Snow chains needed for Big Bear trip? Have SAS

[KABQ]

Riodoso NM could require chains when I lived out there.

How did you get mail if you couldn't spell Ruidoso?

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[lakesinai]

How did you get mail if you couldn't spell Ruidoso?

That was in the 1980's "out there" in West Texas (Midland). I still remember how wierd it seemed to have to buy chains for my Taurus in order to go Skiing in New Mexico. Having lived in Vermont where the snow was on the ground!

 

[GoHack]

Hi,
On Christmas Eve last week, I decided to drive up to the Mammoth Ski Area here in Eastern California.
It was raining most of the way North up Rt. 395.

Outside of Bishop, as I started driving North up 395, where the elevation increases fast and the rain quickly turned over to Heavy Snow, and collecting fast on the roadway, so much so, that they posted "Chains Required".
I didn't have any chains, and so I simply switched my Bronco over into 4A.
No issues driving, of course taking it easy as I drove, other than the snow getting deep fast.
In 4A, taking it easy, my Bronco was driving just fine.
Finally, just 10 miles to my designation of Mammoth Ski Area, I decided I'd better not take a chance even though my Bronco was driving just fine in the snow at that point, I went and turned around and headed home.
It's a good thing because Mammoth ended up getting over 73 inches of snow, or 6 feet in this one storm. Wow!

Anyway, can I even use chains on my Bronco, or should I only use cables? I have LT285/70R17 All-Terrain Tires. If so, where can I buy them, I live over in Palmdale.

When they post "Chains Required" can I still drive w/o them?

 

[EasternSierra]

Anyway, can I even use chains on my Bronco, or should I only use cables? I have LT285/70R17 All-Terrain Tires. If so, where can I buy them, I live over in Palmdale.

When they post "Chains Required" can I still drive w/o them?

The owner's manual states that chains should only be used for the 255/70R16 or 255/75R17 tire sizes (those are OEM tires on lower trims). You might be able to use cable chains on larger tires, but clearance might still be iffy with the largest sizes. I wouldn't try it with your tires.

If you have 4WD and M+S tires, you would seldom if ever be required to put chains on in CA. They usually go from 'chains required except for 4WD/AWD with M+S tires' to outright closure of the road. You still may be asked if you're carrying them, which you're technically required to do under chain control conditions.

 

[Brian_B]

When they post "Chains Required" can I still drive w/o them?

For CA only:

Legally - no, you are supposed to turn around at the sign if you do not have chains. You are required to have them. You just don't have to install them at the sign if it says "4WD with Snow Tires OK". If the sign says "All Vehicles Require Chains", then you have to put them on (I've only seen this once - usually they close the road at this point).

If you decide to press on - sometimes CHP sets up checkpoints. They ~usually~ don't ask to see your chains, they often will ask if you have them though. What you decide to tell them is on you. Even if they just wave you through without asking... that isn't them waiving the requirement for you to not have chains, they are just acknowledging that you have 4WD with Snow Tires and aren't require to have them installed.

~If~ you end up getting stuck, and don't have chains on you (or have chains that don't fit) -- CHP will probably issue you a citation if they come to assist. And by assist, they will probably just sit there with their lights on glowering at you while they wait on you to dig yourself out or call a tow truck.

For those that want to know more or argue it - here is the actual law
https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-code/veh-sect-27459/
and
https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-code/veh-sect-27460/

Note, the exception for Snow Tires only applies to the installation of them, not to the requirement to possess them.

 

[GoHack]

I went and bought cables and will simply carry them.
If I should get stopped, I'll have them available.

I hope to get back up to Mammoth this week. There's more snow on the way.

 

[Catmandu1999]

Thirty years ago, we had a 4wd Explorer with Michelin M+S tires as the family truckster, and our weekend home in Tahoe on a ridgeline at 7,500'. We had actual chains for the Explorer, and needed them on the front tires for braking and steering in the worst of the storms. But tire tech advanced, and nowadays we put triple peak snow tires on all the family vehicles that visit that same home (now permanent) in the winter: Bronco, Expedition, Audi Q3, RAV4. They all carry at the very least cables to be CA compliant, but we have never had to put them on to get through any checkpoint or any amount of snow on an open highway (other than the initial fit test). If it is a monster storm and we need to leave the house before proper plowing has been done, we use the Expedition. It's weight combined with the tires makes it a snow beast!

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