I have an 4x2 V10 Excursion which I love but am thinking about upgrading to a 4x4 because I want to be able to drive in the mountains when it snows here in So Ca and other places. Here is my quesion. In California when teh snow gets to a certain depth they do not allow vehicles to pass unless they have chains OR 4x4 and snow tires. Is this the case in other parts of the country? Is 4x4 with snow tires always allowed inplace of chains or do some places still require chains to pass. I do not want to have to put chains on my EX.
Second quesion: what qualifies as snow tires? IS there a marking on the tire indicating that it quaifies? And do the "all terrain" tires taht come with the 4x4 consititue snow tires?
Thanks a million for the information!

 

The stock "all terrain" tires barely constitute an all season tire in my books. The tires from the factory are chosen because of price and quietness, in that order. Actual all terrain performance is pretty low on the priority list.
There are tires out there that carry a "sever weather" service rating. The BFG all terrain is one of these. These would make a great tire for street driving w/ occasional trips to deep snow country.

 

Just go to a tire shop and the will answer all your Q's.
I also recommend BFG all terrains.

 

I run BF all terrains in Denver. Very seldon do I have to lock the front hubs.
Great tires with very little noticeable road noise.

 

I run BF all terrains in Denver. Very seldon do I have to lock the front hubs.
Great tires with very little noticeable road noise.

 

In Denver when they close the roads to all vehicles unless they have chains, will they let you through with just 4x4 with snow tires? Or do they require chains anyway?

 

> Second quesion: what qualifies as snow tires

The tires that come with an asterik (*) on them indicating a severe weather rating. Usually a well siped tire with a soft compound and open shoulders. Some come studded.

It is not worth it to convert your truck to 4x4. You will be thousands of dollars ahead just buying a 4x4 version and selling your truck or buying another vehicle.

If you have to have traction, then real (studded) snow tires, a selectable rear locker, and weight in the back are viable options.

 

That is what I indend to do is get a new Ex with 4x4. But from what the feedback I am getting sounds like is that certain places require chains no matter what. In that case teh 4x4 would really not do me much good. My current EX has teh non slip differential which works great!

 

Chains in Colorado only apply to Big Rigs. If a rig going up a pass stalls without chains the driver is slapped with a huge fine. The chain law does not apply to cars or trucks. (That i'm aware of) Most drivers in Colo. are smart enough to know to get four wheel drive or front wheel drive.
I'm support Rebos idea. A rear locker with some good meats will just about get you anywhere a fourwheel vehicle will.

Props to Colo. Dept. of Trans they put enough sand and mag. choloride to keep our streets drivable.

 

One last thought
Check out tire rack.com
Thier website has anything you'd want to know about a tire. Discounttire.com will also have tire information your looking for.

Good Luck.

 

blue96 is mag chloride the same as salt? Like all the vehicles down there are rotted like the ones in canada?

Just curious, the only engineering class I had problems with was Chemistry, so I dont know my minerals very well.

Chad

 

Chado
Don't quote me on this.
I think mag chloride drops the freezing point of water. It also acts as a snowmelt. I think its non-corosive. but i'm not to sure. Colo. has only been using it for a couple of years.
It's pretty tuff shat to get of chrome.
The truckers hate the stuff.

 

Well whatever "salt" we use up here makes holes big enough to stick my head in.

I could of bought a 1970 Buick GS converted to a GSX (not authentic) but the floors were practically non existant, along with most of the trunk etc; etc; etc; Really bad shape, really rare car though


Could of got for 500$ just wish it was in better shape I would of gotten it. Needed a car to drive though not a project car (at the time anyway)


Chad

 

Around here (Oregon) it's chains OR 4x4. You don't have to have both.