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April, 2025

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AWD vs Tire Chains?

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03gade
Posts: 856 - Karma: 3,263
I was wondering how much AWD really makes a difference in mountain passes that require them vs just putting chains on a FWD car with good winter tires.

I just moved to Sacramento from Connecticut and am going to be heading up to Tahoe during winter. During my cross country trip my car broke down in Denver and I need a new car asap, so if anyone from the west wants to share their experiences with driving up passes during snow storms that would be great.
9 years ago
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JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
Who wants to waste time putting on and taking off chains over a dusting of snow? AWD and snow tires would serve you just fine. Chains work good (Sometimes), but speaking from experience, the last thing I want to do on a cold winter day is get out of my car and wrestle with chains.
9 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
a good set of winter tires and you won't need either. Always a good idea to carry chains regardless though, but don't plan to rely on them every time it snows. Just get good winters and whatever vehicle you want whether it's awd, rwd, or fwd will work just fine.
9 years ago
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skierman
Posts: 8600 - Karma: 9,518
You only need chains/cables if you live in a rough area where you could get mugged.
9 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9197 - Karma: 40,219
Dude the chain requirements on the way up to tahoe are a joke. They are because of all the semis and idiots in camry's coming from Sacramento...get decent awd and all terrain tires...assuming you know how to drive in snow.
9 years ago
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
VinnieFa good set of winter tires and you won't need either. Always a good idea to carry chains regardless though, but don't plan to rely on them every time it snows. Just get good winters and whatever vehicle you want whether it's awd, rwd, or fwd will work just fine.


They do chain control on I-80 so you have to have either 4wd/awd, or chains on. Good winters are not great for folks in CA as you arent driving in winter conditions till you are literally at the mountains.

Profahoben_212Dude the chain requirements on the way up to tahoe are a joke. They are because of all the semis and idiots in camry's coming from Sacramento...get decent awd and all terrain tires...assuming you know how to drive in snow.


youll get chain control going miles before snowline a lot of the time, sometimes it will be snowing but not sticking and youll get chain control. So, on top of being a pain in the ass, limiting you and those behind you to 25mph, and making you cold and muddy... they are dangerous as all hell. Having to pull over on the side of a hgihway during a snowstorm so you can get out of your vehicle and lie on the ground while idiot california drivers fishtail and pass other cars at 50mph in the far right lane is not the safest situation to be in.
9 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9197 - Karma: 40,219
californiagrownThey do chain control on I-80 so you have to have either 4wd/awd, or chains on. Good winters are not great for folks in CA as you arent driving in winter conditions till you are literally at the mountains.



youll get chain control going miles before snowline a lot of the time, sometimes it will be snowing but not sticking and youll get chain control. So, on top of being a pain in the ass, limiting you and those behind you to 25mph, and making you cold and muddy... they are dangerous as all hell. Having to pull over on the side of a hgihway during a snowstorm so you can get out of your vehicle and lie on the ground while idiot california drivers fishtail and pass other cars at 50mph in the far right lane is not the safest situation to be in.

Literally though. They make traffic so much worse. They should change the chain control to idiot control. It would make things a lot better.

Op get 4wd and be wary of all the idiots that are going to be driving with you....they are the biggest danger
9 years ago
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daannnnieel
Posts: 5163 - Karma: 4,293
with a bit of balls a bit more gas and some luck I could get my miata up the mountain, which is pretty solid elevation and serious winter conditions lol


it depends on how immortal you think you are lol
9 years ago
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3609 - Karma: 3,977
supermagician__my miatal


Well then....
9 years ago
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skierman
Posts: 8600 - Karma: 9,518
californiagrownThey do chain control on I-80 so you have to have either 4wd/awd, or chains on.


You're a fucking idiot. "Chain control" doesn't mean they force you off the road if you don't have chains or 4wd or awd. It just means you're liable if you're involved in any accident in those conditions. He can still rip around.
9 years ago
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
skiermanYou're a fucking idiot. "Chain control" doesn't mean they force you off the road if you don't have chains or 4wd or awd. It just means you're liable if you're involved in any accident in those conditions. He can still rip around.


no, they do. It is in-person chain control on 80. they stop you and check you, and do have you pull over if you arent up to snuff.

Its not just a normal announcement/bulletin.
9 years ago
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skierman
Posts: 8600 - Karma: 9,518
californiagrownno, they do. It is in-person chain control on 80. they stop you and check you, and do have you pull over if you arent up to snuff.

Its not just a normal announcement/bulletin.


Yeah except they don't. Source: the police who detoured everyone off the road when they closed i-80 and then opened it up to only 4wd and chains.

Fuck off with your BS.
9 years ago
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soup
Posts: 6354 - Karma: 4,486
chains are more a requirement for semis. have you ever priced our a set of semi winter tires? didnt think so. shits mad expensive and most trucks have 18+ wheels.

you on the other hand, need winter tires. dont fuck with all seasons, just go straight winters. its a serious peace of mind and when you try a car with summers and then go to winters both driving in snow, you will experience the difference.
9 years ago
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
skiermanYeah except they don't. Source: the police who detoured everyone off the road when they closed i-80 and then opened it up to only 4wd and chains.

Fuck off with your BS.


huh? so youre agreeing with me? youre angry even when agreeing. damn.
9 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9197 - Karma: 40,219
skiermanYou're a fucking idiot. "Chain control" doesn't mean they force you off the road if you don't have chains or 4wd or awd. It just means you're liable if you're involved in any accident in those conditions. He can still rip around.


Yeah.....nooo. they make you turn around if you don't have one of them....that's why there are chains at every corner on the 5 exits prior to where they set up the station, so the idiots that don't have them can eventually get through.

There is nothing stopping you from taking them off a mile down the road though...but that's kinda dumb
9 years ago
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grilled_steeze
Posts: 422 - Karma: 1,448
AWD is the way to go. 4WD is fucking stupid, if you leave it on it messes up your transfer case, and it doesn't send different amounts power to where its needed like AWD. the best system out there is a Subaru.
9 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
casual.weekdayAWD is the way to go. 4WD is fucking stupid, if you leave it on it messes up your transfer case, and it doesn't send different amounts power to where its needed like AWD. the best system out there is a Subaru.


lol. 4WD is far superior to AWD in many ways. If you're into any offroading 4WD hands down is better. If you like to be able to turn off power to 2 wheels and improve your fuel efficiency when you don't need it then 4WD is better. AWD is better for the few times a year it's nice to have that extra traction that FWD or RWD doesn't provide. But if you're actually going to use your vehicle as a tool where you need all wheels providing power then 4WD is superior.

And I'm pretty sure the Audi Quattro AWD system is considered the best by anyone who isn't a Subaru fanboy.
9 years ago
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skierman
Posts: 8600 - Karma: 9,518
The referenced post has been removed.


I had no idea i-80 went up to Squaw!
9 years ago
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profa_212
Posts: 9197 - Karma: 40,219
skiermanI had no idea i-80 went up to Squaw!


He was saying he was on i-80 on his way to squaw and he saw people getting turned around.

But i-80 is 3/ths of the drive...so it kinda does go to squaw. Stop being such a dick
9 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
Nokian Hakkapellitta bruh.


9 years ago
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,556
9 years ago
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elcornholio
Posts: 797 - Karma: 1,556
elcornholio


Fuck

http://img-3.gizmag.com/strap-on-tank.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&ch=Width%2CDPR&crop=entropy&fit=crop&h=394&q=60&w=700&s=98f902455bca36e6e808d9de041d6709
9 years ago
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
soupchains are more a requirement for semis. have you ever priced our a set of semi winter tires? didnt think so. shits mad expensive and most trucks have 18+ wheels.

you on the other hand, need winter tires. dont fuck with all seasons, just go straight winters. its a serious peace of mind and when you try a car with summers and then go to winters both driving in snow, you will experience the difference.


Eh, I've been perfectly happy driving my 4runner with all season tires (a more "aggressive" tread pattern though) in every kind of snow on road condition. It's sketchy on ice, but all CA legal tires are.

If you're driving all week in the lowlands, and then driving for 100miles on pavement before possibly driving the last 20-30 in snow winter tires are not worth it IMO. Especially since op is driving on multilane highways at 30mph when in snow... not sketchy 2 lane where you go as fast as comfortable.
9 years ago
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Casey
Posts: 8017 - Karma: 26,913
I-90 in Washington will usually require chains EXCEPT AWD. Whats been said already is true, putting on chains is no fun, and you can only go like 25 mph with chains on. The problem I would always get into was, I didn't need to get chains to get up, I'd park, go skiing, meanwhile it would snow 8 inches and I'd be stuck digging for an hour just to move enough to get the chains on when I was tired and wanted to go home. 4wd is lot more capable of making up hills in the right type of iced over conditions your front wheel drive is going nowhere except on flat ground. I drove a front wheel drive up skiing for years, usually its fine, but I'll never go back to that nonsense when it sucks it really sucks.
9 years ago
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
drove a fwd car for years and years up to VT all the time....its doable but awd/4wd is SO much more convenient. Flip it on and you can get through most snow unless its really icy.

Who wants to deal with chains sounds so annoying
9 years ago
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Lonely
Posts: 7112 - Karma: 68,912
Hammer some three inch nails into your tires, about 40 per tire.

Guaranteed traction
9 years ago
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333




AWD works for Jon
9 years ago
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