clouds and snow covered trees, Turtleback webcam showed snow on trees at the same elevation as the camera. The road to that point is higher than the webcam.
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COMMENT 220598
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2011-10-06 11:25 AM |
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Supply and demand. You'll get them a lot cheaper in snow country than you will in Santa Barbara.
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COMMENT 220604
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2011-10-06 11:38 AM |
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Mountain Air
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COMMENT 220611P
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2011-10-06 11:45 AM |
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Larry's Auto Parts in Goleta
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COMMENT 220619
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2011-10-06 11:52 AM |
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I bought some on Amazon last year and it was a really good price.... Listen to the above advice and take them with you because they may ask you to show them before they allow you to enter the park.. If you show up without them, it will be a lot more expensive to buy them up there.
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COMMENT 220698
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2011-10-06 03:43 PM |
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I have some, used about 3-4 times. I'd love to sell them for very little to someone who could use them. I'm away from home right now but if you're interested, I can dig up the size info.
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COMMENT 220717
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2011-10-06 04:20 PM |
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598 ...if it is supply and demand....then it should be cheaper to buy them here...since there is no demand for chains in santa barbara......
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COMMENT 220765
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2011-10-06 06:16 PM |
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717- due to the lack of demand here, the selection is terrible. And they are expensive! Best to buy on the way up. One should ALWAYS carry chains into the Sierras, trust me- I was in Mammoth this exact time of year in 09, there was 3' of snow and stranded motorists everywhere....
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COMMENT 220766P
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2011-10-06 06:19 PM |
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OP - be very careful taking advice about snow country from SB beach bums- from the posts on this thread, they are clueless know-it-alls.
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COMMENT 220772
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2011-10-06 07:15 PM |
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I bought some chains in march when they were mandatory coming up through redding entering the siskiyou mountains, but it ended up not snowing and we never even opened the box. Bought them for $100 brand new, you can have 'em for $50 if you want, they wouldn't take them back at the store in redding so now I just have a box of unopened chains lying around. not sure of the size, I gotta pull the box out. But we bought them for the regular sized tires on my '99 4runner
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COMMENT 220783
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2011-10-06 08:42 PM |
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776P The people that say don't bother are the uniformed. 590 Here, I have used my chains in Yosemite a few times, my car is high clearance but not 4x4. I have pictures of my car with 2 feet of snow on the roof sitting in Curry Village. Probably you will not need them, if you have 4x4 you might not need them at all. And the park is a nice place to stay a while and wait out the storm.
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COMMENT 220808
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2011-10-07 07:10 AM |
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We bought some at Kragen Auto Parts on La Cumbre, have used them many times, and they are fine. Do call ahead, though, just to see if they are in stock!
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COMMENT 220809
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2011-10-07 07:11 AM |
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We've bought chains at Kragen, too. No problems, relatively inexpensive, no complaints.
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COMMENT 220819
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2011-10-07 07:41 AM |
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check out craigs list. I saw a few sets posted there.
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COMMENT 220827
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2011-10-07 07:58 AM |
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First, check the local dealer for your car. Link chains are unsafe on many modren cars and using them may cause problems that will not be covered under warranty, especially if the chains catch on a front-wheel gravel shield that has brake lines passing through it (common enough these days) a chain that loosens slightly can snag the gravel shield, rip the steering wheel out of your hands as it wrenches one front wheel to an extreme position, and then tear away the gravel shield leaving you with the car in a violent skid and severely impaired brakes. Unless your dealer or owners manual reccomends link chains, get cable chains. Whatever you get, practice installing them on a lawn or on a muddy surface while wearing gloves.
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COMMENT 220833
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2011-10-07 08:17 AM |
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Sears
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COMMENT 220840
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2011-10-07 08:33 AM |
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use to live up there out in oakhurst, always be ready for the snow, tends to come when ya least expect it. as for the snow chains would probably save some cash if you get them up there. be safe and have fun
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COMMENT 220871
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2011-10-07 09:38 AM |
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Larry's Auto Parts, 964-3545. And if you consider buying some second hand, make sure that they are the correct size for your tires. It is very important that the cables fit properly. As others have said, practice installing them yourself before you go. Install the cables on the "drive wheels", the ones that are powered by the engine. Lastly, if you encounter a chain control and there are the state licensed "chainers" available, it is worth the money to pay them to put the cables on for you. When improperly installed cables come loose, they can cause thousands of dollars damage to the body and/or the mechanicals of the car.
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COMMENT 220876
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2011-10-07 09:47 AM |
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MAKE SURE you get the right size. As a former employee at an auto parts store, 99% of the area stores will not accept returns on tire chains for any reason. We had a lot of people come in angry because they wrote down the wrong tire size and we were required to provide no refund. Its a crappy situation, both for the customer, and the employee who is trying to help.
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THUMPER
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2011-10-07 10:09 AM |
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Larry's Auto Parts in Old Town Goleta were really helpful to me and my friend when we bought some for each of our cars!
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