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December 23, 2008 at 2:26 am #589163
jenny12MemberI have heard that it is now illegal to buy studded snow tires in this city or state. But you can use them if you already own them (for certain times of the year.) But then I know of people who have purchased them at stores just recently. I am not advocating they should or should not be used – just curious what the deal is. As for me, if I need studded tires – I’m staying home!
December 23, 2008 at 2:31 am #651745
beachdrivegirlParticipantI believe that they discussed the idea of them being illegal but they arent yet. You cant use them before Nov 1st or after April 1st. I have had them in the past while living on the east side and miss the terrible right now during the snow. They make a huge difference.
December 23, 2008 at 2:33 am #651746
transplantellaParticipantI had studded snow tires on a front wheel drive Ford Focus when we lived in Spokane.
You can have studs in the state of Washington, but only so many studs per tire (forgot how many), and you can only run them from November to April. Not proper studs any more either, but little plastic things that aren’t worth a damn.
I didn’t like the studded snow tires. I was a commercial driver for years so pretty well experienced, but I found that the studded snow tires were more than capable of sliding, no matter how cautiously you proceeded, especially on a grade. AND you can’t put chains on studded snow tires.
I give them 2 thumbs down.
December 23, 2008 at 2:34 am #651747
FranciParticipantNope they are still legal. I just purchased them 1 week ago today from the tire store on California on the south end of the Alaska junction.
December 23, 2008 at 2:48 am #651748
jenny12MemberThanks for the tips! :)
Hey Franci – The tires you bought – I guess they had plastic studs like Transplantella is talking about?
Dang, my tires are metal studs that I brought from another state. If I took my tires to Courtesy Tire on California – surely they would tell me if they are legal or not?
didn’t know about the problem with putting chains on studded tires. Wow, I wonder why?
The studded tires are really noisy, that’s for sure! :)
People will be glad to take them off by April I bet!
I have heard that people are supposed to take off the chains
on the highways. And that some people just leave them on.
What is the reason for that rule, if it’s true? Are they afraid the chains could fly off and hurt someone on the hiway?
Thanks…
December 23, 2008 at 3:06 am #651749
FranciParticipantjenny12, I don’t know for sure on the studs. I thought they were the traditional metal studs.. I’ll have to call and ask them in the morning.
They are noisy – I will probably have my regular tires put back on earlier than April.
December 23, 2008 at 3:07 am #651750
datamuseParticipantI don’t have studded tires, some friends of mine do and swear by them (they live in the Cascade foothills, I spent Saturday night at their place). For the kind of winter driving they do, up and down steep hills, the studs seem to help.
Tire chains damage the road when driven on dry pavement. You’re also not supposed to go faster than 25-30 mph with them on, but people do. Then they break off and litter the highway. I saw probably a dozen tire chains that had broken off between Seattle and Preston last weekend, just lying on I-90. It’s just one more thing to think about avoiding when you’re already dealing with a slick roadway, ice, etc. Plus, if you’re using them and they break off, you have to replace them.
December 23, 2008 at 3:48 am #651751
jenny12MemberWow, it sounds pretty dangerous to run into chains scattered on
the highway. Chains could snap off from the car just in front of
you. Yikes!
Wonder how much it costs to put the studded tires on. Probably need to have the car balanced and aligned at the same time? Ugh! I think I’ll just stay inside the house until Spring. :)
December 23, 2008 at 3:49 am #651752
jenny12MemberHow much do chains cost? Are they pretty difficult to put on?
December 23, 2008 at 4:55 am #651753
KenParticipantChains are different prices. Cable chains are the cheapest and relatively easy to put on and take off. They are actually steel wire with roller type cleats where the tire meets the road.
However, they will never go back in the box in which you brought them home from the store.
Others are actual chain links available in several patterns and can be much more expensive and yet are usually more effective in deep snow and higher speeds.
Chains are or should be for emergency use in passes and should be removed when you are safely over the snowy grade. Chains are also good for compact snow and ice. Chains in the absence of snow will eventually damage your tires, your hearing and the road.
If you transition from snow to wet pavement (like leaving West Seattle for any where) cable chains will do the least damage to all of the above while on bare pavement.
Studded tires: If I still traveled eastern WA interstates and state roads I might consider studded tires useful. However they reduce stopping distance on both wet and dry pavement.
December 23, 2008 at 5:04 am #651754
beachdrivegirlParticipantChains are the more economical choice than studded tires. however, the chains i bought while going over the pass were very difficult to put on even though the sales guy said they were the easiest ones available. I liked studded tired while in Eastern Washington b/c without them and without a four wheel drive vehicle I would have been stuck @ the bottom of the hill @ my house. Like Datamuse said it is very bad to drive on non compact snow and ice roads with chains and you can not travel about 25 mph. good luck to you.
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