R1S driving in the snow

[SJC]

I just purchased a new R1S Gen 2 and will be taking it up to Tahoe soon. It has the 22 inch bright wheels and Perelli tires and wondering if I will need chains or not? I know this may depend on how severe the conditions are, but talking in general terms.

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[SPITmadFIRE]

Do your tires have the M+S or 3 peak rating on them? If not, then you will have to chain up whenever chain control is active. Having an R1S does not fundamentally change anything about chain control and using traction devices.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

I believe your OEM tires are Pirelli Scorpion MS All-Seasons, which would mean they are M+S rated:

If you have these tires, then you will not be required to chain up on I80 or US50 unless they activate R3 chain control. I don't recall the last time they ever did that, however; they always close the roads instead whenever the snow gets that bad. CHP will still require you to possess traction devices at all times, regardless of your vehicle's requirement to chain up or not.

 

[ignatz]

Depending on the roads you plan on driving, it might not matter what tires you have. In Washington state, the mountain passes typically have the guidance of either “traction tires advised” or “ chains required except for AWD.” However, all cars traveling are recommended to have chains or socks regardless in case conditions worsen while you are on the road. I thought carrying was required and also finable if you didn’t have them, but the official page seems to think that is not the case.

https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/tiresandchains

Our family got a set of tire socks and carry them anyways because we go to places with deeper snow even though we’ve got snow-specific tires.

 

[sanjoseR1S]

I have the same tires and they did not require me to put chains on during chain control in Tahoe a couple weeks ago. I will say the tires feel like they do not have the best traction for snow. No issues while driving (slowly) but my R1S slid while parked on an icy driveway with a moderate incline.

 

[Noplacelikeloam]

Unless you are driving like your grandpa, yes you will need them if the conditions are not good to average. M+S certification means they are a little better than summer tires. If conditions look sketchy, prepare to either go slow or chains/winter tires.

 

[Dave Cundiff]

Rivian says there's no room for chains on any wheel. They recommend cables (at most) on 21" or 22" OEM tires in the rear (both are 33" diameter). They recommend only tire socks on the front regardless of tire size, and only tire socks on 20" OEM tires (34" diameter) regardless of axle. Got that?

After I and they did lots of research, my local Costco installed third-party Spikes-Spiders on the rears with 33" tires (275/50R22). As far as they can see, any chain device in the front (even with 33" tires) will limit the steering and potentially damage things -- so they won't install any chain-type traction devices on the front.

I don't think "Mud and Snow" is the same as "Three Peak Mountain Snowflake" (3PMSF). Oregon accepts 3PMSF as "traction tires." I don't think Oregon accepts any other product. I don't know about California or Nevada.

Very best wishes, @SJC!

 

[Noplacelikeloam]

Rivian says there's no room for chains on any wheel. They recommend cables (at most) on 21" or 22" OEM tires in the rear (both are 33" diameter). They recommend only tire socks on the front regardless of tire size, and only tire socks on 20" OEM tires (34" diameter) regardless of axle. Got that?

After I and they did lots of research, my local Costco installed third-party Spikes-Spiders on the rears with 33" tires (275/50R22). As far as they can see, any chain device in the front (even with 33" tires) will limit the steering and potentially damage things -- so they won't install any chain-type traction devices on the front.

I don't think "Mud and Snow" is the same as "Three Peak Mountain Snowflake" (3PMSF). Oregon accepts 3PMSF as "traction tires." I don't think Oregon accepts any other product. I don't know about California or Nevada.

Very best wishes, @SJC!

Good call. M+S not as good as 3PMSF. 3PPMSF not as good as true winter tires.

 

[mkg3]

If the CHP is stopping all traffic with chain requirement, you'll need to show at least what you are carrying with you as a traction device. CA accepts snow socks as a traction device so my recommendation is to carry those, which will not damage the vehicle at all.

If the snow condition is so bad that you actually need chains, consider not driving to Tahoe. That said, I-80 is a major artery, so that's probably the best bet. Hwy 50 and 395 are more problematic as you probably know.

I have a gen 1 R1S w/22". The last time I drove through a snow condition was in Sedona and the Scorpion Zero AS worked remarkably well considering its just an all season tire. The gen 2 22" is a different tire so if anything, it should be better.

 

[Paul Hackett]

I just purchased a new R1S Gen 2 and will be taking it up to Tahoe soon. It has the 22 inch bright wheels and Perelli tires and wondering if I will need chains or not? I know this may depend on how severe the conditions are, but talking in general terms.

Ditch chains. Buy snow tires... Nokian Hakka's R5, switch to snow mode when it gets deep, if really bad turn off traction control; if that doesn't do it, chains won't either. I drive on the Hakka's starting in Dec. and I don't take my R1S Gen 2 out of conserve mode until there's a couple inches on the road un-plowed. No issues. I have a 2000 F250 with a 9' V plow with locking differential to plow my driveway and have never used chains and have driven that thing through 12" and up and only on occasion had to lock front and rear differentials to get out. The R1S's wheel power vectoring ability appears solid to me, but you should really consider snow tires if your driving in snow; chains are a real pain in the ass IMHO, and if you throw chain it can really make a mess of your truck. Good snow tires and a measure of good judgement, you should be fine.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

Ditch chains. Buy snow tires... Nokian Hakka's R5, switch to snow mode when it gets deep, if really bad turn off traction control; if that doesn't do it, chains won't either.

I get that you live in Colorado, but surely you must see how this is a ridiculous suggestion for someone who lives in the Bay Area and has to drive over 200 miles to the snowy destination for which they'd use those winter tires. It's about 150 miles of 70 degree interstate driving before 50 miles with a potential of moderate snow. Notoriously, the risk going over Donner isn't how well prepared you are; it's how ill-prepared the car sliding into you from behind is. Traction devices to be used whenever your M+S or 3 peak tires don't cut it is absolutely fine for folks taking trips to Tahoe.

Now if you lived in Tahoe itself and spend all winter there? Absolutely get some Nokians without question.

 

[Noplacelikeloam]

I get that you live in Colorado, but surely you must see how this is a ridiculous suggestion for someone who lives in the Bay Area and has to drive over 200 miles to the snowy destination for which they'd use those winter tires. It's about 150 miles of 70 degree interstate driving before 50 miles with a potential of moderate snow. Notoriously, the risk going over Donner isn't how well prepared you are; it's how ill-prepared the car sliding into you from behind is. Traction devices to be used whenever your M+S or 3 peak tires don't cut it is absolutely fine for folks taking trips to Tahoe.

Now if you lived in Tahoe itself and spend all winter there? Absolutely get some Nokians without question.

I would just upgrade to 3 peak tires and call it a day. Just get good ones. Some are sketchy.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

I would just upgrade to 3 peak tires and call it a day. Just get good ones. Some are sketchy.

Again, prohibitively expensive for someone who may experience snow a handful of times each year. Swapping out tires on a brand new vehicle is a wild suggestion. Just get traction devices and use them whenever they're required.

 

[Noplacelikeloam]

Again, prohibitively expensive for someone who may experience snow a handful of times each year. Swapping out tires on a brand new vehicle is a wild suggestion. Just get traction devices and use them whenever they're required.

Well like I said, thats what "I" would do. A handful of times is a handful of times you invite the opportunity of sliding off the road and hurting yourself or someone else. Its just not worth it to me.

 

[GreenHeron]

Depending on the roads you plan on driving, it might not matter what tires you have. In Washington state, the mountain passes typically have the guidance of either “traction tires advised” or “ chains required except for AWD.” However, all cars traveling are recommended to have chains or socks regardless in case conditions worsen while you are on the road. I thought carrying was required and also finable if you didn’t have them, but the official page seems to think that is not the case.

https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/tiresandchains

Our family got a set of tire socks and carry them anyways because we go to places with deeper snow even though we’ve got snow-specific tires.

Do you have a recommendation for a particular brand of socks?

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