Snow chains, snow tires, are these all a thing of the past?

[raccoon]

Snow chains, snow tires, are these all a thing of the past?

I know jack about these things, since I live in an area where if it snows school districts, businesses, and state offices close down.

But I gather these things are all things of the past maybe I heard it on the Internet or radio or something. How come? Is it because more cars now have four-wheel-drive?

[marble falls]

1. Don't drive in the snow in Flagstaff, AZ and get stuck and not have chains on. Big fine.

[aikoaiko]

3. Flagstaff is the last placed I lived where I used chains.

We used to joke that the dudes from Phoenix in their pick-up trucks may have 4-wheel drive, but they don't know they don't have 4-wheel stop.

[marble falls]

7. Flag was actually a nice place back in the day. Go to Jerome on weekends when it was more ...

hippie than hip.

But if you lived up there after October, you carried chains.

[IADEMO2004]

2. I'm keeping my chains for my Jeep! Chains on 4 wheels for ice works great.

Busting snow too but keep a scoop handy.

[marble falls]

9. Always carried a shovel, some carpet and a bag of salt/sand.Went into a ditch once and paid ...

a farmer to pull me out with a tractor. But other than that, I got myself in, I got myself out.

[IADEMO2004]

11. Bless farmers in the winter.

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. Big bag of cat litter helps, they say.

In the mountainous passes in Wash. state, the Hwy Patrol stopped every car that does not have chains...put them on or turn around was the rule.
Dunno if they still do, but I think so. There are not many guardrails on those roads, sliding on them is not a good thing.

[Blue_true]

19. How long ago was the use chains or turn back command?

Tire and braking technology has advanced tremendously. That, along with simple commonsense should keep most drivers safe, regardless of where they are.

[dixiegrrrrl]

25. Commonsense seems to be a decreasing attribute, I'm afraid.

I've watched drivers trying to do 50 mph in a snowstorm, and in torrential downpours where you can't see the front of the hood.
Last time I heard about chains in the mountain passes was in 1985 when I was still up there.
I'll ask my kid if they still use them..he'll know.

[dixiegrrrrl]

26. googled...duh

Washington state law still requires chains.

Troopers will be targeting drivers who don't use chains when required on Snoqualmie Pass because of snow and ice on the Interstate-90. ... All vehicles, except 4WD and AWD, must put on chains when tire chains are required. However, 4WD and AWD vehicles still need to carry chains in order to proceed across the pass.
500.00 fine now..

Still applies to all passes, altho 90 is the most modern.

[Blue_true]

27. Thanks. That must be high elevation.

The vehicles that I use are either AWD or Frontwheel drive. I drive over hills in cold places but have no reason to go into the mountains.

[dixiegrrrrl]

31. The Cascade mountains run down the middle of the state

Actually, they run from the Canadian border thru Washington, Oregon, and part of No. Cal.

Average elevation over the several passes is around 14,000 feet. Usually LOTS of snow. top skiing areas.

Wish I had a dollar for time I drove over them.

[D2020]

33. Still happens all the time in the mountains around here

It would be pretty foolish to go out without a pair of chains, they're also very handy in mud

[Blue_true]

40. Dixiegirl pointed that out.

I am a flat lander who has visited lots of cold cities, but seldom was I more than a few hundred feet higher than where a plane landed. Never been over a 10,000-14,000 foot pass in a vehicle before.

[marble falls]

34. I used sand/salt because its heavier, the weight of the bag I think is more important than ...

the contents if better traction kept from me getting stuck.

[hunter]

4. For myself, yes.

I don't want to be anyplace these are necessary.

[Blue_true]

20. I have driven occasionally in cold places with snow.

Even for a person from Florida, renting a well maintained modern car make a huge difference. I have never found snow chains in any rental that I have gotten, even in snowy, cold, hilly places.

[aikoaiko]

5. Contemporary All Wheel Drive is pretty damn good for most people in cities or suburbs.

I used to use chain in the 1990s but only when I was in deep snow on dirt roads.

[hlthe2b]

15. With crack downs on tread depth, I have seen many a SUV pulled over for no chains and

tires that didn't meet the law minimum. They no longer mess around on I-70 through Colorado--too many major highway closures from those ill-prepared.

[Blue_true]

21. Is it one or both? Modern tires with good thread go a long way toward making chains unneeded. nt

[hlthe2b]

23. There are TWO separate laws that can be invoked and one is a PASSENGER VEHICLE CHAIN LAW

which restricts ALL traffic to those with chains, no matter whether it has four-wheel drive, snow tires or is a passenger vehicle. Most times we are under a traction control law which requires chains OR snow tires OR four-wheel drive/all-wheel drive PLUS at least 1/8 inch tread on tires.

There are two main laws that apply to drivers in Colorado.

Traction laws often are in effect when there is winter weather. Under that law, no chains are needed if drivers have snow tires, four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive if there are 1/8 inch tread on tires.

However, none of that applies if Colorado's passenger vehicle chain law is in effect. Under that, all vehicles need chains.

https://kdvr.com/2018/10/09/clearing-up-confusion-about-colorados-traction-laws/

[napi21]

6. I wouldn't say they're things of the past. They are still used in the4 northern states.

More so the farther north you go. We moved to the South from Pittsburgh Pa. EVERY YEAR we put the snow tires on in October then took them off in late March. I admit we haven't put chains on for quite a few years, but the Co. I worked for had a plant in North Dakota, and they sure still used chains there when snow & ice got too thick/

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. I think I see signs in parts of Colorado

warning people they need to have chains on their tires in certain conditions.

[ProudLib72]

10. I have studded snow tires for my 4Runner

I put them on around the middle of November (or later depending on the weather), and I take them off in May. And, yes, they are true snow tires with extra soft compound.

The winter before I bought them, I had a little accident that could have been a heck of a lot worse. I did a 180 going 20mph on a side street. Luckily, the oncoming car was way ahead of me and was able to slow down and let me get back over in my lane. If that had happened on the highway!

[Codeine]

12. Chains are still required

in the mountains in SoCal when it snows unless you have AWD. Most cars here don’t except for cars owned by people who live up there. I have to go up to the mountains once in a while for work so I keep chains in the spare tire well.

[MurrayDelph]

37. They're required even if you do have AWD

5.5 years ago, we drove into Portland from the coast to buy an AWD CR-V. The road back required carrying chains even if conditions didn't warrant their installation. The dealer didn't have any in stock, but an auto parts store down the road did.

They have worked out great; they are always in the car (on the floor of the backseat in the winter, in the spare tire well in the summer), and so far I haven't had to install them once.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. For matters of practicality, prudence, and law, they are absolutely not things of the past.

[hlthe2b]

14. Hell no. Chain laws in place on i-70 through CO and across KS much of the winter AND

not infrequently as early as September or as late as June west of Denver. In fact, CO had to cancel a big race for ultrarunners through the mountains this weekend due to continued avalanche danger
( https://www.9news.com/article/weather/weather-colorado/hardrock-100-canceled-due-to-record-snowfall-avalanche-debris/73-2b564dc5-0874-48f8-a1fe-4c7d1025d950 )

Denver has had a couple of storms in recent years where chain law was going to be extended in the city as well (and that is not just commercial trucks--it includes even passenger cars if you don't have traction control AND sufficient tire type and tread depth).

I carry a set of chains for my prius, though I've never had to use them (but I review the youtube video on how to put them on at the start of each season, just in case). I use a snow-tire equivalent radial tire that has gotten me through most situations. (I likewise carry a shovel, a -30 rated sleeping bag, snowshoes and food in the back all winter)

So, hell no.

[Baclava]

16. Ummmm, no

Lake Tahoe snowfall records shattered

“We broke our February snowfall record on Feb. 15,” Jaclyn Ream, Diamond Peak’s marketing coordinator said. “Our previous record was during the ‘Snowmageddon’ 2016-17 season.”

Diamond Peak’s previous record of 134 inches has been destroyed this year with the resort recording 172 inches.

Sierra-at-Tahoe also has crushed its record of 154 inches, previously recorded in 1997-98 and 2016-17.

“We really blew it out of the water,” said Sarah Sherman, Sierra’s communications and PR manager, who researched snowfall totals back to when the resort was known as Sierra Ski Ranch.



https://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/lake-tahoe-snowpack-best-in-western-us-resorts-shatter-february-snowfall-records/
---------------------

‘Februburied’: Record snowfall stacks up in Sierra Nevada at Truckee Tahoe resorts

“We’re up to 313 inches of snowfall for the month, which is just over 26 feet.” — Alex Spychalsky, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows PR coordinator

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows had its snowiest month ever at Squaw’s upper mountain, breaking the record of 282 inches set January 2017 by nearly 3 feet.

Northstar California Resort’s snowfall record for February was smashed by nearly 100 inches of snow this past month. February also equaled the snowiest month on record at the resort, tying the January 2017 total of 286 inches.

With all the snow, Northstar announced it will continue spinning lifts through April 2019.

“We just broke 500 inches for the season,” said Northstar California Resort Communications Manager Stephanie Myers. “We’ve received so much snow this month alone, that we’re thrilled to be announcing that we’re extending the ski season.”

Sugar Bowl exceeded its February record of 263 inches of snow set in 1993 by more than a foot.



https://www.sierrasun.com/news/local/februburied-record-snowfall-stacks-up-in-sierra-nevada-at-truckee-tahoe-resorts/

[raccoon]

39. O.M.G. nt

[Blue_true]

18. Tire technology has improved greatly over the last four decades.

It is uncommon to see snow tires even on semis in colder climates today. They just are not needed on paved roads. Now, if a person travels a lot of unpaved roads or bad rural roads, then chains may help some.

[Initech]

22. A lot of modern drivetrains require cables instead of chains.

I don't know if it applies to trucks and SUVs but it does on modern sedans and EVs. I remember when I bought my car they made me sign a waiver saying that I would not use chains.

[rollin74]

24. it's not too uncommon to have chain requirements on highways through the Sierra Nevada mountains

Last edited Tue Jun 11, 2019, 12:03 AM - Edit history (1)

in northern California/Nevada

they even close some of the highways at times for a while during or just after major storms


it's quite common to see "chains or snow tires" requirements during the winter months

[MichMan]

28. I always use 4 winter tires on all my vehicles.

I buy a set of used wheels and mount the winter tires, so they are easy to take on and off. Since they cost a similar amount to the summer tires, there really isn't any extra costs other than the wheels themselves. Since I also keep cars for at lest 12 years, the annual cost is almost negligible.

[PufPuf23]

29. For several years in 80s lived in California snow country

and had a set of studded snow tires for the 4X4 PU switched out and used during snow and road ice season. Now I live in the boons where one needs to go over two mountain passes (but not as high an elevation) to get to stoplight and chain store civilizations. I drive a Jeep SUV bit don't even own chains, just stay home and veg when the roads are bad (but can as a retired geezer).

[Poiuyt]

30. I just use all-season radials here in Wisconsin

but a lot of people do switch to snow tires for the winter. I don't see as many chains as I used to.

[Maru Kitteh]

32. Um. I live here:

So yeah . .. . . I'll be keeping the snow tires. On some roads chains are required by law during certain dates of the year.

[MineralMan]

35. I currently live in Minnesota. I have not seen a car with chains

on in the entire 15 years I've lived here. I used to live in California and ski in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Chains were and are required on 2WD vehicles when road conditions require them.

I guess it depends one where you are and what the typical behavior is. There are times in MN when I wish I had a set of chains on, or studded tires. But, like everyone else, I muddle through or stay home when roads are icy.

[SouthernProgressive]

36. I know a number of people with snow tires.

Very few use chains anymore, though they are still in use and helpful.

[RichardRay]

38. No, they are not.

I live in Jackson, Wyoming, the town in the middle of Jackson Hole. I have driven in snow in the Pacific Northwest, the Sierra of California, and all up and down the Rockies. For 50 years, often in the winter.

Four wheel drive is great for going; it does NOTHING for *stopping*, very little for steering or slowing down.

People expecting ‘all season’ tires to cut it in actual snow country are wrong, and often stuck.

People expecting four wheel drive to replace chains are wrong, and sometimes stuck.

If you’re going to drive in snow, get snow tires, and probably chains. Else get public transportation, or a ride from a friend.

That’s not opinion, that’s fact.