ARaoulVermonter t1_j2e0ieu wrote on December 31, 2022 at 3:48 PM

Because people are mentally going through every possible option, no matter how unlikely to work, to avoid spending a bunch of money on a set of snow tires.

And some people may be from areas where using tire chains for mountain passes is an acceptable option for winter driving.

hotseltzer t1_j2e5mo4 wrote on December 31, 2022 at 4:24 PM

I disagree that the majority of people who ask about chains are just trying to avoid other options. I think people who don't deal with snow just genuinely think chains are what you do because that's what they've heard about, and OP is curious where they got that information.

I grew up without snow and never had to think about different tires for different seasons until I went to college in New York. I've lived where it snows for so long at this point I don't remember what I "knew" before I knew, but I think it's just what people assume is done - winter tires haven't been around forever!