You all may remember I got a new, 2019 Subaru Forester Limited in February this year. I love it. So much that my daughter and I are driving from San Diego to St Charles, MO to spend the Christmas and New Year holiday period with my son, dear DIL, and the two adorable grandchildren I don't see very often. We are all very excited. I know it would be better weather-wise to go in summer and we did originally think of going for July 4th, but other commitments here, followed by college for my daughter, nixed that idea. We are driving rather than flying, which would cost a lot less overall, for several reasons. One, we have to take our Maltese who is 12 yrs old and would not do well in a kennel and there's nobody we could leave her with. Next, my daughter has never driven across the country, something I think everyone should do at least once. How else do you get to appreciate the vastness of the US? We will stop at various sights, like the Grand Canyon which she has never seen. Going to St Charles we have a time constraint because we can't leave here until Dec.17 because her last final is on Dec 16th. And we do want to get there before Christmas! Coming home, we can take as much time as we want, so most of our detours will probably happen then. Obviously, we won't know for sure what the weather will be until we're ready to go and that will control some of what we do.

So, my big question is, do those of you who have Subarus ever carry tire chains and do you ever have to use them? I've read the manual and I know what type one has to use and to only put them on the front wheels. If you do, what make/model would you recommend? I have driven in snow, although not recently, but here in San Diego there's not much need for chains! I know people who drive to Mammoth to ski with no problem.

Any other advice is welcome. And thank you!

I just realised that calling this thread a "road trip" might not have been the best idea! Oops! Dear mods, please don't move it!

The chains thing...that's a tough one. If I went over the mountain in winter, more than I do, I would have them even with having a Subaru. Sometimes it's chains mandatory and if you are in the middle of it. you'd have to stop until the control was lifted. I don't know about the highways from CA to MO but I do know chains are useless, on ice and well your four wheel drive and tires are too.

Chains are not the easiest to put on but they have new ones that are easier to handle than the old chain link. IF you get chains of any kind be sure to put them on your tires a few times before you leave so you are at ease with them. Honestly, I'm not sure they will be all that helpful. IF you get a bad storm, for ME, your best best would be find a motel and sit tight till it's over. We all have seen those 40 car pile ups and they usually happen when non one should reallyi be on the road.

Take water, blankets, extra washer fluid, flash light and extra batteries. non-perishable snacks.

This.
If I needed chains, I'd not be driving on the road.
Do you have mud & snow tires on the car? If so, that should be enough.

Do you have all weather tyres - with a snow flake on them? If so you will probably be OK, but carrying chains and knowing how to fit them is probably still a good thing.
If you have summer only tyres see if you can rent a set of winter tyres.
Colorado now requires them for a stretch of interstate and they will make a difference even with 4wd.

It sounds like a wonderful trip regardless of the time of year. Have fun but know your limits.

Here's an article about the best winter tires for Subaru -
https://www.torquenews.com/1084/7-be...orester-wrxsti
Note in the photos the "M+S" for "mud and snow" and the snowflake icon.
Talk to someone at the dealership or a tire store. I'd buy winter tires for your winter road trip.

I have all weather tires and the dealer told me they would be fine. I also found this video and this Forester has the same controls as mine:


I will not be buying snow tires. I'm not planning to drive on forest roads or any road that isn't a main road, but every now and then, even on freeways, there will be signs requiring chains on all vehicles. Obviously, ice would be a bigger problem. I simply want to be as prepared as possible.

Jubi, I grew up in and lived in Scotland until I was 26. I drove in snow and ice a lot. I have driven in snow in Chicago here.

Thanks. It's the area around Flagstaff and from Flagstaff to Albuquerque on I-40 that is of most concern to me.

Talking about "Dullsville", I'm trying to avoid having to go on I-10 to I-20 across a lot of Texas. Been there, done that a couple of times. Don't ever want to do it again.

Amarillo by morning...

I'm pretty sure the freeway wasn't closed for four days. On the plus side, we'll be safely home by February!

Fortunately, we're close enough that I would know ahead of time about any huge storm like that and then I would have to go via !-10. I'll be watching the weather very carefully!

I was going to say just divert to 10 if necessary. And you could stay in Williams instead of Flagstaff.


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Have a list of hotels or motels along your route that you could use in a bad weather scenario. A "stuck in bad weather" kit as a just in case with a small shovel, fleece or rescue blankets, snacks, water, flashlight, whistle, hand warmer sachets.