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dixiegrrrrl

(60,147 posts) Tue Jan 27, 2026, 04:14 AM Yesterday

Question about snow driving [View all]

So I am watching very good clips of people in the Boston area driving around their neighborhoods tonight,where a lot of road snow
has been packed down, but still lots of stuck cars.
What I don't see are chains. They were ubiquitous back in the day for West Coast winter driving,and still are mandatory for over the pass driving.
Snow conditions once the initial piles have been packed down,seem the same to my eyes.
What am I missing?

21 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Question about snow driving [View all] dixiegrrrrl Yesterday OP

If your entire journey is on packed snow, sure, chains make sense unblock Yesterday #1

Tire chains are no longer necessary. Irish_Dem Yesterday #2

True in some cities, but please, do not propagate the very WRONG notion that they are not needed or hlthe2b Yesterday #5

I answered the OP's question. You raise another question. Irish_Dem Yesterday #7

Read what you just wrote. My gawd, do you not see the contradictions? hlthe2b Yesterday #13

I didn't have any difficulty following along with your answer, ID. yellow dahlia Yesterday #19

The OP mentioned Boston. Chemical Bill Yesterday #15

The poster made a GLOBAL statement and I quote: "Tire chains are no longer necessary." hlthe2b Yesterday #18

This message was self-deleted by its author Chemical Bill 23 hrs ago #21

WRONG/Misleading. See my other post hlthe2b Yesterday #6

Whoever wrote that doesn't live at 7500 feet DenaliDemocrat Yesterday #12

The OP mentioned Boston. Chemical Bill Yesterday #16

Do they still make studded tires? multigraincracker Yesterday #3

Same here and I believe they had to be off by the first of May here in New York Rhiannon12866 Yesterday #4

My take is that people want to get in the car and drive. Chemical Bill Yesterday #8

You're missing that almost all cars today are front wheel drive Jersey Devil Yesterday #9

In short, chains kinda suck. Happy Hoosier Yesterday #10

Probably. dixiegrrrrl 23 hrs ago #20

Used to snow a LOT more. Kid Berwyn Yesterday #11

Back in the 1970s, I used to ski a lot in the Sierra Nevada mountains MineralMan Yesterday #14

Most vehicles are front wheel drive now - it makes big difference. LeftinOH Yesterday #17