Tire Chains Required

Look up your state's chain law. There might be great big lit up signs that say chain law is in effect, but you need to know what that means. Where I am Chain Law has 2 levels, and the first doesn't actually require chains as long as tires are adequate. 2nd level only requires commercial vehicles to have chains on, and then also requires AWD/4x4. The word "or' changes a lot here. Read up on your areas law to see if it is similar.

 

I took my kids/other youngster's out on unplowed dirt back roads, made them slam on brakes (wrong) made them start/stop on hills. I just cringe, when I hear parents who wont allow their kids to drive on winter roads.

 

Transport trucks use chains because they don't have "winter" tires. They chain up the rears only. Never seen or heard of a transport 18 wheeler with chains on the front. Most passenger vehicles especially 4x4 s will be fine with good winter tires especially if they are studded. Knowing how to drive in general but especially on snow and ice is crucial. If not please stay at home.

 

Good!
I had to learn, driving my own vehicle at 16, a 52 M38A1 Jeep here in the snow belt.

 

most of the area around chicago is like that now. if we get over 5", they declare a state of emergency, and start fining anyone that tries to go out on the roads...

that and i nearly got a 'wreckless driving' charge for practicing reverse j-turns in an empty snow-covered parking lot...

 

Im so glad to be the heJJ out of Illinois for good. Would never live or work there again…..EVR

 

to be fair, that's really all of northwest indiana as well...

my supervisor(lived in indiana his whole life) has stories of getting pulled over driving his modified jeep after major snow storms came through, the officer dressing him down for being out in a state emergency, and then he'll leave, go around the block, and then offer to pull the now-stuck police car out of the snow drift he was pulled over in...

 

I'm surprised it's that way in Chicago. I've definitely experienced winter in the Milwaukee/Chicago area. I used to go down there every Christmas.

I aways encourage people to practice in snow covered parking lots. Practice makes perfect. I've never had any trouble with the police. In fact I have visited a mostly abandoned parking lot right next to the St Paul police headquarters several times over the past several years with no problems. I think they have better things to do. I have however heard at least one story of someone getting hassled for screwing around in a snow covered parking lot. I'm guessing it involved excessive speed, a non-empty parking lot, or something like that.

 

Chains on the front will give you more traction because all the weight is over them, but they may hit your upper control arms - just depends on your wheels and tires. If that’s the case, put them on the back.

 

I got yelled at by a cop when in high school for taking the old 78 Buick out to the mall parking lot to "see" how it handled in the snow...

He told me and my buddies, "Just go home...."

 

Chains ALWAYS go on the rear of a RWD or 4WD. 99% of the time if you actually need chains, the road will be closed...

 

Good advice. - Just make sure that there are no tire stops under the snow... AND watch out for those lamp posts. You can no longer assume people with think through the details.

Tacos are actually pretty well balanced. the CG is only slightly forward of the mid point unladen. (See the CG location drawing in your manual). Add fuel and say a cap, and you are slightly biased towards the rear. - Still pretty well balanced overall.

Now if you are on a FWD hatch or sedan, front is the only way to go as most of the weight is up front in those... (not that this stops people from putting chains or cables on the rear wheels...).

Agreed. At that point it is also not much fun...

 

Exactly,
If it's so bad you have to chain up a 4x4, there's probably already a half dozen spinouts or a couple of jackknifed trucks clobbering the road making it impassable.

 

I actually have chained up front wheels on a 52 M38A1 I had back in High School and later on after when I had to get to work sometimes before the roads were plowed. Worked great, but I wasn't going over 30

 

Not to derail this but I thought BC mandates M+S or snowflake?

 

I don't live in BC but honestly I think I am wrong and you are correct
M+s or Snowflake for light passenger vehicles and heavy vehicles carry chains

 

No……many mountain passes out west often require chains to climb or descend the pass. Roads open no closure.

 

It's wild to me that you mandate you carry chains down there. British Columbia Mandates snowflake tires through the mountains but the only time i've chained up was for driving somewhere I shouldn't have been. Never chained up just for driving on the road and solemnly drive in 4Hi on the road either[/QUOTE]

That's what he said. BC requires M+S or snowflake or chains available for mountain passes like Rogers Pass and Coquihalla. Not required for general travel. Travelled Rogers Pass hundreds of times. It's usually kept in good condition and they close it if it's unsafe until they clear avalanches and plow.