Towing into the US in March - chains? socks? advice plz

[KootenayEV]

Forum folk,

I am planning our first "winter-avoiding" trip from Canada into the US (we won't be avoiding much though, leaving middle of March).

Anyways, I know next to nothing about rules for tires in the US. I'm planning to have either the new Goodyears installed (which I believe are 3 peak) or the Michelin LTX; I'll take my studded winter tires off before leaving. (I currently have a fairly worn set of 20" Pirellis, at 4 to 6/32", depending on which tire and where you measure... these are 3 peak, but I don't think they meet the minimum tread depth to still be considered ok for winter).

We are heading from the Kootenays down to Utah/AZ, largely via the lower valley interstates from Spokane (e.g. I90, cut down to I84, then south-east to I15 down to Zion as our first stop for a week, then briefly into Nevada to get into Arizona on I40 across to Sedona until the end of March), but I think there are still some passes involved? We are towing a single-axle trailer with a GVWR of 5,000 lbs.

I've started by looking up the Washington law and I'm already confused about what qualifies for mountain passes in March. I think if I carry one set of auto socks I'd be ok? If it is actually poor conditions on a pass, we will just wait it out a day or two, so I don't expect to use them.

Advice please!

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[Riviot]

What's up, my Waterton dudes?! Get your butts down south!

3PMSF rated tires will do you for WA, OR, ID, MT, and I believe CA as well. If it's so bad that you would really need chains to get through a pass, you probably shouldn't be towing through a pass at that time. If you don't have 3PMSF, you'll need "traction devices" which can be chains or socks. Ironically some tires, like the LTX MS2s, do better in snow than ATs with 3PMSF so just carry a cheap box of chains with you to make the troopers happy.

I've driven passed WA and CA troopers in blizzard conditions and never been stopped or checked, they're really looking for the Priuses sliding around into the ditches.

 

[ksurfier]

Sounds like you have it well figured out.

reducing your speed/increasing following distance will likely be your best measures to maintain control and safety. Maybe packing food and blankets is also a good safety measure.

 

[KootenayEV]

What's up, my Waterton dudes?! Get your butts down south!

3PMSF rated tires will do you for WA, OR, ID, MT, and I believe CA as well. If it's so bad that you would really need chains to get through a pass, you probably shouldn't be towing through a pass at that time. If you don't have 3PMSF, you'll need "traction devices" which can be chains or socks. Ironically some tires, like the LTX MS2s, do better in snow than ATs with 3PMSF so just carry a cheap box of chains with you to make the troopers happy.

I've driven passed WA and CA troopers in blizzard conditions and never been stopped or checked, they're really looking for the Priuses sliding around into the ditches.

Thanks! We wish we were going now!

For now our schedules are dictated largely by teenager school routines, so 2 weeks out of school in early April was all we figured we could do this year.

 

[HaveBlue]

Most places will require 4wd to carry chains with snow tires. In other words, cables. At those levels you be fine. They don't check for 3peak.
Zt751 cables will just fit the 22s. Likely won't fit the 20at 34" tire.

 

[KootenayEV]

Most places will require 4wd to carry chains with snow tires. In other words, cables. At those levels you be fine. They don't check for 3peak.
Zt751 cables will just fit the 22s. Likely won't fit the 20at 34" tire.

Did you consider socks instead of cables?

 

[COdogman]

While in the US, try some stuff I assume you can’t get in Canada…like tacos and french fries with Ketchup instead of gravy.

 

[HaveBlue]

Did you consider socks instead of cables?

Not really. I always run without cables until the snow gets to deep or it's too icy to go further. At that point I don't think socks are going to do it when I'm in feet of snow. I bet socks are good for ice.

I like the Z type cables as they always are in contact with the ground. This was too much snow, lol.

Rivian half way up our half mile winter driveway

I try to drive within the limits of physics. This poor couple was trapped when their jeep took a nap. They were dangling/tangled by their seatbelts. I waited with them until fire showed up.

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