315-35-R20 snow chains

[Proflyer]

I was speaking to CO. My point was read the law and then gave the example of CO which has been modified recently. ARD having reading issues AGAIN. Joshdub gives an example of Seattle area and we're both "lol blah blah blah" what the hell is your deal man? You're just always a dickhead. You answer everything from now on, ok genius?

Drove up Friday night to our place in Vail, snowing hard, people everywhere who clearly didn't pay attention to the rules and were getting pushed off the road by the DOT trucks and then ticketed by the state patrol. It's a heavy fine here now, plus they literally PUSH you off the road--there was a guy in a rwd BMW F80 who we passed who was getting pushed by his bumper/trunk. Ouch.

Bottom line (aside from ARD being his typical dickhead self) is be over prepared. Check your gear, carry extra food/water/blankets as it only takes one idiot and a truck to make you sleep on the highway.

[Tomaz]

Survival regarding this thread is about snow conditions. Follows is a thread I published about 10 years ago.

I had recently posted my adventure's in my X5 in the mountains with blizzard conditions. It took 4 hours to travel 75 miles in a storm. My friend got trapped in his X5 for 10 hours without moving! I always prepare my X5 for travel delays. My inventory includes:

small powerful flashlight
a 12 volt powered light
road flairs
Leatherman multi knife
a pillow and comforter
work gloves, disposable rubber gloves
50' tow rope
collapsible shovel
a complete change of clothes including under ware
12' x 12' nylon tarp
large and small towels
paper towels
toilet paper
first aid kit
water proof matches
lots of extra: water and snacks
personal protection
duct tape
tire chains
garbage bags
cash
basic tools

Most of these supplies are stowed in a backpack so if I need to leave the car and hike somewhere I am ready.

When traveling in snow country, I never let the tank get below half full. My friend survived the 10 hours with two young boys in the car by having an inverter, two laptops, and lots of games and movies. Am I missing anything?

[Proflyer]

One thing I'd add that I carry are those 115hr candles you can get on amazon. I bought a dozen, mostly for the house, but keep one in the car by the spare tire. They're liquid parafin so you can burn them without fume hazzards. A single candle can keep a car pretty warm actually if you did end up not being able to run the engine.

[X-cellent]

As it seems you have a "ditch bag" onboard i'm surprised you're comfortable running summer tires....

Personally I'd opt for a set of wheels with some dedicated snows - even if their use in minimal I'd find more comfort in spending a few bucks for some 18" wheels and snows vs running the summer rated tires in the cold.

[Tomaz]

Originally Posted by X-cellent

As it seems you have a "ditch bag" onboard i'm surprised you're comfortable running summer tires....

Personally I'd opt for a set of wheels with some dedicated snows - even if their use in minimal I'd find more comfort in spending a few bucks for some 18" wheels and snows vs running the summer rated tires in the cold.

As I mentioned, I only go up to the mountains 1 or 2 weeks a year in the winter. I do carry chains but never used them on my 4 wheel drive vehicles. It would be a waste of time, space, and money for me to have a 2nd set of tires.

I've never been stuck as I grew up in cold climate and learned to drive sensibly in snow. There's always the jackass who spins out and clogs up the roadway for everyone.

[Tomaz]

Originally Posted by Proflyer

One thing I'd add that I carry are those 115hr candles you can get on amazon. I bought a dozen, mostly for the house, but keep one in the car by the spare tire. They're liquid parafin so you can burn them without fume hazzards. A single candle can keep a car pretty warm actually if you did end up not being able to run the engine.

Excellent advice. Do they melt in the summer?

[Proflyer]

Originally Posted by Tomaz

Excellent advice. Do they melt in the summer?

No they're liquid parafin. They basically look like an oil lamp. They DO leak though if one tips over in the back (oops).

http://a.co/gOgHI1A

^Link

[Ozer]

something like this to keep in the trunk IF you need it?

[Tomaz]

Originally Posted by Ozer

something like this to keep in the trunk IF you need it?

These "snow zip lock chains" are already showing up in the California mountains and the Highway Patrol is not impressed. However in the absence of anything else it beats a set of naked street tires. Looks like it may scar up painted rims though.

[noelskii]

Those stock Bridgestone tires are HORRIBLE in any type of snow

I don't know why I thought they were all seasons... FML!