Going to Tahoe for the Snow for the first time

[c4racer]

Originally Posted by chilliwilli

OP...i'm actually flying into SFO next week and driving to the South Lake area in a 4x4 Tahoe SUV. I keep a shovel and chains at all times for such trips. As c4racer mentioned, always keep tabs on Caltrans website for requirements and updates, it's the most consistent source, outside of opinions and experiences.

Safe travels.

they have a road conditions hotline too, put this in your address book on your phone: 800-427-7623

you can verbally enter the highway number, recommend you check both 50 and 89 if going to South Tahoe area.

[chilliwilli]

Originally Posted by c4racer

they have a road conditions hotline too, put this in your address book on your phone: 800-427-7623

you can verbally enter the highway number, recommend you check both 50 and 89 if going to South Tahoe area.

Yep...just checked my phone, same #. Thanks for the reminder though.

If conditions are bad, will add melting salt to the mix. Better safe than sorry.

[JAH1]

(Tahoe got 8 feet of snow, can't wait to here how the trip went)

[chilliwilli]

Curious to hear how things panned out for OP...

Road conditions were very sketchy over the holidays...88 was shut down for a day due to an avalanche and chain control was in full effect, unless equipped with 4-wheel-drive. At least 10 feet of snow over the holidays with the worst power outages in quite some time.

c4racer...the Caltrans road conditions # was clutch! I almost forgot about it as we usually listen to radio for conditions. Some friends were able to avoid an avalanche on 88 and took 50.

Every time we head to the area, i'm amazed by how many large trucks and SUV's without 4-wheel-drive are stopped for chains or turned around by chain-control. Why buy such a heavy vehicle without 4-wheel-drive if one lives or visits the area? Different strokes i guess

[chilliwilli]

Originally Posted by JAH1

(Tahoe got 8 feet of snow, can't wait to here how the trip went)

Till we hear back from OP...the below pics are a snapshot of the Tahoe area around the same time OP was headed up there. It's the real deal up there and no one should put themselves in the position to lose control on these roads...we got ~4 feet of snow our first night alone. Beautiful up here but dangerous!

[chilliwilli]

I was responding to another thread you (OP) created after this one, discussing the same exact thing but it was just deleted. I must've missed the other thread when you originally posted it...assuming this thread you started would've convinced you to consider safer alternatives.

I don't intend on bashing anyone, however, this comment i saw from your other thread struck me as very ill advised and dangerous (especially for someone "visiting Tahoe for the first time").

Originally Posted by Georg300

I went with my Summer tires after all, it is not a big deal, they were fine. It was as cold as 32 degrees with lots of ice and snow. I drove slow and I was fine.

Temps were in the teens and 20's in the South Lake area. There were several accidents on our way up...and we heard of others over the Holidays. Even with a 4x4 SUV with snow tires, we still carry snow chains in the trunk (just in case!). If you did indeed drive up to Tahoe with your summer tires (even with chains), then congratz, you and perhaps others just ducked a fatal bullet!!

[dougpham]

I have 06 X5 4.4 19"sport package with Mich. Damaris tires. 2yrs ago, Oh man, I was drinving my X5 around 35/40 Mph to Sierra Tahoe ski resort on Hwy50, snowy condition, my truck could not handle it. The car spun around when I made a turn. Fortunately, I was able to gain control after it hit the snow bank on the side, some damages on right fender and headlight. It costs me $5K to fix. After that event, I don't drive my X5 to sierra tahoe Hwy 50 during snow condition. Now I have changed my Damaris tires to Michelin Latitude 4 seasons tires M/S, it's awesome. I can drive my truck on the snow without any problem.

A word of careful when you drive your X5 summer tires to tahoe, icey road and snow condition.

Doug

[chilliwilli]

Originally Posted by dougpham

A word of careful when you drive your X5 summer tires to tahoe, icey road and snow condition.

This...

Out of curiousity, Doug, were you just winging it or were you carrying snow chains? And was there chain-control?

[Skystreaker]

I have a 2011 X5 with 20" wheels. This was a helpful post. Thanks!
Too bad I can't take the car to Tahoe.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by Skystreaker

I have a 2011 X5 with 20" wheels. This was a helpful post. Thanks!
Too bad I can't take the car to Tahoe.

Put some application-specific wheels and tyres on it and you can go where you like...