[Shop-talk] chains vs snow tires

[Brian Kennedy]

I grew up driving the backroads of Michigan in a '50 Ford. Snow tires meant just that, they worked well in snow. Only chains worked well on ice but are a hassle. Nowadays, all seasons work very great with all wheel drive. I now spend some time in Oregon and occasionally go to the mountains. I have all wheel drive, but I'd never want to be caught on an icy slick mountain road without chains. Chains are pretty cheap. With my '96 F150 limited slip, a few 40 lb bags of salt in the back does pretty well. My thought would b to put lots of weight in the back and carry chains until your tires need replacing, then I'd buy snows. As I recall, the way snow tires work is the snow gets lodged in the grooves and the real traction is snow to snow. 
Brian K.



On Jan 19, 2016, at 9:31 AM, Randall <TR3driver at ca.rr.com> wrote:

>> I am considering either real snow tires (I doubt studs are 
>> available or allowed) *or* chains. 
> 
> IMO chains are a lot more hassle.  As noted, you really should run them only when you are actually driving on snow, which can mean
> removing and installing several times per season.  But at the same time, they are a lot more effective than snow tires even with
> studs.
> 
> If I had to choose only one, and I had to get there in any kind of weather, I'd pick chains.  But if you routinely have to drive to
> work on unplowed roads, IMO it's a false economy not to get snow tires *and* chains.  Leave the tires on for the season, and carry
> the chains for when it gets really bad (like frozen rain topped with snow).
> 
> -- Randall  
> 
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