Snow tires necessary for SW Montana?

[taskswap]

Good set of AT's, set of tire chains, done. If you don't have 4WD/AWD add a shovel, a "kinetic" recovery rope and soft shackle (in case somebody offers to help), and an expectation it might take an hour to self-recover if you slide into a ditch.

Go main-line some Matt's Off-Road Recovery videos, especially the early stuff before he started making tow trucks into monster trucks and was mostly winging it with whatever he brought (and he forgot stuff like, every trip). If you do get stuck, air down to 15psi (or if you feel lucky, 10).

Done.

 

[JohnB]

A set of snows on wheels has cost me anywhere from $400 to $700. Both of which are cheaper than my insurance deductible.

I've got no insight into your area but in snow country in Eastern WA I will always have two sets of wheels. I drive with a pretty light football winter but figure I want that extra traction when a deer jumps in front of me or an oncoming car gets squirrely.