snow chains for a 2003 VUE

I have a 2003 VUE, 6cyl AWD. I need to get snow chains but the owners
manual says "If your Saturn has P235/65R16 size tires, don't use tire
chains. Use another type of traction device...."

Well, I checked and that's exactly what size tires I have on my VUE.
P235/65R16.

So what is the type of "traction device" I need to get for my VUE?
What is the proper name and where do I look for it?

Thanks,
Cathy

 

They call them something like spider grip or something like that they mount
on the center of the hub and have plates with traction nubs on them you can
get them or at least the name of them at the dealer

 

Why would some one want chains on a AWD vehicle? Where do you live?


Paul

 

I live in Southern California. BUT I have to drive to Seattle next
week. I will travel up the I5, which goes through the Cascades in
Southern Oregon. There are several hight mountain passes that get a
lot of snow in the winter, most spectacularly the Siskiyou Pass.

The Oregon Department of Transportation has warnings posted that
travellers on the I5 must carry chains or traction tires under the
current weather conditions. They don't differentiate between a
passenger sedan and an AWD vehicle. They simply say "must carry
chains".

Cathy

 

Here in San Diego, and at certain times of the year, the Highway Patrol will
not let you in certain mountain communities without chains regardless if
your rig is AWD or not.

 

Oh I see. Thanks. Did not know about that. Never been to an area like that.

Paul

 

Try this place. http://www.chainsbysnowbird.com/ they are in San
Diego. And have low profile chains for Saturns.

Paul

 

Well I'm clueless on the VUE, however pre-VUE, S and ION we could not use
chains on S Series Saturn's.

So this is a new one on me and thanks for the link - typically S Series use
something called 'Spiders' and are more expensive than conventional chains.
I'm not sure what the dealer carries, and I found this link too:

http://www.spikes-spiders.com/

 

Do studded snow tires count as "traction tires"?