You know it’s going to be fun on the mountain when you drive under the big electronic sign that reads CHAINS REQUIRED. Probably the last thing you’ll want to do at that moment is pull over, climb under your vehicle and freeze your hands off futzing with chains. Well, you may not have to. Here are some key things to know about chain laws and best practices in Oregon.
1. You may not need chains after all. If you a) drive a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle that weighs less than 6500 pounds, b) carry chains with you just in case, and c) have high-quality mud and snow, all-weather radial or traction tires with the snowflake symbol on them, you are exempt. For proof, see Exemption Number 2 in the state’s explanation of chain laws.
2. If you don’t have four-wheel-drive, you can avoid the hassle of chains by using studded traction tires in winter. Studded tires are legal in Oregon between November 1 and March 31, and while legislators have attempted to change the law on traction tires, none of the bills has yet become law.
3. If you don’t have 4W Drive and there is fresh snow, put on chains, the right way. NEVER stop in a travel lane, no matter how much snow is on the road. Find a designated chain-up area, pull over and move as far forward as possible to allow others to pull in behind you. Carry a pair of thin gloves so you don’t freeze your fingers. And learn how to apply your chains BEFORE you drive up the mountain on a powder day.
In case you’re wondering about that 6500-pound weight limit, a Subaru Forester weighs 3260 lbs., and a Toyota RAV 4 weighs 3600 pounds. Even a hefty Chevy Suburban weighs in at less than 6,000 pounds, so pretty much any vehicle with 4WD qualifies for the chain exemption.
Here are some places around Mount Hood where you can find four-wheel-drive vehicles weighing less than 6500 pounds:
- One of the eight Mt. Hood Subaru dealerships in Metro Portland. Oh, yeah, and if you buy a car between October 25 and January 2, they’ll throw in two season passes.
- One of the seven Toyota dealerships within 50 miles of Mount Hood.
- Car Gurus is just one of dozens of online tools for finding used vehicles.
Use tires with this snowflake symbol on your 4WD or AWD vehicle, take it easy around the curves and you should be just fine making your way up to enjoy that beautiful powder.
Here are some shops where you can buy snow tires, studded traction tires or tire chains:
- Les Schwab has 24 tire centers in Metro Portland and three in the Columbia River Gorge.
- Affordable Tire and Brake is at 711 SE Hawthorne in Portland.
- One of the 10 Tire Factory shops in Metro Portland, or the Tire Factory in Hood River.
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Last modified: August 27, 2013
