Snow chains ?

[Bumpsis]

Although this question is related to the 4WD/AWD thread, I thought I'll ask this as a separate thread.

Why snow chains are not in use in the NE?

Seems like drivers of passanger vehicles in NE just don't use snow chains. I know that these devices are a PITA to put on, yet, it's a resonably good solution for our climate where snowfall is rather sporadic. So if you have to drive in snowy conditions from time to time, why not have set handy.

It would obviate the necessity of getting snow tires since most of the time, especially in winter as we're currently experiencing, slippery conditions are somewhat rare. The whole issue of AWD/4 WD as a "ski vehicle" would also be somewhat moot.

I know for a fact that in CA, the skiing public that comes up from coast (SF Bay area) to ski at Lake Tahoe, just doesn't have snow tires, but they will have a set of chains in the car in case they encounter snow on the road at the mountain passes leading to the Tahoe ski areas.
I had a conversation with a few people out there when skiing there a while back, and the general feeling was that use of chains makes sense for them.
The vast majority of drive time is done on dry roads, and for those times that they coming up to the mountains that require good traction beacuse of snow (and state laws) on the passes, the chains are the best bet.

Seems like the ski public that lives in Boston and south of Boston (CT, RI, NYC, NJ) also spends majority of its winter driving time in non-snowy conditions.
Why not just forget the snow tires and adopt the use of snow chains?

 

[BenedictGomez]

Why not just forget the snow tires and adopt the use of snow chains?

Do you want to not be able to ever go over 35mph?

Snow chains do offer the best traction, but they're not very practical.

 

[snoseek]

They are generally used for steep grades. I have never seen a 4wd vehicle turned back for not using chains anywhere. They are loud, noisy, and break easy.

Trucks going over passes that don't follow the mandatory chain laws piss me off. These are the ones that jackknife and close highways.

 

[Bumpsis]

Do you want to not be able to ever go over 35mph?

Snow chains do offer the best traction, but they're not very practical.

When it's snowing pretty hard the traffic usually moves at rather glacial speeds anyway, even on the freeways or the interstates.
Yes, I do prefer to be able to move at whatever speeds deem to be safe and with a snow tires, under moderate snowfall conditions that usually means someting close to 45 - 50 mph, but recall some drive times to Sugarloaf where the traffic on the Maine Pike just wasn't moving much faster than 35.

 

[vdk03]

They cause lots of unnecessary damage to the roads.

 

[Bumpsis]

They are generally used for steep grades. I have never seen a 4wd vehicle turned back for not using chains anywhere.

4WD/AWD are exempted from having to use chains in CA. Perhaps, that's one good reason to own such a vehicle out there. If I were ski commuting from the Bay Area to Tahoe, I'd spend the money an AWD.

 

[BenedictGomez]

When it's snowing pretty hard the traffic usually moves at rather glacial speeds anyway, even on the freeways or the interstates.
Yes, I do prefer to be able to move at whatever speeds deem to be safe and with a snow tires, under moderate snowfall conditions that usually means someting close to 45 - 50 mph, but recall some drive times to Sugarloaf where the traffic on the Maine Pike just wasn't moving much faster than 35.

When then you're limiting the discussion to really nasty weather, as opposed to just ho-hum winter weather. And then you bring PITA back into the equation regarding having to put them on-off, on-off, on-off etc.... But if you're willing to do so, they give the best traction.

 

[millerm277]

I own a 4WD vehicle, and I don't bother with snow tires either to be honest. Unless the snow is above the bumper, it'll move and control fine. And neither one of those is going to help if the snow is higher than that.

 

[legalskier]

I remember seeing a lot more of them when I was a kid. I also remember seeing how difficult it was to put them on the tires.

 

[St. Bear]

Would they come in handy occasionally, sure. But we just don't see the kind of storms that they can get out west.

 

[x10003q]

When then you're limiting the discussion to really nasty weather, as opposed to just ho-hum winter weather. And then you bring PITA back into the equation regarding having to put them on-off, on-off, on-off etc.... But if you're willing to do so, they give the best traction.

Also, where on the highway would you put them on your car? I would not want to put them on in a snowstorm on the side of the interstate. It seems like in California the same sections of the highway are controlled by highway patrol inspecting the traffic. In the East there is no one area that is always a consistent problem.

 

[Chinalfr]

I used to live in Washington state. Snow chain is required during winter time to go through Snoqualmie pass on I-90. But this was in the 1990's.

 

[from_the_NEK]

I think a lot of the western requirements for chains are only for fairly short distances through mountain passes where the installation points can be closely monitored.

The East Coast is more prone to widespread snowfalls where enforcing points of installation of the chains would be impossible. The New Hampshire notches along with a couple in Vermont would fit the western criteria but I think the states have figured money is better spent simply trying to keep the roads as clear as possible rather than adopting a chain law that would likely meet a lot of resistance from the public.

 

[Glenn]

Discuss: http://www.ecstuning.com/Flyer-ISSE/ES2129939/

 

[Black Phantom]

4WD/AWD are exempted from having to use chains in CA. Perhaps, that's one good reason to own such a vehicle out there. If I were ski commuting from the Bay Area to Tahoe, I'd spend the money an AWD.

It's 4WD and snow tires.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Discuss: http://www.ecstuning.com/Flyer-ISSE/ES2129939/

Now thats a f-in funny!I thought these were a joke till I watched the video.Do you own them?

 

[frapcap]

Those look interesting. I'd like to see how they preform in deeper snow and changing road conditions. I wonder if slush, salt, sand, etc will wear on them quickly.

For the price, I hope not!

 

[Smellytele]

It seems odd that covering the tread gives you better traction

 

[dennis]

What seems odd to me is (and who the hell am I)but who the hell would not put "devices" on there vehicle that would allow them to stay on their side of the damm road, My girl found one of these MF 's last winter and I have met the same dorks that were in my lane and I used theirs to avoid a crash. drive within your limits or stay home, I don't care what you drive or use. Sorry, end of rant

 

[Glenn]

Now thats a f-in funny!I thought these were a joke till I watched the video.Do you own them?

I don't. I buy stuff from ECS and saw these in an e-mail they sent out back in the fall. I'm thinking they must be similar to ski skins when it comes to traction.