Studded snow tires or all seasons from Colorado to Texas?

I want to drive from here in the mountains in Colorado to El Paso TX this Saturday. I have studded snow tires on my car right now and a set of all seasons on another set of rims. Nearly the whole trip is through Colorado and New Mexico where there is no problem with studded snow tires. But in Texas, where I have to drive about an hour from Las Cruces to El Paso they are illegal all year. I just went through a terrible ground blizzard last night and am really glad I had my studded snow tires even though I only made it to the nearest hotel and waited until morning to keep going. And it's supposed to snow a little this Saturday when I have to leave. I really would like to be safe and take the snow tires. But the law says I should take the others. I do have chains for just in case. But could I take the snow tires? Would it be worth the risk of getting fined in Texas? Or just plan on driving on chains if we hit snow? PS. I'm still a little stressed out after the storm last night. I don't really have a place to carry an extra set of tires in my car. Maybe two tires is all. Well, we made it to Texas just fine on the all seasons. We took it slow through the snow storm, but never slid off the road or anything. Getting down here we did get into some ice on the road and my brother-in-law did almost slide right off the road. But other than that we are alright. Looks like there will be snow on the way back. We have our chains just in case.

Answers

Edna

You're just stressed out after driving in the storm last night. Once you hit New Mexico and Texas, you won't need studded snow tires and you won't need chains. It's 70 degrees in Texas right now, and the sun is shining. February is our worst "winter" month. We don't use snow tires or chains in Texas. You could be fined (up to $500) for having snow tires on your car. Studded snow tires tear up the road surface, and putting on chains is a waste of time. We don't need them. Even police cars don't use them. We use "all season" tires.all year round. We don't often have snow, in most parts of the state. When we do, it usually falls during the night, and you wake up to find snow on the ground. There's only about 2 inches accumulation. and after the sun comes up the next morning, it all melts by Noon, and the roads are clear and dry. It looks real pretty for a couple of hours, but it doesn't stay on the ground for any length of time. In Texas (beginning in mid-January), it's not snow we have to worry about - it's ICE. We sometimes get "ice storms", and a sheet of ice will cover the road and everything else. Drivers (especially in the morning rush hours) are sliding all over the road, into the ditch, and into each other. You might not make it up an incline, because you can't get any traction on ice. Schools and some non-essential businesses often close until it finally melts. DPS will recommend that you not drive and stay home, if you possibly can. It's VERY dangerous to try to drive on ice. Snow tires or chains won't do a bit of good on that stuff.

CactiJoe

All season tires and a set of chains you can put on if things get icy or snowy. Front and rear tires will need chains if you expect bad weather.

StephenWeinstein

Take all the tires. Drive with one set of tires on the car and one set in the trunk or the back seat. If you hit snow, put on the studded snow tires. Before the Texas border, put on the all season tires.

Pilsner Man

You may get a break for being out of state, but I don't think they have that reciprocal law.

Put a couple of all seasons in the trunk or back seat and swap them in and out on the drive axle as needed

Percyqted

All season tires and chains, Texas ain't exactly renowned for being sympathetic to out of state drivers.

Zaphod Beeblebrox

Either put on the all seasons and carry a set of chains with you, or just hope you don't get ticketed for the studded tires. The fine is $500.

Linda

If they're illegal in Texas - then do NOT go there.

FlagMichael

Living in Colorado I would think you would want a dedicated set of winter tires. In my experience, "studless technology" (we have Bridgestone Blizzaks on my wife's car and Michelin X-ice on mine) are much better than studded tires. Since we got them we have never had to chain up, even though our home near the top of a hill does not get plowed streets until at least the second day. We have the tires mounted around November and the summer tires put on in late March.

Anonymous

Don't they grit or plough mountain roads...seems,a logical place that would need both probably.Regularly too.

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