If a mountain road requires chains or snowtires in snow conditions will a car with all wheel drive be acceptable?

I’m from Colorado, a very mountainous state. Go buy the chains, AWD will not cut it on some passes.

Yes. There are some conditions (like ice) where AWD skids you right into the ditch or over the precipice. Better safe than sorry. Keep chains in the trunk.

I drive a Subaru AWD Forester that handles most conditions here in snowy NYS, but deep snow and slick surfaces defeat it.

MINNESOTANS UNITE!! Do not buy snow tires under ANY condition. Such a waste of money. Impossible to install. Just annoying!

As a Bay Area transplant that travels to Tahoe about 10 times a winter, I am authorized to proclaim that you, @kelly, are more than qualified to handle the tame conditions of a mountain pass in your AWD car. Californians are HORRIBLE DRIVERS, so be on the defense, but you will be just fine. I promise. You can have my first born if I’m wrong.

Get the chains.
If they set up the road block they won’t care if you have AWD. They want to see chains.
And they will not let you go through without them.

AWD means there is power to all wheels. That way all wheels turn with the engine.

Chains provide TRACTION to all wheels. This means the chains will bite into the ice and snow and give grip to the power.

In bad snow conditions AWD is not enough. Your wheels will spin because they cannot get traction. The chains will prevent you from spinning out or losing control on ice.

My Uncle and I share a set of chains as we vacation separately. Perhaps you can borrow some that fit your tire size.

@kirforce Minnesota? What mountains do you have? I wouldn’t offer up your first born if you don’t have experience with real mountains.

@kirforce: Will you ride in kelly’s back seat and shovel him out when he gets stuck? Or bring in the crane to remove his car from the side of a mountain?

As far as I understand it @Dog is correct. Even though people may think the AWD is just a safe that has little do with if they will allow you to pass the barrier.

It is not “Chains recommended” beyond his point. The CHP or whomever will not allow to pass if the “Chains REQUIRED” sign is displayed. There will be stop point to “chain up” before the barrier.
The CHP’s don’t want to go in and drag your “sorry arse” and vehicle up the 500 foot drop after the AWD slides off the mountain. Brakes just make the wheels lock-up, they will not improve traction without chains.