ferenc

hi, we are planning a short trip to yosemite in a few weeks and i'd like to go prepared for the likelihood of snow.

the manual says to contact audi dealerships regarding snow chains, who only tow the factory line, but i'd appreciate first hand experience from the audiworld folks, please.

the car is a 2015 q5 hybrid, with 235/55/19 tires.

what should i buy for the rear tires to make it there and back in case of snow?
thanks,
ferenc
ps we do not plan to drive in the snow often ... and i'd like to not damage the car with roadside/caltrans installs.

ferenc

pricey recommendation by a local dealer:
Spikes Spider® Sport Style (SPXXXL)
alternatives? it would be cheaper to rent a car with chains?

ferenc

peerless zt729 $84 at pep boys

MP4.2+6.0

So, different answer. None of the above/below, if you are a half way decent snow driver. Your Hybrid probably has the middling all season 19's. What ours came with. Those get you through CA chain checks on any AWD car, and they never been look at the tires for that matter. And the days of the driver's ed "R3" stuff where in theory you still need chains if the roads are bad enough even with AWD are long gone. CalTrans/CHP just routinely shuts them down outright now. Technically you are supposed to carry them, but having gone though chain checks a few hundred times by now as a native Californian, not once have I been asked and these days you hardly even make eye contact as they wave you through. I was last asked if I "had quattro" about 20 years ago on a then new 1996.

I've been driving winters to Tahoe from Bay Area with quattro and other lesser AWD's for 20+ years. I use winter tires on the Q5 seasonally and have on most prior ones, but have certainly driven AWD with all seasons too, which is exactly what 95% of the drivers are doing. Unfortunately a lot are what the Sierra locals call "flatlanders" with oft shiny new and pricy SUV's and very poor snow and ice skills/experience.

For CA, probably not worth the investment for dedicated winters unless you live in Sierras or have a regular second home/rental type situation where you go a lot. Single biggest thing to know is it is the braking (or any ice) to be really cautious about. Most any middling AWD system on A/S tires can deal with the "go" part on typical CA roads with snow.

ferenc

Thanks for the voice of experience.
I scanned the caltrans post:
Chain Requirements
and it seems only their 'R-3' conditions require chains on all vehicles, but other conditions may require them to be in the vehicle.
Of course, there are laws and there are enforced laws ...
Wife's happy to have the z-chains - such laws are unwritten, but trump others :-)