From: bowman@montana.com   
      
   On Fri, 19 Dec 2025 22:56:42 -0000 (UTC), Lars Poulsen wrote:   
      
   > I just go to Costco and get whatever Michelins they have in my size.   
   > Here we do not have to deal with snow or slush, just very occasional   
   > heavy rain in some places. And the first rain (even a small one) after a   
   > long, dry spell, the water lifts accumulated oil drips out of the pores   
   > in the asphalt on the freeway, making it slick. Sometimes too slick for   
   > the idiots who keep going 70 mph in the drizzle.   
      
   I've been in LA when it rains. I don't think the average Californian's   
   brain is waterproof. Some of the underpasses obviously assumed it never   
   rains in southern California.   
      
      
   > In my younger days, we'd occasionally go up to the Sierra to find snow   
   > to play in, and the Highway Patrol would have checkpoints to enforce   
   > chains that were mandated. Not much need for winter tires.   
      
   Ah, the dreaded checkpoints. Most places where they post 'chains required'   
   on a pass it's left to the driver's discretion. California stipulates a   
   set of three-railers (spanning both dual tires) on one drive axle, single   
   rail chains on the other drive axle, and at least one drag chain on a   
   trailer wheel. Usually the chain up area is at a lower elevation so it's   
   either raining or the snow and ice is melting off the undercarriage and   
   dripping down your neck.   
      
   That was on good days when Donner wasn't closed. Otherwise you'd twiddle   
   your fingers in Sparks or Stockton, Sparks if you were lucky.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)