Best Chains

[sky_steezy]

So I'm not going to have 4wd this season, and the pass requires small cars without 4wd to have chains. They will legit pull you over. Every year I see people out in the cold getting there chains on from my big warm 4wd car and now I'm going to be that person. What are your recommendations on make and brands of chains that are easy to put on and reliable? Thanks so much

-Skylor

 

[Session]

I lived that life for a few seasons. You want a set that will be easu for you to pull off and on quickly.

I liked these:https://www.amazon.com/Security-Cha...D=51EUiCJhz2L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

They lasted through a couple of 60 day seasons.

Some tips. Get some low profile waterproof insulated gloves. You don't want to be fucking up your good gloves.

Practice somewhere dry to get your technique down.

My biggest challenge was never the road. It was always the parking lot. Carry a small shovel.

 

[Bassin]

I lived that life for a few seasons. You want a set that will be easu for you to pull off and on quickly.

I liked these:https://www.amazon.com/Security-Cha...D=51EUiCJhz2L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

They lasted through a couple of 60 day seasons.

Some tips. Get some low profile waterproof insulated gloves. You don't want to be fucking up your good gloves.

Practice somewhere dry to get your technique down.

My biggest challenge was never the road. It was always the parking lot. Carry a small shovel.

^Those are a great pair of cables I have the same for my girlfriends car and my DD and they really work well when you need them. Easy to put on in a pinch and reasonably priced too. Would definitely second this recommendation.

 

[OregonDead]

Do they have Les Schwab where you live? I'd recommend them just because of their return/trade policy. I bought a pair from them 3 vehicles ago and they traded me for a new set each time I bought a new car.

 

[Rum_Ham]

Idk your budget but it might be worth it to get a cheap set of wheels and proper snow tires. You'd be amazed at how much of a difference the right tires make.

 

[Session]

Idk your budget but it might be worth it to get a cheap set of wheels and proper snow tires. You'd be amazed at how much of a difference the right tires make.

Some states don't care what kind of tires you have if you don't have AWD.

 

[Casey]

I have always just run the standard cable chains from the auto parts store. The thing about putting on chains is that it sucks. You're going to end up laying on the ground in a bunch soaking wet grimey slush on the freeway shoulder screwing around only to realize you totally could have made it without them. But you should put them on if it's going to snow and be aware of where you park. Nothing worse than getting back to your car after a big day of skiing to see it snowed a foot and you can't move.

 

[sky_steezy]

I lived that life for a few seasons. You want a set that will be easu for you to pull off and on quickly.

I liked these:https://www.amazon.com/Security-Cha...D=51EUiCJhz2L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

They lasted through a couple of 60 day seasons.

Some tips. Get some low profile waterproof insulated gloves. You don't want to be fucking up your good gloves.

Practice somewhere dry to get your technique down.

My biggest challenge was never the road. It was always the parking lot. Carry a small shovel.

Thank you so much, I appreciate it, I'll look into these chains.

 

[Session]

I have always just run the standard cable chains from the auto parts store. The thing about putting on chains is that it sucks. You're going to end up laying on the ground in a bunch soaking wet grimey slush on the freeway shoulder screwing around only to realize you totally could have made it without them. But you should put them on if it's going to snow and be aware of where you park. Nothing worse than getting back to your car after a big day of skiing to see it snowed a foot and you can't move.

I never once had to lay in the slush. Because I practiced in my garage before I had to do it for real. I could literally whip a set on in under 5 minutes.

 

[RousedWits]

Yeah dedicated leather gloves for your chains are keyyyyyy... It really sucks to put chains on with bare hands, and it is not worth tearing up your ski gloves. I would always just keep the gloves in the chain box

 

[Casey]

I never once had to lay in the slush. Because I practiced in my garage before I had to do it for real. I could literally whip a set on in under 5 minutes.

Oh ok

 

[oxiclean]

The cable type ones are the easiest to get on, but the linked chains provide better traction and are more reliable.

 

[theabortionator]

I might grab a set of these.

Just moved to Kings Beach and working at Northstar. Only a 10 in drive in good weather, but everyone is making me feel like the pass is straight death and I will die if I don't get snow tires.

I have an awd subaru that isn't sitting on the ground like a lot of peoples. I have good tread, but don't really want to buy a set of snow tires. I used to drive a an hour 20 minute commute each way on poorly plowed back mountain roads with 2 wheel drive and bald tires. Not saying that was smart but if you start to slide and drop it down a gear and give her she would pull back in fine. Also not driving insane in bad conditions.

That said I had so many people freak out about me not having snow tires I'm thinking of getting a set of chains just for worst case. The pass does have a pretty good grade and some curves. Also I have massively out of state plates and I guess sometimes it's closed to traffic that doesn't have chains or snow tires.

Anybody know any deetz about that aspect? Any info would be very helpful. I don't want to be the guy that doesn't listen to advice if it's really a fucking death trap. It's just weird to me from growing up on winter mountain roads. My first day out with my learners permit was a freezing rain day where school was closed because my dad wouldn't let me skip school. Always been more into budgeting extra time if the weather is going to be shit, and if I'm going to be late, call in and just be late, rather than get risky. I haven't seen the road in winter yet though. so any tips would be sweet.

 

[profa_212]

I might grab a set of these.

Just moved to Kings Beach and working at Northstar. Only a 10 in drive in good weather, but everyone is making me feel like the pass is straight death and I will die if I don't get snow tires.

I have an awd subaru that isn't sitting on the ground like a lot of peoples. I have good tread, but don't really want to buy a set of snow tires. I used to drive a an hour 20 minute commute each way on poorly plowed back mountain roads with 2 wheel drive and bald tires. Not saying that was smart but if you start to slide and drop it down a gear and give her she would pull back in fine. Also not driving insane in bad conditions.

That said I had so many people freak out about me not having snow tires I'm thinking of getting a set of chains just for worst case. The pass does have a pretty good grade and some curves. Also I have massively out of state plates and I guess sometimes it's closed to traffic that doesn't have chains or snow tires.

Anybody know any deetz about that aspect? Any info would be very helpful. I don't want to be the guy that doesn't listen to advice if it's really a fucking death trap. It's just weird to me from growing up on winter mountain roads. My first day out with my learners permit was a freezing rain day where school was closed because my dad wouldn't let me skip school. Always been more into budgeting extra time if the weather is going to be shit, and if I'm going to be late, call in and just be late, rather than get risky. I haven't seen the road in winter yet though. so any tips would be sweet.

You're fine with AWD. They close the pass to 2wd. If you have awd or 4wd you are good. Sometimes they will look at your tires, but if they are all seasons or all terrains they are chill. I would pick up a pair of chains and keep them in the back for emergencies, but you won't use them. Also the drive from kings to flatstar is pretty mellow.

They only reason the pass is crazy is because all the kooks with chains/San Francisco douchebags who think they can go 100 because they have a Subaru. It's honestly way more chill than people make it out to be.

I'm on my 3rd 100 day season and I've never had snow tires. You're chill

 

[theabortionator]

You're fine with AWD. They close the pass to 2wd. If you have awd or 4wd you are good. Sometimes they will look at your tires, but if they are all seasons or all terrains they are chill. I would pick up a pair of chains and keep them in the back for emergencies, but you won't use them. Also the drive from kings to flatstar is pretty mellow.

They only reason the pass is crazy is because all the kooks with chains/San Francisco douchebags who think they can go 100 because they have a Subaru. It's honestly way more chill than people make it out to be.

I'm on my 3rd 100 day season and I've never had snow tires. You're chill

Word, that's what I was thinking. It makes sense though. I would see it all the time on the roads. "My SUV has awd so I can go 85+ in shit conditions" then sometimes you see them in the ditch 10 minutes later.

I think I'm going to grab a set like the ones session recommended. Something mellow but still good if I ever need it.

Sometimes you feel like people are making things out to be way more ridiculous than they are, but I figured it's always worth checking. Where I'm from some ice and snow on the roads are common. For people who moved up here from dryer parts of CA it's more of a "Holy fuck there's snow and ice what do I do?"

Most of my shifts will be grave so hoping I don't have to deal with too much of the crazies.

Maybe I'll see ya on the slopes somewhere

 

[profa_212]

Word, that's what I was thinking. It makes sense though. I would see it all the time on the roads. "My SUV has awd so I can go 85+ in shit conditions" then sometimes you see them in the ditch 10 minutes later.

I think I'm going to grab a set like the ones session recommended. Something mellow but still good if I ever need it.

Sometimes you feel like people are making things out to be way more ridiculous than they are, but I figured it's always worth checking. Where I'm from some ice and snow on the roads are common. For people who moved up here from dryer parts of CA it's more of a "Holy fuck there's snow and ice what do I do?"

Most of my shifts will be grave so hoping I don't have to deal with too much of the crazies.

Maybe I'll see ya on the slopes somewhere

For sure! For the most part they keep the snow off the road, and if it's really bad they will end up just shutting the roads down....i will say, back home in SD they were much better at plowing and salting....i haven't done much graveyard driving around tahoe so idk what the roads would be like all to much......but you sure won't have any traffic so that's Good! Most dangerous part of driving in tahoe is gunna be the other people.

 

[old.man.tibbles]

Word, that's what I was thinking. It makes sense though. I would see it all the time on the roads. "My SUV has awd so I can go 85+ in shit conditions" then sometimes you see them in the ditch 10 minutes later.

I think I'm going to grab a set like the ones session recommended. Something mellow but still good if I ever need it.

Sometimes you feel like people are making things out to be way more ridiculous than they are, but I figured it's always worth checking. Where I'm from some ice and snow on the roads are common. For people who moved up here from dryer parts of CA it's more of a "Holy fuck there's snow and ice what do I do?"

Most of my shifts will be grave so hoping I don't have to deal with too much of the crazies.

Maybe I'll see ya on the slopes somewhere

Like Profahoben_212 said you're good with your AWD if your all season tires have mud/snow stamped on the sidewall, which pretty much every all season tire does. I would recommend making sure you buy chains even though you'll probably never need them. In CA, carrying chains during winter in the mountains is required by law no matter what car you have, so if you ever get pulled over a cop could ask to see them and could ticket you if you don't have them. Also, Caltrans does have the option to elevate chain control to be required on all vehicles, but that usually never happens and they just close the roads at that point.