Snow chains for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
I can’t ignore the Prius’s older half-brother, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV. There’s been a lot of concern over whether or not to put chains on the HiHy. No one likes to switch to snow tires in the winter, but some drivers are going places that all-weather just won’t do the job. (Though for regular drivers, all weather tires do a fine job!) Toyota doesn’t recommend chains or cables though, and if you look at the design, you can’t really fit them on the back tires at all. The few people I know who’ve purchased them haven’t used them, so without any actual experiences to relate, I’d have to give a big thumbs down.
Instead, opt for some heavy duty winter truck tires or even snow tires for an SUV, if you plan on doing any major exploring this winter. (Just don’t be like a friend of mine and drive through a grove of pines. *sigh* It may be tough enough to get you through in one piece, but the paint job is not impervious to trees.)
Tags: Highlander-Hybrid, hybrid-suv, snow, snow-cables, snow-chains, ToyotaRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Car Tips, Safety Ratings, Toyota
1 opinion for Snow chains for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
Richard
Dec 1, 2007 at 7:51 pm
2006 Highlander Hybrid Owner’s Manual, page 396, gives snow chain dimensions and specifically states not to use them on rear tires (page 397) but unfortunately does not tell you if S.A.E. Class “S” chains will work. The local Toyota dealer in Longmont, Colorado didn’t have a clue . . .
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