Don't know if i'm going to get any answers but it's worth a shot. I'm thinking about getting a season pass to Mt. Bachelor in Oregon this year and I live on the other side of the cascades (Corvallis to be exact) and was wondering to any Bachelor goers what is there to expect going over the cascade in terms of snow and weather (going through HWY 20)? Also another question, I have a 4x4 ford explorer with all weather tires but not winter tires and was wondering if i'd be fine without studded or actual snow tires. Just wanted to get some of your guy's opinions.
Mt. Bachelor and snowtires
- Thread starter BWick04
- Start date
jdfreeski2
Member
I would get all weather tires with that car.
OregonDead
Active member
You don't need studs. Tires with decent tread will do you just fine. I've done the drive lots of times in all sorts of conditions in a 4x4 Ranger which is basically the same truck you have. If things ever get really hairy just drop into 4 low and drive nice and slow. A lot of fools try to drive too fast on hwy 22 and 20 when it is slick, just take it easy and you'll pass them later when they're in the ditch.
masterhatin
Member
so no studs really? looking to move to bend for the winter, 1st time, 4 runner with good tires should be fine??? pumped to check out bachelor!
Honestly can't believe you guys are saying all weather tires and 4x4 is "good enough" for driving in the snow. You might make it up the hill, slowly. But what about when you're going down the hill, a little faster, and you need to stop? 4wd/awd doesn't stop any faster that fwd/rwd cars. Invest in a good set of snow tires. Nokian Hakkapeliitta has saved my ass (and other people's asses) several times.
JuliusJ
Active member
Uh get studs. Having grown up in Bend, I can tell you black ice is so prevalent in the area. Theres so much freezing, thawing, and refreezing that happens. Yeah, they are a little annoying sounding, but if the majority of your driving during the winter is crossing the pass and up to Bachelor, get them.
Side note, have fun! Bachelor gets actually pretty decent snow (I would argue better than Hood/rest of a lot of the Cascades, but I'm biased) and the park has a sick flow! Features can sometimes be a little wacky, but the amount of features and way they're laid out is awesome.
Side note, have fun! Bachelor gets actually pretty decent snow (I would argue better than Hood/rest of a lot of the Cascades, but I'm biased) and the park has a sick flow! Features can sometimes be a little wacky, but the amount of features and way they're laid out is awesome.
OregonDead
Active member
13485628:masterhatin said:
Really. With your car and decent tread you don't need studs. I make a ton of trips from the valley to the cascades and I never wish that I had studs. Studs will give you worse traction on wet roads and you will rarely be in conditions where studs will give you an advantage. I had studs on a 1995 dodge caravan and I'm not sure that they helped. The times I got stuck in the van was not because of traction but because of clearance. Sure studs may give you a little bit of a stopping advantage in some conditions but mostly they just give people false confidence. Take it easy when it gets slick and make sure you are not driving too fast to stop and you will be fine. The key is to drive carefully no matter what tires you have.
californiagrown
Active member
13485628:masterhatin said:
Do you know how to drive in the snow/ on icy roads? Are you experienced? Then youll be fine. the issue is, and this is a really good reason to get studs, you arent always careful driving. When you are from lowlands and only have to deal with snow wen you go skiing, you automatically are paying attention to the road conditions. But when you live someplace where ice and snow are a constant you can get comfortable driving, and wont always want to be taking your time.
13485789:JuliusJ said:
Folks visiting, studs arent needed. Studs are needed for folks living up there. If you are just visiting, just get some well siped all weather tires and pay attention to wtf youre doing. Ive driven in some heinous conditions in and around bend and would generally only get loose when id get out of the rut on a packed-snow-ice highway.
But then again there is always the thinking of better safe than sorry... so you just gotta look at how often youll be driving in icy conditions- studs do NOTHING for snow.
masterhatin
Member
13551550:californiagrown said:
Yea grew up in Pennsylvania, spent the past 5 years in AK. I know ice haha