Snow chains vs. DOT rated snow tires

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

Question for you guys, I am thinking of heading up to Mt. Laguna today.... I have DOT rated snow tires i.e. GY DuraTracs.

However, some websites say that snow chains are required when snow is on the road and others say just snow tires.
Since this info was unclear, I decided to look on the CA DOT.

I checked with the DOT website and it shows 3 different ratings; R1,R2 & R3.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/chcontrl.htm

R1 says if you have 4 wheel drive that you are exempt from having snow tires or chains.
R2 says that a 4wheel drive needs snow tires and chains carried with you.
R3 says chains need to be on the vehicle.

My question is where do you find this rating at? All of the sites I found simply said "chain controls in effect" with no rating.
i.e. http://sdcdpw.org/emergency.html

Any input would be appreciated as I don't want to waste the gas & time only to be turned away or worse ticketed for not having chains.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tunegoon]

The CHP usually requires you to carry chains in Laguna with a 4WD. I guess that would be R2. I usually go early and once your past the chain control at Sunrise Highway and I8 your OK.

I know this is probably a little late, but we went this morning and there was no CHP control around 8:30 this morning. On the way home around 2:30 there were 3 cruisers and CHP was turning away anyone without chains.

 

[TLC76]

Typically it is an R2 restriction, 4x4 shows chains (as long as you have decent tread). Normally if gets beyond an R2 they just close the road, although I have seen R3 twice before. Never have seen R1.

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

Thanks for the replies guys. I just missed you by an hour. I posted up my experience with CHP on a thread on SoCal80s incase you're interested.