How Many Wheels Do I Put Tire Chains on 2017 Subaru Forester?

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Question:

I own a 2017 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Touring. Would you recommend getting a pair of spring chains and putting them on the front tires or getting two pairs and putting them on all four tires?

asked by: Sofia A

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Expert Reply:

You'll want to consult your owner's manual to see what it says about using tire chains at all, as some vehicles do not recommend it.

With that being said, since your Subaru is an AWD, I would recommend putting chains on all 4 wheels to maximize your traction and handling. I see that you were looking at the Glacier Cable # PW1046, but I would instead recommend going with the Titan Chain # TC1553 because they are designed with a diamond pattern to provide you with much better traction than the ladder pattern on the Glacier Cable chains. The other drawback to the Glacier chains is that they are not Class S compatible-which is for cars with clearance issues in the wheel wells, so they would not be a great choice. The Titan chains are Class S compatible and come with a 30 day warranty; they would be good for emergency/occasional use.

If you plan on having to use your snow chains fairly often, the spring chains that you mentioned would be a great choice in terms of ease of use and the generally higher quality associated with the manufacturers of those types of chains. The spring chains I recommend going with are the Konig Premium Self-Tensioning Snow Tire Chains - Diamond Pattern K45 # th02230k45. These chains are going to be a bit easier to install than the traditional snow tire chains and come with the diamond chain patter to help provide superior traction. In addition to the diamond chain pattern, these chains have ice spikes for added traction when road conditions are especially treacherous. These Konig chains are Class S compatible, for tight wheel clearances.

As a comparison, the Titan and Glacier chains have a 30 day limited warranty where the Konig chains have a 5 year warranty by the manufacturer. It looks like your 2017 Forester Touring 2.5XT came with 225/60r17 tires, which all of the above listed chains are designed to fit; if you have a different sized tire please let me know what the size is and I can help you find the appropriately sized chains.

I've linked some review videos about these products for you to have a look at, that I think you'll find helpful.

expert reply by: Erik B

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Answer 1

The ISSE Hybrid Snow Socks #TCH70 referenced in your question do indeed have a maximum speed rating of 30 mph. This speed limit is generally the same for any tire traction device, including snow chains and cables. The speed limit is in place because…

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Answer 2

Ideally you run chains on all four tires to be the safest. Some people get away with one set, but if you are going to be travelling through snowy mountains with tight corners you are definitely a candidate for chains on all 4 wheels. That said the…

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Answer 3

The ISSE Classic Snow Socks #TCH70 will meet the Department of Transportation requirements in all states, but they will not be very effective if you do end up hitting snow. Due to this, I tend to steer people away from this option and towards one…

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Answer 4

While ideally you should take them off whenever you are not using them, keeping them on overnight especially if the parking area still has ice/snow in the morning is fine. Now this will also depend on the tire chains you have on. The Glacier V-Trac…

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Answer 5

In general, snow tire chains are generally placed on drive wheels, but they can sometimes also be used on non-powered wheels. If a vehicle is front-wheel-drive only, then generally the front tires are the priority but it is permissible to place them…

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Answer 6

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 7

The Bolt hitch lock part #BL7023582 that you referenced does fit your 2014 GMC Sierra 1500. I attached a chart that has all of the vehicle this works with. I also attached a link to a review video for this lock for you to check out as well.

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Answer 8

The Dexter 10K electric brakes #23-439 (right side) and #23-438 (left side) will have to be manually adjusted using the adjustment wheel below the magnet. To adjust the brakes you will use a small screwdriver or similar tool to turn the adjustment…

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Answer 9

I checked directly with BOLT for you, and they confirmed for me that your 2021 Chevy Silverado is absolutely compatible with their trailer hitch locks. Take a look at the accompanying photo, and if you have the same center cut key, the correct lock…

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Answer 10

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 11

Yep, so long as your 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is not a hybrid both the Curt and etrailer hitches will fit: - Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #C13382 - etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e98912 The only difference besides price is the finish; the…

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Answer 12

The Malone Universal Crossbar System #MPG201 is a more economical choice but it still does a good job. The design and quality of Thule's system is why they have such a large difference in price. Whether you go with the Thule Crossroads system…

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How Many Wheels Do I Put Tire Chains on 2017 Subaru Forester?

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