Road Trip

Peoples, I'm making a road trip out to Seattle in 2 weeks. Does anyone know if I should invest in some chains? Has anyone taken their awd accross montana in november?

 

Winter tires will do you fine...you got the mad power of AWD behind you

 

I lived in Fairbanks Alaska for 6 years, and no one used chains there although studded tires are very common. lower 48 liks to ban those though. Seattle should be a fun drive! All-seasons would get you thru the worst of the driving just fine, even in a seattle snow storm, just dont do summer tires of course. winter tires are pretty loud squishy driving for that long of a drive but they would let you drive around people if you did get stuck in some crosswind snow storm.

 

Good to know. I just picked up some bridgestone potenza's. Has anyone made this trip? I'm looking to break it up into two days so I can hit the mountains in the day light.

 

Don't drive over your head; even with the best snow tires. Taking a corner too fast or slamming on your brakes will quickly remind you that you're not in Kansas no more. (not that you were, it was just the thing to say)

 

We sorta made this trip two years ago at this very time. Montana had no snow when we went through but check the forecast. My concern would be wind on those W I D E open roads and animals at night. the snow out there shouldn't be any worse right now than we get in winter so keep your head on straight and don't drive any further if your getting tired. But most of all have fun and be safe I can't wait until I get a chance to do another road trip

 

If you need chains on your WRX your over your head and the road will be closed anyways.

As someone else mentioned.....be more worried about animals in the road at night or at dusk.....

last winter I drove from Steamboat to Jackhole in a raging snow storm. I still managed 70-85 the whole way. Again, the snow really isn't the problem out west, it's the animals messing around on the road.

 

done this trip, or at least part of it (Minneapolis to Big Sky), in a rear wheel drive G35 and a wrx. Winter tires worked just fine both times. If you leave early enough in the morning on the first day (4 or 5) you can hit Bozeman by 6pm (just before dark). I only made gas stops and a few food stops...but for the most part it was seat time. You could stay there and then hit the rest the next day (this would require some elevation driving, but no treacherous mountain driving. Montana is a fun state to drive through, but you definately have to watch out for the animals. Montana also has infrequent gas stops...which is something to think of when planning your gas stops.

Fun trip though...I'm trying to convince my wife to do it again this year, but she'd rather fly...where's the fun in that?

 

Potenzas? what model. if they are re92s......

 

MY brother makes this trip (moorhead-seatle) 4 + times per year in a maxima throughout his school year in all weather... it's cake, if its not, they close the roads.

Like Scubasteve said look out for animals if your driving a nice car, otherwise.....trophy hunt

 

Me and my buddies bought an old short school bus for $1000 and drove it to Jackson Hole last year. It friggen made it! We brought chains with but never used them even in the snow. I agree with what others said, its the animals not the snow. Have fun, I can't wait to go out west this year.

 

The big thing is going over the Rockies... just be careful of those downhill curves... try not to brake and turn at the same time...

 

Thanks for the advice fellas. I'll be sure to post some pictures when I get back. Maybe I'll post some from the out when I get there and the back when I return. I'm anticipating some animals on the roadway since it is rut season. I was in colorado last year at this time and there were mountain goats just chillin on the side of the road.

I'm actually installing some driving lamps tonight to help w/ the night driving. Hopefully I don't lose them killing an animal. I'm leaving from MPLS around 5am solo.