best tire chains for FWD car with 18" wheels

So, as someone who for a decade drove a WRX with performance winter tires on it, I find myself with my new GTI shod with 18" Comp 2 All-Seasons and having to take a work trip up to Ontario in a couple weeks. The usual weather there isn't particularly snowy in mid-November, but I'm also going to the Tall Pines Rally in Bancroft the next weekend. At this point not really up for buying a second set of tires for this car since we get almost no snow here in DC (and I have other vehicles for that if we do), but thinking maybe not a terrible idea to take along some tire chains just in case of a freak storm or something, since I need to stick to a pretty specific timetable. 

Any thoughts on a decent chain or grip-adder that works ok? I've never used chains before but since they're all pretty inexpensive might be worth throwing some in the hatch just in case. 

In Ca I am required to have chains 

I have used Konig xB and  Terragrip on my TSX (225/50/17) wagon and Lexus LS. (245/45/18)
 

both have served me well every winter last 7 years. 

I travel back and forth to UT quite a bit during the winter, preferably when the snow is flying (in UT).  I'm always in the cheapest rental I can find, so the likelihood of decent all-season tires is minimal, let alone snow tires.  Seeing as how we have a small self-storage unit out there now, we've accumulated an inventory of chains (5 sets I think, most are cable chains).  Upon arrival at the self-storage, I check the tire size, then scan my inventory to see if anything will fit.  If not, swing by the nearest O'Reilly (or whoever) and pick up the cheapest ones they have for the tire size du jour, usually $40-50.  Throw them in the trunk w/ the receipt.  By the end of the trip, if they remain untouched, I swing by O'Reilly again and return them.  If they were needed, well, they were well worth the $40.  

System has worked like a charm for the last 5 or so years.  

I hear good things about tire socks and have zero first hand experience with them. Not sure where that leaves you...

Ontario is not the arctic circle.  When it's 30 degrees in DC, it's 20 in ONT.  When DC has 3" of snow, ONT has 5".

Buying chains to go to ONT in November reminds me of a Chinese Proverb that says, "Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from a friend's forehead."

Drive.  Just drive.  At best, get some cheap tire sock for emergencies if it makes you feel warm and fuzzy, but the last thing I would do is recommend chains.  They are technology from the 30s.  The fact that CA still requires them is about as relevant as the 2/5ths law that counts slaves as 2/5ths of a person in the 1800s.  Chains are for preventing yourself from freezing to death in 1935 when your whitewall balloon tires can't hack the 4" of snow, and your car's top speed was 50mph anyway.  They have no place on anything but a John Deere.

Look at tirechains.com.

I have two complete sets from them. The price is good and they have a wide range of sizes

I was always interested in the self tightening Thule chains. They’re expensive though. 

I was in Yosemite last year when the government shut down happened. Chain laws weren’t being enforced. The Mazda 3 I was driving had all seasons on it and we got around no problem. Packed snow and some ice. I was surprised but my experience with snow is very limited. 

I travel to northern VT every xmas, 2 miles from Quebec and snow is not a problem.

Only once was I glad I had my Blizzaks on.   Snow and ice storm, but even then I'm sure I could have gotten around on without If I had too.

No advice regarding snow chains, but maybe you know some Ottawians (?) that you could thumb a ride to the event with?  

We haven’t had any real cold temps yet so the ground isn’t frozen, so any snow that falls will likely melt.  Long range forecast only shows one dump of maybe 4-5” this coming weekend, but doesn’t go far enough into the future to cover the rally dates at this point.  

If you’re in town for the early snow be forewarned that Ottawa drivers need at least 2 or 3 snow falls to relearn how to drive slippery conditions every year (especially the bus drivers).  

Good luck...

Gordon (in south end Ottawa)

I've lived in Ontario my whole life and I've never seen a car driving on the road with chains. We get somewhat more snow than you, but our snow removal is very effective. I wouldn't worry about it.  

etailer.com is another good source for tire chains.

etrailer

mw said:

I've lived in Ontario my whole life and I've never seen a car driving on the road with chains. We get somewhat more snow than you, but our snow removal is very effective. I wouldn't worry about it.  

Oh I'm not terribly worried about the streets in Ottawa, just not sure what the road situation is at tall pines rally, if they are uncleared or unpaved. Being a rally driver myself it would be very embarrassing to get stuck lol.

ggarrard said:

No advice regarding snow chains, but maybe you know some Ottawians (?) that you could thumb a ride to the event with?  

We haven’t had any real cold temps yet so the ground isn’t frozen, so any snow that falls will likely melt.  Long range forecast only shows one dump of maybe 4-5” this coming weekend, but doesn’t go far enough into the future to cover the rally dates at this point.  

If you’re in town for the early snow be forewarned that Ottawa drivers need at least 2 or 3 snow falls to relearn how to drive slippery conditions every year (especially the bus drivers).  

Good luck...

Gordon (in south end Ottawa)

Ironically, Ian (who lives in Ottawa and is on GRM) is riding to the event with me. but I am not going back to Ottawa so he is catching a ride with someone else. I am heading south from there lol.

Curtis said:

Ontario is not the arctic circle.  When it's 30 degrees in DC, it's 20 in ONT.  When DC has 3" of snow, ONT has 5".

Buying chains to go to ONT in November reminds me of a Chinese Proverb that says, "Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from a friend's forehead."

Drive.  Just drive.  At best, get some cheap tire sock for emergencies if it makes you feel warm and fuzzy, but the last thing I would do is recommend chains.  They are technology from the 30s.  The fact that CA still requires them is about as relevant as the 2/5ths law that counts slaves as 2/5ths of a person in the 1800s.  Chains are for preventing yourself from freezing to death in 1935 when your whitewall balloon tires can't hack the 4" of snow, and your car's top speed was 50mph anyway.  They have no place on anything but a John Deere.

I've honestly never thought about chains before but I was thoroughly unimpressed by the winter traction on the tires I had.  Nice thing about Amazon is I can just return them if unused. 

Seems like a silky thing considering I actually won a winter rally in a rwd car last year, but preparedness is the opposite of stupidity in my book, at least for me. :)

I've seen exactly 1 car with tire chains on it on the street here in Alaska. Most people just don't use them unless its on a plow truck that doesn't see public roads.

I would just take it easy and I'm sure you'll be fine. 

NorseDave said:

I travel back and forth to UT quite a bit during the winter, preferably when the snow is flying (in UT).  I'm always in the cheapest rental I can find, so the likelihood of decent all-season tires is minimal, let alone snow tires.  Seeing as how we have a small self-storage unit out there now, we've accumulated an inventory of chains (5 sets I think, most are cable chains).  Upon arrival at the self-storage, I check the tire size, then scan my inventory to see if anything will fit.  If not, swing by the nearest O'Reilly (or whoever) and pick up the cheapest ones they have for the tire size du jour, usually $40-50.  Throw them in the trunk w/ the receipt.  By the end of the trip, if they remain untouched, I swing by O'Reilly again and return them.  If they were needed, well, they were well worth the $40.  

System has worked like a charm for the last 5 or so years.  

^This seems like a good idea if you really want to have them as a backup.