Chains needed?

Unregistered · Dec 13, 2003

We just bought a brand new 2004 Toyota Sienna with the safety features VSC and TRAC. We are heading up to Bend OR from Northern California for Christmas. I expect to drive on long stretches on highway that may be packed snow/ice/dirt. I feel with these additional saftey features we should be O.K. unless it's dumping snow or I feel the car slide at all. My wife is more incline to put on chains from the get go. Also I have many driving hours experience in the snow and ice! The question is when I should put on our chains?
Steve

SafeDad · Dec 13, 2003

Some areas require you to use chains or snow tires. If you plan to be driving in these areas, I would pick up a set of chains just in case. If your Sienna is AWD and you have a set of dedicated snow tires, you should be fine without them.

bazanna · Dec 13, 2003

I head over to Bend a couple times a year. I always carry chains with me because sometimes there are pull-over points where you are required to pull over and put them on or you are forced to turn around by the state police. So....if I were you, I'd carry them with me and not get them out until told to or when I felt like I couldn't continue to travel safety without them.

Usually by the time the police are telling me to put them on, I'm thinking the same thing anyway.

Edited to add: If you have studded tires, they don't require you to use chains.