Don, sounds like we agree, both on the law and that we should each exercise our own judgement.  Have a good (and safe) day.  mcneely

---- Don Hundt <donhundt@gmail.com> wrote:
> Actually, Dave,
> In the winter, in Oregon, there are times when chains are required on all
> vehicles, there are times when chains OR traction tires are required, and
> there are times when one is just required to carry chains, any tire will
> suffice.
> Yes, I agree that if one were to use a non-marked tire as a traction tire,
> he would be violating the law some of the time. Personally, as adriver with
> 30 years experience in snow country, including daily drives over a mountain
> pass, I would not hesitate to use siped BFG's as a winter tire, snowflake or
> no. Yes, I would be in violation the ~20% of the time the passes require
> traction tires. I'm not recommending them to you, necessarily, but I would
> use them myself. You do whatever you wish.
> Don
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <mcneely4@cox.net>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>; "Don Hundt" <donhundt@gmail.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 10:07 AM
> Subject: Re: Re: BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO - LT195/75R14/D tires - first
> impressions
>
>
> > ---- Don Hundt <donhundt@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Apparently, it is just that size that doesn't bear the snowflake label. I
> >> have had the BFG's in many sizes on many vehicles, they all had the
> >> snowflake labels. I'd be willing to bet that if a state trooper in Oregon
> >> saw that you were running that tire he wouldn't kneel down in the snow to
> >> look for a little black snowflake label on your tire. YMMV
> >>
> >> Even if you have snow tires, the state of Oregon requires you to carry
> >> tire
> >> chains if you are driving over mountain passes.
> >
> > That is true.  But at times that chains are not required to be installed
> > to cross the passes, the traction tire is.  It seems pretty easy to
> > understand that.  At those times, non-traction tires are illegal.  BFG
> > lists on its web site for the tire the sizes that are not approved for
> > severe snow conditions.  There are multiple sizes listed.  Perhaps a
> > trooper would not check for the snowflake/mountain symbol, but if he did
> > and you did not have it, you would be in violation.  And, if that is the
> > standard, why not adhere to it, for safety's sake?
> >
> > mcneely
> >> Don
>

--
David McNeely