amiro

I was going to borrow my brother's chains. The box says they fit 205/50 16 tires. Will this small difference be ok? Is it just that the chains won't wrap all the way around the tire? The width is the same...

Kris Hansen

Don't use chains on an A4. There is hardly any clearance between teh tire and control arms as it is.

77'911

Having gone through this already, the answer is no. They work with the 15 inch wheels. Its fine to use chains on A4's, but on the front tires only.

bassed-ndzmorezone5

unless you are running summers and go to the Mt's, which in that case you shouldn't be driving up with that setup There is very little room between CA's and tires already!

amiro

I was going up to the mountains this weekend, I've never in 6 years of going up had a problem. I'm running all seasons and have quattro and I've not been stuck in snow yet, even going up hills (testament to how good quattro is!), and for the few times a year we go up, they're fine (why i don't get snows).

There was a cop there who wouldn't let anyone go unless they had chains or snows. Since we're going up again this weekend and I'm not about to get snows, I figured I'd have a box of chains just in case they stop us again.

So, I guess to sum up:

1) Can chains be used on 16 inch wheels at all? Is there a definite answer? Even for 30 miles?
2) If I was to use chains, would 205/50/16 fit my tires 205/55/16?
3) Should I run them on the fronts or rears? I had assumed rears. Is there consensus?

Thanks, and happy holidays.

Kris Hansen

not that I'd ever feel the need to run chains (we run out of ground clearance long before traction) but just curious..

Kris Hansen

they won't clear the upper control arms with the tires you haev.

And the front axle is stronger than the rear, use chains on the front if you must.

77'911

We've got the sport 16 inch alloys(205/55R16) for MY2000. My guess is, that one might probably get away with cables. I tried fitting a really decent set of chains(RUD's) to our A4 and they are just too close to the hub upright. I'll just find a set of 15 alloys, Nokians, and put chains on them.
Its just insurance for us Kris. They don't plow out here and some of the roads are quite steep. Some passes here require chains as well. We have an old 4runner but the Audi is more sure-footed in the snow(go figure).

Kris Hansen

I have a crazy climb to my place, only once in 5 Audi quattro cars did I fail to make it all the way first try. That one time was a foot or more of heavy wet snow that was packing under the car, causing the wheels to become unweighted. It was a mess.

I've driven through feet of powder, on glare ice, etc. They are easily more sure footed than ANY truck, or other vehicle for that matter.

audiTLC

try low clearance 'chains'- they are made of rubber-i'll try to find the name