I'm cross posting this a bit as this seems the more appropriate place.
So we just purchased a 2017 Sport Explorer.
We live in the SF bay area and have also just bought a place in Kirkwood to go skiing. We plan on going up probably 10-15 times in the winter, sometimes almost every weekend. But obviously in between we'll be on dry/wet streets with no snow/ice.
I know that the route we travel, 88, often has snow and is even closed frequently.
Needless to say my research was a little lacking and I found out you can't really put chains on the 20" wheels. So I need the best and safest way to get to Kirkwood with the Explorer.
So what should I actually have/need or should I say, what should be my long term plan be?
1. Stock tires (the Hankooks) + some kind of snow chain (that I don't know about that can fit on 20" rims) as backup?
2. New tires (some other all weather) on the stock 20" rims + some kind of snow chain (that I don't know about that can fit on 20" rims) as backup?
3. A dedicated set of snow tires on 18" rims and a set of snow chains as backup?
I believe the law says that in R2 conditions 4WD are ok with snow tires. So does that mean they actually check to see what tires you have? And I'm assuming the AW OEM tires won't qualify as that and I've also read they just aren't that good in snow?
And R3 condition says even 4wd must have chains installed.
Please help, I have already done lots of reading and have lots of conflicting answers/reports/input.
The other consideration is the vehicle will get lots of mileage in the summer/year round, we are expected 20k per year.