Do I need chains?

Uneek said:


You mention a few posts back that you have 4WD, so you really don't need chains. In CA, the highway will most likely be shut down before 4WD are required to have chains on.
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Uhh.. yes you still need chains even if you have 4WD. First I have twice been in R3 conditions in the past three years in the local mountains. Yes, they ususally close the road first, but I've still seen it. Second in R2 conditions the CHP still checks to see if you have chains with you before you can proceed up the mountain.

Definitions of R codes:

R-1 Chains or snow tread tires required. Snow tires must have a tread depth of 6/32
 
Uneek said:
Are you SERIOUS? Or it's for the sake of the post count and your goal of acheiving 'X' number of posts before year's end?
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Buwhahahaha! I'm sorry that was just too funny for me not to say something. As much as you go to Big Bear I would think you would know tht one Josh
 
Big bear as a reference doesn't really mean anything though lol. I've only been snowed in once up there due to avalanches. Besides that one time, out of over 50, big bear never see's enough snow to need chains on a 4WD vehicle.

And Uneek, i've only driven 4WD vehicles in my life, so I have never bought chains. My first truck was a 94 explorer, and although it was 4WD, I never wanted to take a ford that had 140k miles into the mountains, for obvious reasons. Before my 4runner, I always drove my step dad's 05 jeep grand cheroke and he bought them for his truck, I never took part in it. Just asking in case they had different size ranges that may not be obvious.

Same as someone looking at tires for the first time in their life, wouldn't know what 265/70/17 meant. Just trying to learn about it before I need the knowledge, in case I ever needed to know.
 
SP Jon M3 said:
Uhh.. yes you still need chains even if you have 4WD. First I have twice been in R3 conditions in the past three years in the local mountains. Yes, they ususally close the road first, but I've still seen it. Second in R2 conditions the CHP still checks to see if you have chains with you before you can proceed up the mountain.

Definitions of R codes:

R-1 Chains or snow tread tires required. Snow tires must have a tread depth of 6/32
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Uneek said:
The last sentence is what I based my post on and that's what everyone I spoke with said, "don't worry about chains with 4WD." If anyone chooses to do that, don't blame me if you do get caught in a R2 or R3 situation and chains are checked for. There it is, chains at all times, carrying them or not will come down to being able to enjoy fresh snow or going home.

You're absolutely right, chains are required at all times for all vehicles regardless of capabilities.

I'll leave it at that, because that is the law.
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That's pretty much what I live by. I carry chains although I have 4WD and BFG's and have been in a few R2's and still haven't been required to put them on. Up here at Tahoe they'll close down before they send people out (although properly equipped) in evnet of an R3.

And that pretty much is word on the street. CHP can resort back to the laws in event they have to because someone doesn't want to pay the hefty tow fee if they get stuck somewhere on the mountain.

btw, did I mention finals suck?
 
Yeha finals definitely suck. My biggest one was a week before my others though so I have the last week easy.
 
Not me, this coming week is my biggest week. I'm slaving away in front of this computer for 10 hours today trying to get my code straight for my visual basic class. This sh*t sucks.

On a not so brighter note, since I jsut got my knee scoped I'll be out of commision for a month or two so I can't go play in the slush and mud at tahoe. That means only one thing, after finals the modding begins! bwuahahahaha
 
Cool. Thanks guys. According to weather, it says that it won't really snow. However, I'm really considering just buying some and returning them if I don't use them.

Anyone know if Kragens or Autozone carries them? and if so how much?
 
T4RUSAF said:
That's pretty much what I live by. I carry chains although I have 4WD and BFG's and have been in a few R2's and still haven't been required to put them on. Up here at Tahoe they'll close down before they send people out (although properly equipped) in evnet of an R3.

And that pretty much is word on the street. CHP can resort back to the laws in event they have to because someone doesn't want to pay the hefty tow fee if they get stuck somewhere on the mountain.

btw, did I mention finals suck?
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Yeah, spoke with a couple friends I went up to Tahoe this weekend with and they said, highways been shut down when it snowed lighter than yesterday and just dusted the highway. It must something different in SoCal (at least they can get home when it snows as evident by the R3 conditions).

I went through check zone heading out of Northstar Saturday evening and it was snowing, friends said it was probably at the rate of 1"/hr. I saw cars over on the side chaining up and people getting turned around, before I even got up to the person checking they motioned me through. My friend was saying how lucky he was that he didn't have to take his tC and deal with chains. He asked if there anything on the outside indicating 4WD/4x4. I told him on on the doors. He replied, they probably figured it's a 4WD if it's a SUV.

Yeah, I remember those days of finals. But the best part is after finals... party time. Ah, how I would give up my day job to go back to school. :)

Disclaimer: just because T4RUSAF and I don't carry chains and we got through chain controls, it's still California law to carry them with you in snow conditions.
 
Yeah an besides it being a law, it's just safer to have them. You will feel safer too, knowing you have them if you really need them. If things get very bad, you may lose your cool because you don't feel safe.
 
$75? You must have found some pretty cheap ones then lol. I've seen them for a lot more than that. And if you have to buy them from gas stations during a blizzard, they will even double the price that they had to begin with. So you are definitely better off getting them before you need them. Tell them to all pitch in for gas money like $20-$30 each and then buy them with that. :biggrin2:
 
Problem solved. found a nice lady on craigslist thats willing to sell me a used once pair for $35 and wil ldeliver to my dad's office.

Now to figure out how to put them on haha

Thanks for everything guys
 
Hey I actually bought some chains in at a place in auburn, on my way up to donner today. Turned out my truck was fine and despite my tires being 4/32...performed MUCH better than I expected(Cross Terrains). Still, I stopped and was beginning to try and figure how the hell I put them on, and I was dismayed to find I only got two. Do 4WD vehicles need 4 chains? What axle would I put it on? Should I buy another set? 80bucks wasn't too bad including pirate and american flag stickers...but, I definitely would like to save some money.
 
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No, you only need one pair of chains. You will obviously get more traction if you had chains on all four corners. The chains should be installed on the drive wheels, i.e. Rear wheel drive on the rear tires, front wheel drive on the front tires. Now if you have 4WD and have it engaged, then you can have them on either the front or rear axle. When I'm in the snow and in 4WD then I typically put the chains on the front because it offers more traction going around corners and braking, but the rear end can break loose easer so it's a compromise.

This page might help:

http://tirechain.com/california-chain-requirement.htm
 
i keep a set in my 4runner....but never use them, to much of a pain in my a$$ and by time you get them on your fingers are purple....hope you have fun at Tahoe. Im going snowboarding tomorrow after finals.... its gonna be cold. high of 0. yay me.
 
just came down from Tahoe today there gona get a nice amount of snow from theses storms coming in. its gona be perfect for next weekend. yea if the weather is all clear and all you wont need chains at all but u never know how quick the weather can change u mite wana carry some just in case u never know.


Hey T4RUSAF im with on that one finals do SUCK!!!!!!!
 
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