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Tire studs might fail on summit I'm confused about the "chains required" signs that flash on Interstate 5 during winter storms. I thought studded tires were considered the equivalent of tire chains. One night when I was on Interstate 5 with four studded snow tires, the chain requirement was imposed at Siskiyou Summit. A transportation worker told me I could not proceed without chains. What's the story? -- David K., Rogue River If you've lived here very long, David, you know that things work a little differently in Southern Oregon. You can add winter travel on the Siskiyou Summit to the list of little anomalies that make life interesting. We took your question to John Vial, district manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation. Vial says under Oregon law studded tires are the legal equivalent of tire chains. However, ODOT has the authority to impose a "conditional closure" on Interstate 5 over the Siskiyous and require all motorists to chain up -- even guys like you with studded tires. "When we say chains," Vial says, "we mean chains. "Studs don't hold on those grades," he says. "We never allow studs to substitute for chains." Vial says experience has shown that drivers with chains have few problems on the pass, but drivers with studded tires often lose control. "If we allow studded tires," he says, "we just can't keep that pass open." Vial says the Siskiyou Summit is the only place in Oregon where motorists with studded tires can't follow right behind drivers with chains. And whenever the chains requirements are imposed, somebody will be out on the road stopping cars and checking. (Send your questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; or by fax to (541) 776-4376; or by e-mail to: [email protected] Please include your name, address and phone number for verification.) Today's News Index Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA