Driving an Acura to Tahoe: AWD, Snow Tires and Chain Controls

From Elk Grove, Davis or Woodland, the drive to the Sierra is short enough that people do it on a whim and long enough that the weather changes completely between the two ends. Every winter the same thing happens: someone sets off from the Valley in sunshine and meets chain controls at Applegate.

Here is what actually matters, and what the marketing around all-wheel drive tends to obscure.

The short answer

All-wheel drive helps you accelerate. It does very little for stopping and not much for cornering. Tires do both of those. If you drive into the mountains regularly, a set of winter tires on a front-wheel-drive car will out-perform all-season tires on an all-wheel-drive one in the conditions that actually catch people out.

And regardless of what you drive, all-wheel drive does not exempt you from chain controls in the strictest conditions.

What Caltrans chain controls actually require

Three levels, and it is worth knowing them before you are sitting at a checkpoint:

• R1 — chains required on all vehicles except those with snow tires on the drive axle.
• R2 — chains required on all vehicles except four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels.
• R3 — chains required on every vehicle, no exceptions.

Note what R2 asks for: not just all-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive and snow tires on all four corners. An RDX on all-season tires does not meet it. Check current conditions with Caltrans before you set off rather than relying on what was in force last weekend.

Where Super Handling All-Wheel Drive genuinely helps

Acura’s SH-AWD is available on the RDX and MDX and standard on some trims. It is a more sophisticated system than most, in that it can send torque across the rear axle rather than simply front-to-back, which shows up as stability in exactly the situation that unsettles people: a corner taken slightly too fast on a surface that turned out to be slicker than it looked.

That is a real benefit and worth having. It is just not the same as being able to stop.

What to actually do before a winter trip

• Check tire tread and pressure. Cold air drops pressure, and a tire that was fine in September is often several PSI down by December. Our tire store fits what it sells if the tread is marginal.
• Carry chains that fit your tires. Not chains in general. The size on the sidewall matters, and a set that fitted your last car may not fit this one.
• Check the battery. Cold is what finds a weak battery, usually in a car park at four in the afternoon.
• Top up washer fluid with something rated for freezing. Road spray in the Sierra is relentless and plain water will freeze on the glass.
• Clear any outstanding recalls. Worth checking by VIN before a long trip rather than after.

A note on the driver aids

AcuraWatch and similar systems rely on cameras and radar, and both are degraded by heavy snow, spray and a dirty windscreen. They are assistance systems, not a substitute for slowing down. In genuinely poor visibility, expect them to hand control back to you, and be ready for that.

Getting the car looked at first

If a winter trip is on the calendar, a service visit beforehand is cheaper than a recovery. Book online, and if you are coming from Yolo County it is worth batching it with anything else outstanding — there is no Acura service department in Davis, Woodland or West Sacramento, so most owners out there make one trip count.

Questions we get asked

Is all-wheel drive enough for a Tahoe trip, or do I still need chains?

All-wheel drive is not a substitute for chains. Caltrans chain controls apply by requirement level regardless of drivetrain, and under the strictest level every vehicle needs chains. Carry a set that fits your tires.

Which Acura is best for driving to the Sierra in winter?

Any Acura with Super Handling All-Wheel Drive handles the run well. It is available on the RDX and MDX and standard on some trims. Winter tires matter more than drivetrain.

What do the Caltrans chain control levels mean?

R1 requires chains on all vehicles except those with snow tires on the drive axle. R2 requires chains on all vehicles except four-wheel or all-wheel drive with snow tires on all four wheels. R3 requires chains on every vehicle with no exceptions. Always check current conditions before you leave.

Do I need winter tires in the Sacramento Valley?

For the Valley itself, no. If you drive into the mountains regularly through the winter, a dedicated winter set is a bigger safety gain than all-wheel drive on all-season tires.

All-wheel drive does not guarantee traction in all conditions. Chain control requirements are set and enforced by Caltrans and change with conditions; always check current requirements before traveling. Drive according to conditions.