when i lived in Cali i know when going through places like Donner Summit through the mountains of the Sierra Nevadas you had to use snow chains to get through the snow on the highway if the pass was open. My friend who lived in Reno, Nevada said that his parents would use chain style products for their tires for driving in the snow around town. I moved here to MN a year ago now and have spent 2 winters here in LOTS of snow. We dont use chains here at all. Is there a reason for this? What is the purpose of chains? Why are they used in other places and not here?
2007-03-08 02:04:44 · 4 answers · asked by LM 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Also in MN. they have a group called MinDot they are clearing the roads before they pile up too bad.
My Bro works there for the DOT and he worked 6 12 hour shifts only clearing roads last week. The passes in CA get 5 inches an hour and the trucks just can't keep up.
Most people these days with front wheel drive don't use snow tires they use all season. which have good Snow traction. but on a RWD Chains or clips are allowed from Oct to May. THis holds true with Studded snow tires.
2007-03-08 02:12:12 · answer #1 · answered by Uncle Red 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chains are used to gain traction in ice more so than snow. Also the grade of the road has a great deal to do with it. It's much harder to get traction to go up hill than it is to go forward on a flat road. Another factor is that people who live in climates where it snows more often generally have all season or snow tires for the winter. A good set of snow tires is better than chains because you always have them.
2007-03-08 10:12:07 · answer #2 · answered by iwingameover 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At first glance I would say it is a matter of terrain. The Donner Summit is a mountain pass with plenty of up and sown grades where if the car lost traction it could slide a great distance. In Minnesota you are probably pretty much on flat ground.
2007-03-08 10:11:11 · answer #3 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in the midwestern states, most people have 2 sets of tires, snow and regular, and some people have "studded" snow tires with little metal studs for traction...
also, chains can be used anywhere, but mostly they are for mountain driving (the midwest is pretty flat)
2007-03-08 10:08:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋