splinter

iTrader: (1)

so i was talking to my dad today about going up to tahoe and he was sayin how i cant bring the sti because cops would stop me for not having chains if the weather was too bad but i was under the impression that it wouldnt be a problem cuz the AWD...does anybody know about this? could i take the sti up to tahoe without a problem for no chains from authority?
thanks

ipozestu

iTrader: (18)

As long as you have a snow tire, they won't even look at you twice.

splinter

iTrader: (1)

im gunna have a new set of falken fk452s as of tmrw which im pretty sure wont do so well on snow, so u think ill have a problem?

Lorry

There are 3 (or 4 if you include no restriction) categories of chain control:

R1: Chains required on vehicle unless it has M+S tires.
R2: Chains required unless vehicle has AWD and M+S tires
R3: Chains required period

R3 rarely occurs before the road is shut down.

It looks like the Falken's are M+S, but they also look like a relatively performance tread, so they'll probably be slippy compared to the more winter oriented tires.

Carrying chains is a good idea, but they don't search your car to see if you are carrying them. I don't think that carrying them is mandatory. However, if R3 is in effect, they will not allow you to pass unless you fit tire chains.

CA's DOT site - lots of useful info:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/tr...de/chains.html


Subarus are great fun in the snow. Just take it steady and you should be ok.

splinter

iTrader: (1)

thank you lorry!

OneManArmy

iTrader: (7)

If the tires you pick up DO NOT have an MS rating on them and you do get stopped by the controls you will be FORCED to put chains on.

Generally speaking they see a subaru and just flag you by. I drove my RE070's up last year once. But if you plan on going up more than once it's really not worth it.

I'd suggest getting some MS tires.

Pzero Nero's and Toyo Proxe 4's both get my thumbs up.

Those FK's are not gonna do well at all...trust me. I've had the 451's in the snow before along with ES100's and a couple other non snow tires. If you know what you're doing and are careful you can get through but I HIGHLY advise against it. Not safe. AWD can't make up for ****ty drivers or ****ty tires.

splinter

iTrader: (1)

can you even put chains on an sti with the 17 inch wheels and lower profile tires cuz if so ill jus get some but i didnt think you could has anyone else done that?

splinter

iTrader: (1)

anyone put chains on there stis?

crfsti

iTrader: (5)

^^i've seen it before, some guy on iwsti.com had a pic. it looked like they might rub on the rim, but he said they didn't.
________
Toys Cam

Lorry

Yup, summer/performance tread patterns just skate over the snow. I used to take a 3rd Gen RX-7 up to the Sierras fairly regularly. That thing needed tire chains even after a heavy frost