Driving in Washington and Oregon requires being prepared for any kind of road conditions. In the Pacific Northwest, drivers truly encounter a wide variety of conditions throughout the year, from rain, snow, ice, and hot road surfaces.

While many motorists feel confident in driving on All-Season or All-Weather tires year-round, others switch out tire types - changing from performance all-season tires to snow tires - depending on the time of year and the likely road conditions they'll be facing.

When to use Snow Tires in WA & OR

According to experts in Northwest Tire Performance, winter or snow tires use a special rubber that helps grip the road better than performance or all-season tires when temperatures drop below 40º F. In addition, the tread on approved snow or winter tires provides superior traction and grip on slick and icy roads.

Someone living in Seattle, where very little snowfall occurs, may not feel the need to switch to snow tires and instead rely upon an All-Season tire. If the need arises to traverse the mountain passes, these drivers will want to carry chains in case that restriction is put into effect. Frequent mountain pass travelers and those who live in areas getting regular snowy and icy conditions would likely benefit from switching to winter tires from November through March.

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Should Winter Tires Be Used on an All-Wheel Drive Vehicle?

AWD and Four-Wheel-Drive vehicles can help you maintain momentum in snow and ice but do little to help improve your ability to stop and navigate corners in icy or slushy conditions, whereas your tire tread will have a major impact on handling in winter.

It may be wise, therefore, and is sometimes required, that you have either winter tires or snow chains on your AWD if you’re driving in a blizzard or icy conditions. When mountain pass conditions call for chains except for AWD, drivers still must carry chains during such times in the event conditions worsen. AWD vehicles must also have approved traction devices (meaning snow tires with approved tread or chains).

Winter Driving Tips for Washington and Oregon

Here are some official winter driving LINKS for Washington and Oregon:

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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