Winter Tires and Chains

I know nothing about chains.

17" definitely won't fit on the Atlas.
You can go to 18" rims (245/60R18), which I would suggest anyways. I got steel rims for about $75 CAD/each. 20" winter tires are going to cost you more money anyways, and with 18" rims you won't have to worry about dinging your nice rims as much.

Scott

TKS. The problem is that I imported the beast to Germany. So I had to go for a specific single permission to be allowed to drive it. And this only allows 20" rims, as I learned yesterday fro the authorities...

Hi Lukastan, I too have the same problem with my 2018 Atlas 255/50xr20 tires. I will need them in the Tahoe area of California. Worst snow storms in many years. Any luck in finding a pair of cable chains? The internet and Amazon show many different size cable chains. I am totally confused.

Chain are legal were you live? It is mostly ban in a lot of country now.

I live in Quebec Canada were we are probably one the place with the most snow fall in the world.

I have nokian hakka r3 as winter tire. One of the best tire I had.
IMO, put winter tire for winter. Chain were used back in the days when tire compound were not what it was today.

Also, chain would not clear front bumper trim when turning

I believe VW says NO chains in the manual.

Tim K said:

I believe VW says NO chains in the manual.

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just checked the manual. Mine says only install on front wheels. But doesn’t say “Don’t” use them.

I'm planning a day trip near Lake Tahoe, California (I live down the mountain from it where there is no snow). I'd prefer to not buy chains for a single day of use but since I've never driving my 2018 Atlas (4motion) in snow before, will I be safe?

ryecrash said:

I'm planning a day trip near Lake Tahoe, California (I live down the mountain from it where there is no snow). I'd prefer to not buy chains for a single day of use but since I've never driving my 2018 Atlas (4motion) in snow before, will I be safe?

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Better to have them and not need them than to be stranded in Tahoe somewhere. California will require you have them on interstate 80 or hwy50. I think there is a Les Schwab tire shop in Reno if you live on that side, them have a no question return policy. So you can buy them and if you don’t use them, just return them. Cheap insurance.

jwaroner said:

Better to have them and not need them than to be stranded in Tahoe somewhere. California will require you have them on interstate 80 or hwy50. I think there is a Les Schwab tire shop in Reno if you live on that side, them have a no question return policy. So you can buy them and if you don’t use them, just return them. Cheap insurance.

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Good point jwaroner. I'll follow your advice.