Snow Chains in WA

[RamFan]

Heading to WA to visit family for the holidays and learned that snow chains can be mandated in certain areas we’ll be in.

I looked into this a bit and found the State statute here. There’s the following exception listed for AWD vehicles, “(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.”

If I’m understanding this correctly, the chains don’t need to be installed but merely need to be in the vehicle. Is that accurate?

I then looked into what’s considered an approved traction device, located here. And it looks as though tires without chains can be considered an approved traction device if they meet the following,
“(3) Approved traction tires. An approved traction tire must have the following tread characteristics:
(a) A minimum of 4/32 inch tread, measured in the center portion of the tire at three locations equally spaced around the circumference of the tire.
(b) A relatively aggressive tread pattern designed primarily to provide additional starting, stopping, and driving traction on snow or ice. The tread must have ribs, lugs, blocks or buttons the edges of which are at an angle greater than thirty degrees to the tire circumferential centerline.
(c) On at least one side of the tread design, the shoulder lugs protrude at least 1/2-inch in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel.
(d) Tires manufactured to meet these specifications must:
(i) Be permanently labeled on at least one sidewall with the words "mud and snow" or any contraction using the letters "M" and "S" (e.g. MS, M/S, M-S, M & S, etc.); or
(ii) Be permanently labeled on at least one side wall with the mountain/snowflake symbol.”

It seems like the most important take away here is that tires with the 3PMSF stamp is what’s required. Do I understand this correctly? So if a tire isn’t a snow tire, then yes they do in fact require chains to be installed?

 

[ZeeOSix]

If I’m understanding this correctly, the chains don’t need to be installed but merely need to be in the vehicle. Is that accurate?

I then looked into what’s considered an approved traction device, located here. And it looks as though tires without chains can be considered an approved traction device if they meet the following,
“(3) Approved traction tires. An approved traction tire must have the following tread characteristics:
(a) A minimum of 4/32 inch tread, measured in the center portion of the tire at three locations equally spaced around the circumference of the tire.
(b) A relatively aggressive tread pattern designed primarily to provide additional starting, stopping, and driving traction on snow or ice. The tread must have ribs, lugs, blocks or buttons the edges of which are at an angle greater than thirty degrees to the tire circumferential centerline.
(c) On at least one side of the tread design, the shoulder lugs protrude at least 1/2-inch in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel.
(d) Tires manufactured to meet these specifications must:
(i) Be permanently labeled on at least one sidewall with the words "mud and snow" or any contraction using the letters "M" and "S" (e.g. MS, M/S, M-S, M & S, etc.); or
(ii) Be permanently labeled on at least one side wall with the mountain/snowflake symbol.”

It seems like the most important take away here is that tires with the 3PMSF stamp is what’s required. Do I understand this correctly? So if a tire isn’t a snow tire, then yes they do in fact require chains to be installed?

That's how I read it. If you have all wheel drive and approved snow tires per (3) above (on all four corners I'd assume), then you don't need to have chains installed if the pass says "chains required". I think they want the vehicle to have chains ready to use (carried in the vehicle) if deemed necessary by the State Patrol if they are monitoring the pass with bad snow conditions and stop people to check before allowing them to cross the pass, or if you get stuck and have to put chains on to get out.

What pass are you going to go over?

 

[ripcord]

The only place you're likely run into chain requirements is going over Stevens (US-2) or Snoqualmie (I-90) passes. If your vehicle doesn't meet the requirements you listed, you'll need to have the chains installed when the State Patrol lights up the "Chains Required" signs. Typically, chains are only required while there is a significant snow fall occurring and until the plows come through. Most of the time this is not the case. Neither pass is particularly high and are not usually too bad to cross. I usually go over one of those passes a time or two every winter and I always have chains with me, but so far I've never actually needed to put them on.

 

[RamFan]

We are potentially going to Leavenworth. I’m not too familiar with the PNW, last time I was there was 10-11 years ago. What I thought was going to be a quick fly in and fly out is turning into the whole, “You need to see so-and-so and drive to such-and-such.” Just going with the flow on this one..,

 

[JimPghPA]

You can buy chains at any NAPA store. But they usually do not stock them, and take a day to get them in. Do not buy the extra more aggressive more expensive chains with the extra cross bar on each link that will be between the tire and road. And do buy a second set of the rubber tensioners. You want to install a second set of tensioners because you never want a chain to be loose at all, and flap around.

 

[ripcord]

Leavenworth is over Stevens Pass which is about 4000 feet at the top. It's a couple hours drive in the winter from Seattle taking it easy. If you can drive in an Illinois winter, you'll be fine.

Plan on being dragged through a zillion tourist shops in Leavenworth, which is a Bavarian themed tourist town. If you are a skier, there is a pretty good ski resort at the top of Stevens. If you have older kids, there is a nice place out just out of town with a rope tow and inner-tubing. There is also a little bunny slope sledding area in the middle of town that is a blast for the little kids.

 

[sloinker]

Unless you are heading West from Leavenworth you will not see any passes with chain requirements in Washington on major roads. Maybe the Idaho/Montana, Butte passes but those laws are different.

 

[ollie]

You can buy chains at any NAPA store. But they usually do not stock them, and take a day to get them in. Do not buy the extra more aggressive more expensive chains with the extra cross bar on each link that will be between the tire and road. And do buy a second set of the rubber tensioners. You want to install a second set of tensioners because you never want a chain to be loose at all, and flap around.

Good advice Jim. I have both rubber and spring loaded tensioners as a backup. And also carry bungee straps. I just pulled mine out a few weeks ago and fitted them to my truck. These are just simple old school Cambell tire chains with ice breakers. They also double for running through deep sand or mud in a pinch. I almost purchased the ones with the V cross bars welded to the links. But those were over 50.00 more per set.

 

[y_p_w]

Wow. 4/32"? In California the minimum depth required for a "snow tread tire" is 6/32". But yeah - those rules in WA basically mean that any all-season or winter tire with enough center tread depth meets the requirements. And I've seen and driven on supposedly all season tires that were wholly unsuitable for the task. My first time driving in the snow (in my WRX) was on Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S, which has about the worst possible tread for snow. I didn't manage to kill myself though. I also had chains in my back seat to show.

And yeah they theoretically may require chains on all vehicles if it gets really bad. That seems like the equivalent of California R3 conditions, which usually mean the road is closed even though theoretically it's an all vehicles require chains condition. If it's icy or super deep, that may be the only way to avoid getting stuck. Also - chains will help a huge amount with steering and braking - better than even real winter tires. But it's a pain putting them on (except for Z-type with tighteners) and even worse taking them off. Plus the risk that they come off and damage the vehicle. I've seen chains off the side of the road that didn't manage to stay on.

https://www.wsdot.com/winter/tires-chains.htm​

4WD/AWD and chains​

4WD/AWD vehicles (under 10,000 pounds) do not need chains installed during "chains required" notices, but drivers still must carry chains with them in case conditions worsen and they're required to install chains during a "chains required on all vehicles" notice.​

**​

Chains required on ALL vehicles, even 4WD/AWD. This is the last step before a pass is closed.​

 

[PimTac]

The prudent answer is to buy some chains. You might not need them in WA, but you do have to cross the Rockies.

Leavenworth is a nice stop. A bit touristy but all in all a good place to have fun.

If you don’t use the chains you could sell them. Consider them cheap insurance. If you get stuck the tow bill will be expensive to begin with not to mention any damage or lost time.

 

[RamFan]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Chains will definitely be getting purchased as a just in case. But this is new terrain (no pun intended) for me so I was curious of the logistics involved. I’m no stranger to snow, but haven’t lived in a mountainous area since I was living over seas. Thanks again!

 

[y_p_w]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Chains will definitely be getting purchased as a just in case. But this is new terrain (no pun intended) for me so I was curious of the logistics involved. I’m no stranger to snow, but haven’t lived in a mountainous area since I was living over seas. Thanks again!

It depends on where you get them. Once I was on vacation at Lake Tahoe in the winter and drove in my wife's Civic. On the way there, I stopped in Placerville and went to Wal-Mart looking for assorted stuff including possibly chains. All they had were ladder style cables for our tire size. There was also a sign saying that there were no refunds. Someone there in the auto section (said he was a commercial driver) told me that it was clear all the way to Tahoe and I'd be wasting my money especially if I couldn't return them. When I got to Tahoe I looked at the forecast and there was a chance of snow. They had an AutoZone there and the clerk specifically told me that A) chains were still subject to their standard return policies and B) if I didn't put them on I could return them to any AutoZone store in the country. Not sure if that's still the policy, but back then I bought a set of Z style cables from Quality Chain, didn't end up using them, and I returned them at a store closer to home.

And I really would recommend a Z-style set with chain tighteners if you ever need them. I've never actually used them, but I bought a set of Super Z6 cables for my WRX and I've installed them on my driveway for practice. It's probably a lot different than in the snow or ice but at least I have an idea. Traditional ladder style chains aren't easy to install. The instructions in the box say to lay them over the top and then connect at the bottom. Then drive and readjust. Other recommendations are to lay them on the ground, drive over them, and then connect them at the top, drive, then readjust. But the Z style ones are usually designed with 3 connection points, including one at the bottom where it can be swept under the tire and connected once at the bottom, then at the top where it's easier to reach. They don't need any further adjustment with tighteners that will self adjust.

 

[JimPghPA]

OP, This probably does not apply to you, but any truck with duelies (two tires side by side), is much easier to put a single set of chains on. Your get 2 big blocks of wood and put a slope on each end so it is easy to drive up onto it or off of it, and then position them in-front of the inner most tires, and drive up on them. Then the outer most tire is off the ground and you can put the chains on. And of course do the same to take them off.

Some people put a notch in the center of the big blocks to make it easier to tell if the tire is on center of the block.