I have very little experience driving in snowy winter conditions and I am not sure about the laws in WA/OR.
TL;DR: I’m considering a RWD/FWD as my next car, but I’d like to avoid stopping on the side of the road in the passes to install chains when winter comes. Are winter tires exempt when chains are required but AWD are exempt from installing them (i.e. when “Tire Chains Required” in the passes)? what about when “Chains Required On All Vehicles”? mostly asking about the first case though.
I tried searching online and I think winter tires are exempt, but I am not sure and I was hoping someone here can confirm (especially for WA).
WAC 204-24-050: - (1)(b) here states “Alternative traction devices listed on the patrol’s website as being approved for passenger vehicles as outlined in this chapter will be considered approved for use when “chains required” signs are posted.” which is what I think allows also non-AWD to use winter tires instead of chains?
WAC 204-24-040: - list of approved traction devices by WSDOT, here (3) states " Approved traction tires. An approved traction tire must have the following tread characteristics:"
For OR, this has confused me a little bit - Oregon Chain Law | TripCheck - Oregon Traveler Information, it mentions “If your vehicle is rated 10,000 pounds GVW or less and is not towing you must use chains or traction tires.” in the highest level, but only mentions AWD in the exempt section?
Also, in case they are exempt, would I need winter tires on all 4 wheels or just the two that drive?
Appreciate your help! Sorry if it’s longer than it should’ve been
For WA:Based on section “a” it sounds like snow tires will work as an alternative only for AWD vehicles and still sounds like chains have to be carried for at least drive wheels. single axle drive would to need to put chains on when sign is on
(a) Exception for all wheel drive vehicles. When “chains required” signs are posted, all-wheel drive vehicles will be exempt from the chain requirement when all wheels are in gear and are equipped with approved traction devices as specified in WAC 204-24-040 provided that tire chains for at least one set of drive tires are carried in the vehicle.
Tire chains required - Vehicles must install chains to continue traveling on the roadway. 4WD/AWD vehicles do not need to install chains at this point, but still must carry a set inside their vehicle in case conditions worsen.* See WAC 204-24-050
I think if you know you will be driving in places in WA that may require chains your just gonna have to get chains
As someone who grew up in WA skiing and traveling over the passes constantly during the winter, my understanding is that winter tires on a RWD/FWD do NOT exempt you from the AWD/4WD requirements when those are implemented on the passes.
Our cars are AWD plus we use winter tires, AND we keep a set of chains in the car at all times when traveling the passes (and know how to install them).
Now, have I ever seen patrol monitoring the passes to enforce these requirements? Nope.
I’ll just say that I’d rather put on chains than be one of those people stuck on the road. By Tahoe there are tons of people who put them on and take them off for 20 bucks so I imagine that exists by you too…
So then section (b) would be referring to “alternative traction devices” for AWD in that case? I thought AWD doesn’t need an alternative traction device since the AWD is the traction device. If (b) refers to AWD that point makes sense, however for some reason I think that (b) is a standalone that refers to non-AWD? really not sure…
My intention is not to be stuck on the road, it’s first to comply with the law and second, since I heard that winter tires perform better than AWD in snowy conditiosn (when compared separately), I thought that having a non-AWD car with winter tires will be equal before the law and therefore won’t need chains.
I might’ve misused that statement, sorry for the confusion. Picking AWD car is not the point of this thread, I am not worried about driving in snowy conditions, I am asking since I am considering an RWD/FWD and I’m unfamiliar with the law. The chains is something that’s holding me back on it (I would really like to not have an SUV/CUV).
If the weather is so bad, I might cancel my trip, but the “in-between” is what I am curious about.
In California, I’m pretty sure it’s OK with all season tires with chains for 2 wheel drive. Chain control always wave me through with my AWD but the law says even AWD requires to carry chains. Seems like WA/OR has similar laws so it pretty much boils down to
Re-read that second section I pulled. It literally says even if you have AWD you still have to carry chains. You might not have to put them on but you still have to have them.
I think you are over thinking this. Just get chains, practice putting them on a couple times just in case then throw them in the trunk just to have. They’ll be a long term investment.
I have tried to reach WSDOT on Reddit and will post an update here if I hear back from them.
To answer others, I always carry chains but it’s not the question here…
Not targeting anything specific, just don’t want an SUV/CUV and don’t want to drop a dozen of RWD/FWD models without verifying first. AWD listings in my area (500 miles radius) are just 20% of all sedan/coupe/hatch/wagon listings.
What is the question then? I thought the writing from Washington was pretty straight forward. All vehicles need to carry chains, but at a point that a sign says chains needed only AWD vehicles are exempt from putting on if they have winter tires or some other alternative. Non-AWD vehicles are not exempt even with alternative traction.
Rather than invest in a set of chains (required on all passes in the winter as you know), I tried out a pair of AutoSocks. They are easy to put on in a blinding snowstorm, they are approved across the US and BC as a tire chain alternative, they are extremely effective at doing their job, and they are not expensive. Just a thought…
Late to the party, but winter tires (non spiked!) do perform better in the snow than chains. Ideally you want non spiked winters (M+S grade) and a chains to put on on passes or ice. Make sure you train yourself on how to put those on, ideally in warm setting first - it is non-trivial first time.
That’s what I heard before as well and it’s why I was asking if the law counts them as such. I also heard that in some cases snow tires are better than some AWD systems as well.
Was never trying to do bare minimum for safety.
Edit: I can also confirm that I checked with WSDOT and the answer is no - FWD/RWD with winter tires would not be exempt from chains when AWD are exempt.
