Going up to BB...what are snow tires?

[Dog Welder]

From what I remember in Colorado snow tires are the tires with the metal studs in them....granted that no one in Southern California, except for me of course, can drive in the snow...what do they consider snow tires down here? On Snow Summits website it says chains except for 4x4s with snow tires...do BFG All Terrains count? I've driven through plenty of winters with less.

[amateur]

From what I remember in Colorado snow tires are the tires with the metal studs in them....granted that no one in Southern California, except for me of course, can drive in the snow...what do they consider snow tires down here? On Snow Summits website it says chains except for 4x4s with snow tires...do BFG All Terrains count? I've driven through plenty of winters with less.
The A/T's are good to go.

[MikeD]

At Mount Laguna, they told me my Goodrich A/Ts were NOT snow tires, b/c they had no metal studs. Either studded tires or chains they told me, regardless of my 4wd.

Then, this year, the CHP let me up in my Subaru with stock Potenza tires, as long as I "kept it in 4wd and went slow." Of course, some asshole in a 4x4 Tacoma doing like 45 mph with snow chains on managed to cross lanes and ram me on the way up...

So yeah, anyhow, it's really the call of the officer who's enforcing the rules. Carry chains, though, because if you don't, you're likely to end up pissed off.

MD

[Hungry_Hank]

yeeeaaah, front wheel drive camry = i get to use chains :nuts:

[Kornphlake]

C'mon, everybody knows that there really isn't snow in the san bernardino mountains, it's just an act snow summit puts on to get lazy skateboarders to spend money in the winter. You should be fine with any rubber unless you are planning on going up the day of a storm. The real question is, can I put some mud tires on my saturn so I'll be able to make it up my driveway this afternoon?

[spookydave]

any tire that says M/S on the side wall

[Dog Welder]

Whats funny is I was watching the news and they were showing the caravans that were going up to BB...all these BMW SUVs and chains on the rear wheels.

[-BB-]

That's gonna be me in a few days... but w/o the Beem'r. To-Yo all da way.

[Spunger]

I dunno what BFG tires you can use without chains, maybe BFG muds? if anything from that company.

I know pro-comp has a tire that can be used where chains are required. I think it's their AT or their X-terrian tire. I read somewhere that they are one of the few tires that got the OK for use in snow without chains.

I dunno if I could find chain's to fit on 33's or 35's. I have super swampers right now which if you know truck tires they are about the worst street tire ever/best off-road tire. They have sucky traction in rain, probably worst in snow.

If you have a normal truck/car I'd just pick up some chains and take it slow, even in 4wd. I don't drive in the snow ever so I'm not worried. But if I was to make a trip I'd go out of my way to get chians. Better to have them at a check point and keep going then to get turned down and have to go find some.

[SDminitrucker]

i'm pretty sure all snow tires with nails/metal spikes are illegal in california

[EBasil]

Well, we've got BFG AT's on our mini-ute Escape, but I'd mount chains even if I had lugged snow tires like the ones I used to have on my truck in Big Bear. Good tread for snow is nice, but doesn't do squat on ice regardless of 2wd, 4wd or Awd.

[BigStonz]

Check out kuhmo venture MT. You can have them studded

[DHanamal]

Taken from the CHP website:

I have a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Do I have to carry / use chains? What do the "R" ratings which are associated with chain requirements mean?

"R" ratings on snowy roads indicate chain requirements for various conditions. Some vehicles may not be required to use chains under all conditions, but all vehicles must carry chains. Most vehicles come equipped with snow tires. Look for M+S (mud and snow), All Season, or All Terrain, on the side of the tire.

R-1 chains required except for vehicles with snow tires (chains required for any vehicle pulling a trailer)

R-2 chains required except for 4-wheel drive with snow tires

R-3 chains required for all vehicles



I have studded tires installed on my vehicle. Are they legal in California? When?

The California Vehicle Code [Section 27454 (e)], permits studded tires to be used on vehicles between November 1 and April 30 of each year. The number of studs or the percentage of metal in contact with the roadway cannot exceed three percent of the total tire area in contact with the roadway.