Why no snow chains in the DC, VA, and MD area?

[Anonymous]

Why don't people keep snow chains in the trunk of their car? Considering we don't get enough snow to warrant snow tires, chains seem like a very effective compromise.

The only vehicles I've seen with snow chains are the private plows. Are DMV drivers really this dumb?

[Anonymous]

We have them, but they are really only useful in near white-out/emergency conditions.

Snow tires would be more useful.

[Anonymous]

No bueno for the roads, or your car. They really only work in hard packs snow, not on plowed roads. You don't want to be driving down a plowed I66 at 60mph with chains on.

[Anonymous]

Former Michigan resident here. I assume this question is a joke.

Here, when it snows, you stay at home. Chains would be ineffective on these roads. You'd maybe get to use them once every 10 years.

[Anonymous]

If I need snow chains to drive, I'm staying home.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Mass and I don't know anyone who has ever used chains, including my relatives who live in Maine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't people keep snow chains in the trunk of their car? Considering we don't get enough snow to warrant snow tires, chains seem like a very effective compromise.

The only vehicles I've seen with snow chains are the private plows. Are DMV drivers really this dumb?

So which is it- do you really want to know why or are you just taking this opportunity to declare all drivers in this area "dumb?"

[Anonymous]

OP, do you also put your windshield wipers up when it snows? Another dumb thing that people in the DMV do that no one ever does in the cold climate states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't people keep snow chains in the trunk of their car? Considering we don't get enough snow to warrant snow tires, chains seem like a very effective compromise.

The only vehicles I've seen with snow chains are the private plows. Are DMV drivers really this dumb?

Why would someone carry chains when we don't typically get more than a few inches of snow at a time? The highways are usually clear enough that they would not add traction, but would do a lot of damage to the pavement. That would be dumb.

[Anonymous]

OP - if you think people here are dumb for not having them, do you have chain and do you use them on your vehicles?

(I have dedicated snow tires/wheels on two of my cars and have them on about 2-3 months every winter)

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Iowa and Minnesota and as far as I know, only farmers or others who lived in the country had chains on their tires.

That said, one guy on my block did put chains on his tires during Snowzilla. It was surprising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you also put your windshield wipers up when it snows? Another dumb thing that people in the DMV do that no one ever does in the cold climate states.

People do this in Western NY.

[Anonymous]

I assumed they were illegal - they usually are because of the damage they cause the roads.

[Anonymous]

Chains are common in Cali because so many people drive from the coast or the central valley to Tahoe. Tons of people driving from places with zero snow to tons of snow. Chains on 3 season tires makes sense there. It doesn't makes sense everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chains are common in Cali because so many people drive from the coast or the central valley to Tahoe. Tons of people driving from places with zero snow to tons of snow. Chains on 3 season tires makes sense there. It doesn't makes sense everywhere.

Yep, I'm Canadian and the only place I've ever seen snow chains was on a visit to Yosemite last November. I was on a bus tour and the bus had to pull over and put chains on on the way into the park.