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Post by eporter123 on Dec 10, 2007 13:57:47 GMT -5
Subject says it all, can tire chains be put on a 1990 4wd Justy with stock 13" rims and tires?
Is it a clearance issue, or a mechanical issue?
I know Subaru says NO! for it's newer AWD cars, like my 1999 Outback. Is it the same deal with the Justy? Not sure how the transfer & diffs might handle the stress of max chain traction!
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Post by spyder on Jan 7, 2008 17:35:33 GMT -5
...well, it can be done, but you'll need to meet a few conditions to keep your car happy...firstly, and most importantly, you won't be able to run tires any taller than 48-50 cm, which will very strictly limit your range of choices...secondly, you'll need to run cable-chains, which are usually marked as designed for close-clearance use...most of these are made specifically for FWD vehicles, and will work acceptably on a Justy IF KEPT TIGHT! ...the issue of wheelwell clearance is a regular topic here, and further research will give you more info to mess with, but IMO the tallest tires you can run, with minor touchdown on the mudflaps, are Toyo Observe 175-70-13, which have a circumference of 180 cm...that gives a diam of 60...these have about 10mm clearance at ride normal ride height, and tickle the flaps a bit on big bumps...for chain use, even with carefully installed close clearance cable-chains, you'd damn well better ensure no less than 75mm clearance thru the whole range of travel, or you'll damage something you'd rather not...if you have tires with a circumference of 150-155, you may be able to make it work, but those chains MUST be kept perfectly tight, and your speed should likely limited to 30 mph or so, to avoid 'stretch' in the chains lifting them out into the body...I don't knnw that I'd recommend their use, but if you're dedicated to the idea, this should help...
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SeattleJusty
No, a boxer will not fit in a Justy.
Posts: 1,587
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Post by SeattleJusty on Jan 7, 2008 23:16:56 GMT -5
Spyder, thank you for your very detailed post about the importance of tire measurements. I must contest your figures though. Well the smallest tires offered on the Justy were the 145R12. The Yokohama Y372 145R12 is 21.3" tall, which makes it more than 54cm in diameter. I agree that a 175/70R13 is the largest advisable tire you can use on a stock Justy wheel but your figures are a bit off. A circumference of 180cm = 57.3cm A diameter of 60cm = 188.5cm If you say that you cannot run tires any taller than 48-50cm then why would you recommend a tire 60cm tall Well it doesn't matter much because you can't use a 60cm tall tire on a classic Justy anyhow. 60cm = 23.62" Anything over 23" is pretty much guaranteed not to fit a Justy. According to Toyo, their Observe tire in a 175/70R13 size is...awe hell, don't take my word for it; 22.7 inches Pretty typical of that size actually. Anyways, I'm not going to pick apart the remainder of your post. I just think that the spirit of what you wrote is very true: tire clearance is very important. Just do your homework and do your math
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Post by eporter123 on Jan 8, 2008 1:42:21 GMT -5
Just got my genuine 1990 Justy owner's manual in the mail the other day.
page 6-20:
"For safety, drive the vehicle with tire chains on the front wheels, or with snow tires on all four wheels. Tire chains should never be used on the rear wheels."
"When driving with tire chains, drive at speeds below 19mph"
So, guess that says it all. Obviously some common sense and checking of clearances are good. I was wondering if it was even possible in the tight wheel wells of the Justy. OR, if it was even recommended at all.
Yeah, people are chain crazy here in Oregon on the mtn. roads. I just drive past them when they're all over the side of the road chaining up. I think that poses more of a threat than the snow! Just keep it slow and steady and you can drive anywhere.
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Post by gearheadeh on Jan 8, 2008 21:28:11 GMT -5
Wow this has been an interesting post..espectially since us Canadians hardly even know what tire chains are!Are they used to keep people from stealing your tires a night!.L.O.L.Really allmost nobody uses them here?.
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Post by eporter123 on Jan 9, 2008 1:42:15 GMT -5
Yeah, chains aren't all that neccessary except for driving up into the mountains. Even then they're not always needed. I have gotten out of some tight spots with chains though. They are definitely a nice thing to have in the trunk when you need it.
If you never drive into the mountains, then you'd probably only need them if it snowed a couple feet in town.
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SeattleJusty
No, a boxer will not fit in a Justy.
Posts: 1,587
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Post by SeattleJusty on Jan 9, 2008 14:38:42 GMT -5
Nice thing about living in Seattle: it only really snows every couple of years and the sewer keeps our streets so warm that the snow doesn't stick.
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bramvs
This Trusty Justy has seen more logging roads than our neighbour's 4x4 ;-)
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Post by bramvs on Mar 27, 2008 20:20:48 GMT -5
Interesting post!
I'm thinking of buying snow chains too for those snowy logging roads, but not sure if there'll be enough space around the tires (have 155/80 R13 all season tires, so 22.8" diameter; a bit bigger than the old 165/65 R13 tires w/ 21.4" diameter that are standard on the Justy)... can anyone recommend a certain type of snow chains... or confirm that they fit at all... Clearance definitely seems to be an issue...
Also a general question, would people recommend using snow chains (front wheels) with 4WD engaged??
Thanks
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Post by codfizzle on Oct 5, 2008 8:48:38 GMT -5
Well I live in Idaho, and winters are NASTY here! I've got an 89 FWD Justy with 12" rims and tires, and it takes me almost everywhere I need to go without problems. However, I have a good set of cable chains for the front tires, and when I really need some grip (climbing a steep grade, crawling up a mountain to the local ski course) it takes me less than 5 minutes to chain up my front tires, and as long as you keep the chains tight and don't go over 20-25 m.p.h., you can go absolutely anywhere! A tip, though- when driving with chains on, try not to tread on really solid surfaces (ice, black ice covered asphalt). Try to drive with your wheels on some semi-cushy stuff (partially packed ice, snow, etc.) or else you will rattle that poor Justy to pieces! Ask anyone who's ever driven with chains on 12" tires! And let me tell you, when I pull up to the local ski course in my trusty Justy with its tire chains and ski rack in 8" deep of snow, I get some FUNNY looks from the snobbish gas guzzling SUV 4WD driving locals! Oh well. Let them spend all their money on gas- I'm spending mine on a ski pass and a 6 pack!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2008 11:40:02 GMT -5
I just got back from a drive up to Quincy, CA which is around 3500ft in the Sierra Nevadas. The Justy did AWESOME and totally impressed me again. This was around a 5hr drive each way, with the last 1.5hrs getting there (and the first 1.5 getting back) were snowy and icy. I have 165/65-13 Bridgestone Potenza RE-92's on my stock wheels and have successfully test-fitted my cable chains to the front wheels before leaving. They were tangled and a little rusty so I am glad I unpacked them. Did not test drive, but noticed no potential clearance issues. If it would be helpful, I can put them back on and take some pics or something. My plan was to run 4WD with the chains on front if needed, but never got to that. When driving on snow/ice I kept it in 4WD mostly for the engine braking. I have to say it again, the car was GREAT. Only issue was very low temp when the temps got down - suspecting yet another blown thermostat. Was gonna cover half the radiator to bring the temps up, but never did. Anyway... Averaged 35mpg for the trip and yeah - got some weird looks blowing past all the 4WDs and SUVs and such.
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Post by spyder on Jan 28, 2009 10:42:16 GMT -5
...without meaning to sound snide, you might want to read thru my posting again...certainly I mentioned the Toyo's as the largest tire that will work in the rear wells on a Justy, and then immediately described the distinct lack of clearance, then went on to suggest as I had before, that a tire diameter no larger than 50cm be used...maybe I wasn't clear enough for you, but I'm guessing you just missed my point, I in NO WAY recommended the Toyo's for chain use, I used them for illustration purposes, to describe how little clearance is available...of course the chains ride on the top of the tire, thus the recommendation for no less than 75mm clearance in all circumstances, and the need to be scrupulously tight in the installation...thus my recommendation that you look for tires with a circumference of no greater than 150-155, which will give a diam of ~50 cm, which should allow for just adequate clearance...and if you Really Need to pick at the difference between dividing by 3 and dividing by 3.14, get over yourself... Spyder, thank you for your very detailed post about the importance of tire measurements. I must contest your figures though. Well the smallest tires offered on the Justy were the 145R12. The Yokohama Y372 145R12 is 21.3" tall, which makes it more than 54cm in diameter. I agree that a 175/70R13 is the largest advisable tire you can use on a stock Justy wheel but your figures are a bit off. A circumference of 180cm = 57.3cm A diameter of 60cm = 188.5cm If you say that you cannot run tires any taller than 48-50cm then why would you recommend a tire 60cm tall Well it doesn't matter much because you can't use a 60cm tall tire on a classic Justy anyhow. 60cm = 23.62" Anything over 23" is pretty much guaranteed not to fit a Justy. According to Toyo, their Observe tire in a 175/70R13 size is...awe hell, don't take my word for it; 22.7 inches Pretty typical of that size actually. Anyways, I'm not going to pick apart the remainder of your post. I just think that the spirit of what you wrote is very true: tire clearance is very important. Just do your homework and do your math
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