Tire Chains - Snow in the Mountains - Yes You

[JLS]

Different tires perform better or worse under various snow conditions.. there is not "best" but there are certainly some characteristics to look for if you are going to roll without chains.........If you are looking for a good off highway tire for the snow the most important qualities are Radial and Siped.

I have been very pleased with siped Goodyear Duratracs.

[Wazukie]

Get yourself a rig that can handle 41" Irok radials and you will go just about anywhere you would want to go.

   This exactly why I said that chains do no good if your belly is on the ground.

[SkookumHntr]

Chains saved my ass from going to the bottom of Mclaughlin canyon last year, If any of you guys know where thats at put the chains on BEFORE going up there!  I always have 4 chains, tarp, shovel, tow strap, when im in the mountains! The seasoned mountain hunters know what to have in the truck..

[TONTO]

 What's the Mailman run?

[Wazukie]

What's the Mailman run?

A good set of all weather radials on his Mercury.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Chains saved my ass from going to the bottom of Mclaughlin canyon last year, If any of you guys know where thats at put the chains on BEFORE going up there!  I always have 4 chains, tarp, shovel, tow strap, when im in the mountains! The seasoned mountain hunters know what to have in the truck..

I have stock sized all terrains on my Tacoma. If I air down it does great but I do carry (and almost always use) chains..actually two full sets of chains, a couple tow straps, a couple tow chains, two heavy duty come alongs and an axe or a chainsaw.

[sakoshooter]

[/quote]I agree.  I grew up in Minnesota and drove on plenty of ice and snow.  Even on frozen lakes.  I didn't even know you put chains on tires until I was in the Navy in California.  Went to South Lake Tahoe over the weekend and a big storm was blowing in.  I got stopped at the bottom of the hill by CHP asking if I had chains and I told him what are chains I am from Minnesota.  He let me go.  As I was driving the mountains I had people going in the ditch all around me.  Slow and easy best way to drive on snow and ice.
[/quote]

Russ,
I'm not sure where you're from in MN but where I'm from in northern WI, the mail jeeps wore chains on all 4 much of the winter, ALL city & county plow/sand/salt trucks wore chains on their duals, many privately owned PU guys ran them on their trucks because they plowed parking lots etc and my Dad and Grandpa and all his buddies that we deer hunted and ice fished with ALL had chains and used them quit often in the winter to access different areas especially lakes off the black top. Most of these rds weren't plowed at all so we usually had to shovel the snow bank away to start in on the rd off the main rd. We put the chains on the rigs on the shoulder of the main rd and crossed our fingers we'd make it all the way back into the boat launch otherwise we'd have to pack all our gear to the lake.
I can remember a few times when snowmobiles were legal to drive on the rds cuz the sno plows couldn't keep up. No one went any place in those conditions unless they had chains or a snowmobile.
They don't seem to get the bad winters like that any more. Not even the large amounts of snow either.
The weather was drier and colder and most times you could get traction in that snow but you never left your chains at home.
We also didn't see the surprise snow storms that we can see here in the mountains while hunting late seasons dumping huge amounts over night. And drastic weather changes where cold and snow warm up and melt then freeze every night creating a dangerous mess unless you never leave camp.

[KFhunter]

Chains saved my ass from going to the bottom of Mclaughlin canyon last year, If any of you guys know where thats at put the chains on BEFORE going up there!  I always have 4 chains, tarp, shovel, tow strap, when im in the mountains! The seasoned mountain hunters know what to have in the truck..

I have stock sized all terrains on my Tacoma. If I air down it does great but I do carry (and almost always use) chains..actually two full sets of chains, a couple tow straps, a couple tow chains, two heavy duty come alongs and an axe or a chainsaw.

If you had dedicated studded snow tires you'd be amazed at the difference, I had a Tacoma years ago with dedicated siped snow tires w studs and it's shocking where they'll go bare foot - especialy with lower air pressure 

[DRobnsn]

Chains saved my ass from going to the bottom of Mclaughlin canyon last year, If any of you guys know where thats at put the chains on BEFORE going up there!  I always have 4 chains, tarp, shovel, tow strap, when im in the mountains! The seasoned mountain hunters know what to have in the truck..

I have stock sized all terrains on my Tacoma. If I air down it does great but I do carry (and almost always use) chains..actually two full sets of chains, a couple tow straps, a couple tow chains, two heavy duty come alongs and an axe or a chainsaw.

If you had dedicated studded snow tires you'd be amazed at the difference, I had a Tacoma years ago with dedicated siped snow tires w studs and it's shocking where they'll go bare foot - especialy with lower air pressure 

Just curious guys which years of Tacoma's your referring to?

Thanks for the clarification sako.

[SkookumHntr]

I have an 05 tundra, 265/70/17's and I have the les schaub diamond track chaines.  I really like them, easy to put on!

[Russ McDonald]

I agree.  I grew up in Minnesota and drove on plenty of ice and snow.  Even on frozen lakes.  I didn't even know you put chains on tires until I was in the Navy in California.  Went to South Lake Tahoe over the weekend and a big storm was blowing in.  I got stopped at the bottom of the hill by CHP asking if I had chains and I told him what are chains I am from Minnesota.  He let me go.  As I was driving the mountains I had people going in the ditch all around me.  Slow and easy best way to drive on snow and ice.
[/quote]

Russ,
I'm not sure where you're from in MN but where I'm from in northern WI, the mail jeeps wore chains on all 4 much of the winter, ALL city & county plow/sand/salt trucks wore chains on their duals, many privately owned PU guys ran them on their trucks because they plowed parking lots etc and my Dad and Grandpa and all his buddies that we deer hunted and ice fished with ALL had chains and used them quit often in the winter to access different areas especially lakes off the black top. Most of these rds weren't plowed at all so we usually had to shovel the snow bank away to start in on the rd off the main rd. We put the chains on the rigs on the shoulder of the main rd and crossed our fingers we'd make it all the way back into the boat launch otherwise we'd have to pack all our gear to the lake.
I can remember a few times when snowmobiles were legal to drive on the rds cuz the sno plows couldn't keep up. No one went any place in those conditions unless they had chains or a snowmobile.
They don't seem to get the bad winters like that any more. Not even the large amounts of snow either.
The weather was drier and colder and most times you could get traction in that snow but you never left your chains at home.
We also didn't see the surprise snow storms that we can see here in the mountains while hunting late seasons dumping huge amounts over night. And drastic weather changes where cold and snow warm up and melt then freeze every night creating a dangerous mess unless you never leave camp.
[/quote]Grew up in the northeast corner.  We really did not use chains even when we plowed with our trucks.  We always had weight in the back of the truck.  When we went on the lake no one had chains but we did have snowmobiles alright.  I left MN in 87'.  I remember having some crazy snow storms. 

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I have an 05 tundra, 265/70/17's and I have the les schaub diamond track chaines.  I really like them, easy to put on!

That is what I use too... works great.

[KFhunter]

I agree.  I grew up in Minnesota and drove on plenty of ice and snow.  Even on frozen lakes.  I didn't even know you put chains on tires until I was in the Navy in California.  Went to South Lake Tahoe over the weekend and a big storm was blowing in.  I got stopped at the bottom of the hill by CHP asking if I had chains and I told him what are chains I am from Minnesota.  He let me go.  As I was driving the mountains I had people going in the ditch all around me.  Slow and easy best way to drive on snow and ice.

Russ,
I'm not sure where you're from in MN but where I'm from in northern WI, the mail jeeps wore chains on all 4 much of the winter, ALL city & county plow/sand/salt trucks wore chains on their duals, many privately owned PU guys ran them on their trucks because they plowed parking lots etc and my Dad and Grandpa and all his buddies that we deer hunted and ice fished with ALL had chains and used them quit often in the winter to access different areas especially lakes off the black top. Most of these rds weren't plowed at all so we usually had to shovel the snow bank away to start in on the rd off the main rd. We put the chains on the rigs on the shoulder of the main rd and crossed our fingers we'd make it all the way back into the boat launch otherwise we'd have to pack all our gear to the lake.
I can remember a few times when snowmobiles were legal to drive on the rds cuz the sno plows couldn't keep up. No one went any place in those conditions unless they had chains or a snowmobile.
They don't seem to get the bad winters like that any more. Not even the large amounts of snow either.
The weather was drier and colder and most times you could get traction in that snow but you never left your chains at home.
We also didn't see the surprise snow storms that we can see here in the mountains while hunting late seasons dumping huge amounts over night. And drastic weather changes where cold and snow warm up and melt then freeze every night creating a dangerous mess unless you never leave camp.
[/quote]Grew up in the northeast corner.  We really did not use chains even when we plowed with our trucks.  We always had weight in the back of the truck.  When we went on the lake no one had chains but we did have snowmobiles alright.  I left MN in 87'.  I remember having some crazy snow storms.
[/quote]

I think those winters of old are on the way back - with a vengeance!

[Russ McDonald]

I agree.  I grew up in Minnesota and drove on plenty of ice and snow.  Even on frozen lakes.  I didn't even know you put chains on tires until I was in the Navy in California.  Went to South Lake Tahoe over the weekend and a big storm was blowing in.  I got stopped at the bottom of the hill by CHP asking if I had chains and I told him what are chains I am from Minnesota.  He let me go.  As I was driving the mountains I had people going in the ditch all around me.  Slow and easy best way to drive on snow and ice.

Russ,
I'm not sure where you're from in MN but where I'm from in northern WI, the mail jeeps wore chains on all 4 much of the winter, ALL city & county plow/sand/salt trucks wore chains on their duals, many privately owned PU guys ran them on their trucks because they plowed parking lots etc and my Dad and Grandpa and all his buddies that we deer hunted and ice fished with ALL had chains and used them quit often in the winter to access different areas especially lakes off the black top. Most of these rds weren't plowed at all so we usually had to shovel the snow bank away to start in on the rd off the main rd. We put the chains on the rigs on the shoulder of the main rd and crossed our fingers we'd make it all the way back into the boat launch otherwise we'd have to pack all our gear to the lake.
I can remember a few times when snowmobiles were legal to drive on the rds cuz the sno plows couldn't keep up. No one went any place in those conditions unless they had chains or a snowmobile.
They don't seem to get the bad winters like that any more. Not even the large amounts of snow either.
The weather was drier and colder and most times you could get traction in that snow but you never left your chains at home.
We also didn't see the surprise snow storms that we can see here in the mountains while hunting late seasons dumping huge amounts over night. And drastic weather changes where cold and snow warm up and melt then freeze every night creating a dangerous mess unless you never leave camp.

Grew up in the northeast corner.  We really did not use chains even when we plowed with our trucks.  We always had weight in the back of the truck.  When we went on the lake no one had chains but we did have snowmobiles alright.  I left MN in 87'.  I remember having some crazy snow storms.
[/quote]

I think those winters of old are on the way back - with a vengeance!
[/quote]Those storms are going south though going through the central part of the state.  My family is still up north they still are dealing with the cold during winter.

[sakoshooter]

Started life in Rhinelander, WI in Nov of 56. Joined the Army in 75. There were some serious winters back then. Like the songs says about 1963: "We thought the world would freeze!"