Best 2017 Subaru Forester Tire Chains

Per the Subaru technical manual, while tire chains are not recommended, if needed S style spring chains can be used on the front tires only (2017 Technical Manual, section 8-12). While I hope to never require them, I live in Washington State. When the roads are severe enough, chains can be mandatory. This is especially true for National Parks such as Hurricane Ridge where weather conditions can change rapidly. After watching the etrailer video for installation of chains on a 2015 Forester, I purchased a set of PW1038 Glacier Cable Snow Tire Chains and PW105 Multi Arm Truck Tire Chain Adjusters. I have test fit the chains with adjusters on my front tire and they appear to be a good fit. I turned the tires hard right and hard left and checked my clearances and found no interference with the fit. Unfortunately, there is no snow for me to do a test run at this time. Please note the etrailer video test fits the chains on the rear tires and the Glacier instructions specify installation on the rear tires for all wheel drive vehicles. This information is inconsistant with the 2017 Subaru Forester Technical Manual for front tire installation only.

After a little practice, I found these chains are extremely easy to install and remove. I drive forward and back after the initial installation (as the instructions state), tighten them one more time and I'm good to go. I live near the top of a mountain and the roads can get very icy. Even though my Subaru with snow tires is pretty well equipped there I times I want the extra security of my chains. I'm really happy with these because I can install them with the car "in place" and I Do not have to drive over them like I see others doing.

In February 2020, I was at Stowe VT skiing and during the day got 18” snow at the mountain. All the cars were snowed in the parking lot. I put the chains on the front wheels of my Subaru Forester and was able to easily drive out of the lot! Easy to install and always keep in my subi during my ski adventures!

Needed chains for my Subaru Forester to meet the legal requirement that I have traction devices when I go to the mountains and to get me out of trouble in an emergency. I don't actually plan on ever using them. I immediately installed them to make sure they fit (etrailer guarantees they will) and to make sure I know how to put them on. The instructions were clear and installation was easier than any other chains I've used. I'm not sure if they would stand up to a lot of use, but they meet my needs.

OK I gave the chains five stars without really trying them out. I gave the 5 stars for customer service and speed with which I received the product, also for their website that made it easy to find the right product. I purchased these for s Subaru Forester that regular chains don't work. We are headed to Colorado where chains or socks are relied to be in your car during winter months. I was leaning towards tire socks until I did some research and found the Utah does not consider socks as adequate. These chains, from the video seem to as easy to use as possible. Personally I hope I never need to use them!

I have not had the opportunity test/ try the product. My only review at this point is the product shipped very quickly and was well packaged. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the product is in a carrying case. No more loose chains spreading all over the cargo area. The weather should be nice this weekend so I hope the product goes on as easily as seen in videos.

Purchased these chains for a trip to the snow and for future use after buying a new vehicle. The chains were received promptly in a well designed carrying case, with a mat, gloves, and instructions for mounting the chains. I haven't had to use them = a Subaru Forester is a great AWD vehicle and handled some pretty dicey conditions with no issue - but carry them and feel confident I can mount and dismount them quickly. Instructions are clear and simple to follow.

I have just purchased these chains for my 2015 forester. In trying them out in my warm driveway, I have some observations. 1. First of all, it is great to not have to close some link in the back of the tire when installing chains...YAY!. 2. The carrying case is nice but was missing one zipper tab 3. In putting them on, the bungee cord is not that easy to stretch so the installer will need some arm strength to get it into place. 4. Once on, they were easy to get off. Overall, I like them

I used this on a 2019 Subaru Forester once last year on a steep backcountry snow-packed road. It was extremely quick to install and remove, and it gave me great control going up and down steep grades. I have zero complaints in my (admittedly limited) experience with this traction device.

EXTREMELY easy to use, even right out of the package (which has photos of how to use in case you forget). etrailer did a GREAT job of getting this to me ASAP for a trip where it turned out to be critical. HATS OFF GUYS!!!

I ordered these cable chains for my 2017 Subaru Forester after a poor experience with another national retailer. After ordering with etrailer, shipping was upgraded and the chains arrived in time for me to check out before heading into the mountains for some back country skiing. I haven't had to use these in adverse conditions; however, I know that if I need chains that I'm covered. Well done, etrailer.

Site is easy to use, ordering great, shipping fast (about one week) with a follow-up e-mail. Have not used the chains yet, however. So I cannot rate them at this time.

Easy to install. No snow yet so haven't tried them out.

Snow chains fit my application as advertised. Minor issue: one set of chains (I ordered two) label is obliterated. One container was placed on top the other without any padding or cushioning material. The top container destroyed the label of the bottom container. Not a huge problem as I know they are both the same size. If I needed to exchange them…like new and resell able may have been questionable. Otherwise, great service and communication, as always. Thank to all at etrailer.

I have not used the product yet (with my Subaru Forester I may never have to, just have to carry them in the car to get through the chain zone) but I want to share about the excellent customer service at etrailer.com. I needed cables asap for a trip that was right around the corner and the folks who helped me on the phone found the right product for my vehicle and made sure I got it on time. Very positive experience. Thank you!

Will not be using the chains until a trip to Colorado next month. M

This product replace my 12 years old snow track. The main side cables and x-cables/roller are twice as large in diameter. Much heavier but draped over the wheels with no problem. Installation is simple as described on your video. Fit is good. I am anxious to try idriving with it on snow and ice. But, I don’t drive when the weather is not permitting and the road is not clear. But, it is a good feeling to have a new snow chain with you instead of the old rusty and twisted one. The 5 arms tensioner are much better than my single loop. Just a couple of cons: 1. The latch on the outside cable connectors are difficult to lock and unlock in place. Plier to compress it to lock in position and flat head screw driver to open it from lock position are good help. 2. The red “S” clips that is right next to the connector assembly does not work. The cable is too stiff and the cable connector assembly gets in the way in securing excess cables from slapping around. Place the clip on the next link to secure. You will end up with an inch high bulge on the cable so make sure you have enough clearance inside the wheel well when the wheels is fully turned right and left. I have plenty of room so this is not and issue - I hope! “Much thanks to Carol C. who assisted me in ordering the parts. Your professionalism and product knowledge made my life easy.” Stay WARM!

I shopped around and you will NEVER beat this price. Clear instructions (video on etrailer was super helpful also). Great carry bag! A nice product to have "just in case." Hopefully I will never have to use them...

These chains are great.

Nice looking chains.

Order 2 pairs for my car, got 2 different cables, one set blue the other set green. You can tell instantly because the bags are blue and green and oddly the different colors weight different amounts. Emailed customer service to get cables that match and they said that the label invoice number are the same on both bags, So it's the same product. So if you don't care that you can get 2 different colors from ordering 2 sets in the same order you can try for these.

I have a 2019 Subaru Forester. I purchased these based on the recommendations and information provided by this site. The Call Center rep was extremely helpful in finalizing more order by making sure it should be compatible with my vehicle and discussing shipping options. As for the tire chains, they fit well once I figured out how to install them. They are very easy to install once you get them adjusted for your tire and find the right fit combination between the lug nut size and the spacers. The only main issue I have is with the tire size and the recommended sizing of the tires. The instruction manual recommended removing one of the pins to allow for more chain radius. However, I had to remove six to get the chains on properly. However, once that was complete, the chains are incredibly easy to put on. The winch works well pulling the chains snug to the tires and is easy to adjust. Releasing is a little harder, but still easy.

We have a BMW X3 in the foothills of the Sierras and need to have chains on hand. Normal chains are not an option for the BMW X3. On the surface theses seem like a very slick product. In reality maybe for some. There are limited Choices for the X3, The K-Summit Size: K45 seem OK but I have issues and concerns. Once received you have to fit the chains to your tires. DO HIS IN THE GARAGE BEFORE YOU GO ANYWHERE. Doing this on the road in the snow would be a pain. If you like IKEA you’ll love the instructions. (Well maybe not that bad). Go on-line and look at some videos. I needed to remove 4 “regulation elements” on each chain to fit our tires. Tools are provided but I used a metric socket and a cordless drill to help with this and it took maybe 5 minutes. With hand tools the 8 total “elements’ would have taken 20 or more. Now basically shove the chain more or less in place with plastic “pads at 10:00, 2:00, 4:00 and 8:00 O’Clock positions on the tire. Next make sure you have the correct size lug nut adapter and the proper spacing from the rim. Supposedly just put the adaptor on a lug, with the indicating tip toward the rim center and tighten the bolt with the supplied wrench. I found issues with the 17mm lug adapter and the 17mm BMW lug. The BMW lug is not very tall and the adapter never felt very securely seated to me. (Yes I made sure the adapter is seated correctly in the “cup”; instructions mention this). This may be better on other vehicles. Lastly, pull the crank until you see the red line on the nylon strap. Dive forward 50 feet or so so the chains will move onto the tire. We got out of the car to check and it still required a couple of short toe kicks to fully get them securely on. In summary they seem to “work OK”. I didn’t find any better options available for the X3. Once set up they are fairly easy to install with the exception of the lug nut connection which I found insecure and fussy on the X3. The plastic components give me concern for durability. Will they become brittle and break in cold temperatures or over extended use? Time will tell. Very costly if there is a failure on the road warrantee not withstanding.

I just received them today and they look like they will work great. I found out about these snow chains and your company while watching a[n online] video specifically for a Subaru Forrester. They look well made and I can't wait to use them.

Tunnel View at Yosemite. Chains worked perfectly, but not quite as easy to install as the video would suggest. I made the mistake of pulling over into 3-4 inches of snow to put them on. The snow packed around the base of the tire made it very difficult. That's not something you encounter when practicing in your nice warm garage. But once on, the chains stayed secure, and the car handled and braked with confidence.

These Konig chains are incredible. I used them recently in Vermont during a 25" snow storm. I parked under an overhead at a Home Depot and put them on the SUV. It took about 10-15 minutes just because I'm super-slow when doing these things. However, once on, I easily got up the hill. I had so much confidence, I stopping several times to help push other people and their cars which were stuck. I took them off the next day since they were no longer necessary. As with most all, not advisable to go over 30 MPH. I wish someone can make chains that can adapt to higher-speeds since highway driving during a blizzard is always possible. But I understand why it's difficult to do so.

Arrived on time for a big trip. I like that your website lets you pick make, model, and tire size to be sure of the fit. Thanks

I tried them on; and they fit well. I'll be ready for my subdivision's icy conditions next time. Thanks for the rapid service, and here are some photos from the test today; though you may not want to use the tension photo, because the clips should have been rotated to the next section

Fit perfectly on my toyota sienna 20in rims when I thought tire chains weren’t possible with that tire model. I had asked a question on their site to confirm that theyd fit and they were super responsive. I received the chains fast and they were good about emailing me notifications. Chains worked great especially with tensioner, I just used some thick foam padding to prevent any possible scratches to my wheels. Very happy with my purchase and would def buy from E-trailer again!

I ordered the snow cables for my Subaru 2018 Outback and received them in 3 days! Your customer service is outstanding! I reordered a second set and received them in 4 days. I just had a chance to use them in Atlanta when we had ice and snow. I used only one set on the front and they worked perfectly. i watched the etrailer installation video for a Subaru and it made the easy to install. It took me less then 5 minutes in my garage. (Outside in the snow and ice might take longer). I drove around Atlanta in the ice and snow and the cables performed flawlessly. I plan to buy a set for my daughter. Thanks again!

First, these are for a trip in January, so I have not used them yet, but what I can say at this point is that I'm very happy to have found something that will work on my Forester which has no clearance for chains or most cables. The Forester is great for snow, but nothing is great on black ice, so these will provide some added safety if needed. Etrailer's excellent online guidance led me to these. Thank you.

I live in Dallas, TX so we don’t get snow but ice and sleet and available a couple times a year. I put these on my Subaru Outback and was able to drive around the local neighborhood streets that were iced over. Stopping went well a and starting did not have any wheel spin.

Do NOT buy these chains if you own a Tesla, and I cannot recommend etrailer.com at this point either. I purchased these tire chains Item #TH01221102 for my Model 3 from etrailer.com on based on their recommendation and videos. When I received the chains I test fit them and they seemed to fit and looked fine on the tires. I did not have to actually use them for several months. After a single use, one of the center join links opened before finishing a 15 mile trip at 25 mph. I replaced it with a repair link. I made a 2nd short trip at 25 mph and another center joining link came open after less than 30 minutes of 25 mph driving. I replaced that link with another repair link and it's happened a 3rd time. I contacted etrailer.com because clearly something is not right. etrailer.com referred me to Pewag and Konig to file a warranty claim. All good, I filed a claim and Konig's response was they would honor the warranty claim ONE TIME ONLY (5 year warranty is now VOIDED) because these are not the right chains for my vehicle, and Konig sent me a brand new set of chains, which is nice, but does me no good since they NOT the right chains. I came back to etrailer.com to try to address this further, and at first they blamed me and said I bought the wrong size (I didn't) and provided a link to the correct ones. That link included a listing for the same chains and size I bought. I emailed back and pointed out to them that this was not my fault, and they acknowledged it. I asked them to please do the right thing and allow me to exchange the brand new "wrong" chains which they recommended and sold me, for the correct ones which Konig recommends. I stated I would be willing to pay for a cost difference. Unfortunately, they have not responded to me or any subsequent emails. Not a good experience. I am attaching an image of where these chain links fail. Red highlights are the failing links. Green are repaired links. I'm pretty sure this is why Konig says don't use these chains on a Tesla.

These chains fit perfect on my Tesla Model 3. They were not required at the time in R2 conditions but the OEM tires' tread was pretty worn and our street has a decent slope. This year, 2023 will be our 2nd season with these chains so you know they hold up well. I would definitely recommend these over any other cheap cable or ladder style chains.

I drive a 1996 Corvette and have for the past 20 years - year round. And that makes driving near impossible in Connecticut winters and hilly terrains. Until I got my Pewag chains. When the snow accumulates, on go my Pewags and away I go. Snow covered roads, no problem, up and down hills, no problem. I can put my Pewags on both tires in less than ten minutes and I am good to go. Great product! I highly recommend Pewag chains.

Fit snugly. Will be a little difficult in the snow but with a pair of gloves on it is doable. The red plastic rim protectors would protect rim from metal on metal contact. However, with my M-sport rims and Pirelli Cinturato P7 tires, the red plastic doesn't even come into contact with the rim due to the extended lip of the tire...but this does mean that the chain touches the outside surface of the tire--see pics. A little off putting scarring the sticky looking surface of the tire...but it is inevitable. On the inside of the wheel/tire, my concern was contact with the knuckle, strut, end link, stabilizer, etc. It does get close to the stabilizer end link, but doesn't touch...my pictures are shown before self centering while driving...so the spacing to end link would only get greater as I installed in worst case scenario to compare.