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How To Clean And Perfect My Pirouettes And Chains?

Tire chains needed between Sacramento and Spokane?

  • Should I carry tire chains on a late-February drive from Sacramento to Spokane? We don't yet have tire chains for our 2011 Subaru Outback, and I realize that AWD does not make me invincible in the snow. I would absolutely carry them if I were taking I-80 through the Sierras, but I've never driven https://maps.google.com/maps?q=from:sacramento,+ca+to:spokane,+wa in the winter before. Are there points on that route where chains may be required? Bonus question: When I do get chains, are http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000HZDFVO/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/? They were recommended on http://www.subaruoutback.org/ with remarks about the low clearance in the wheel well of our model Outback. Any thoughts on those or other chains are appreciated. Thanks!

  • Answer:

    I-5 north of Redding can require chains or even close down completely. If your travel dates aren't flexible, then watch the weather and carry chains if it looks like snow.

Arthur Vandelay at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

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If you're going US 97 chains are even more important. There are some long, cold and lonely stretches going that way.

uncaken

It may be a greater distance in miles but I would bet that the trip would be faster taking I-5 all the way north to its junction with I-90 on the east side of Seattle, and then I-90 all the way to Spokane. Whatever highway that is which runs through eastern Oregon is going to have 55 mph max speed limits while you can average 65-75 on I-5. Additionally I-5 is a much higher traffic route and kept clear of snow.

thewalrus

You should buy the chains. Not because you'll need to use them, but because the chain control guys might check for them. There are a bunch of stretches of I-5 in Oregon there where chains are required if the weather gets bad enough, but generally if the weather gets so bad that you *actually* need to chain up your Subaru you will probably not want to be driving (Sidenote: as far as I recall, the 2011 Outback is not supposed to be operated with chains according to Subaru, no?). Also, the rule in Oregon states that AWD cars, not towing anything, with M+S tires, etc., are exempt from the requirement to chain up *so long as you are carrying the chains just in case*. I also think there are some stretches of 97 where you are supposed to carry chains regardless of the weather. I agree that I-84 is way more likely to be in good driving shape than 97. I-84 through the Gorge has also gotta be one of the most beautiful drives in the country.

jeb

(There might be high elevations further north through Oregon, too, but I haven't made this drive in the winter before.)

muddgirl

Definitely chains. http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/passes/snoqualmie/ (basically between Weed, CA and just north of the OR border) is a steep route on both sides, and can get snowy/icy. Since you're familiar with the sierras, think of driving down 80 west to Sacramento. Snoqualmie Pass is comparable to driving from Truckee up that first steep/dangerous stretch of Donner Pass, except you have to then drive down a similarly steep slope. It's a short segment of the trip, but the main one to watch out for, IMO.

homodachi

Chains it is. Thanks, all!

Arthur Vandelay

homodachi: Snoqualmie looks to be in Washington off I-90, not on our route. Did you mean another pass in OR?

Arthur Vandelay

homodachi

Looks like we'll be missing that one; we're getting off I-5 and onto US 97 at Weed. Thanks, though!

Arthur Vandelay

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