[jaynarie]

Not only does Detroit typically escape large snowfall, plows are out pretty quickly. 12-24 hour and all main roads are totally cleared.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Geo-Aggie

Pfft, no.

If you're using a tire chain for anything other than going up steep hills/mountains that are currently caked in snow or ice, you're using it wrong. There are no steep hills or mountains in Michigan. I have a set of snow tires, but I've kept my all-seasons on for the last two winters with zero problem, but I live in the center of the metro where everything is paved and generally plowed pretty well. I can see a set of good snow tires coming in handy in some of the outlying exurban areas or out-state areas with unplowed dirt and gravel roads.

No steep hills in Michigan???? As an avid cyclist who bikes all over West and NW Michigan, there are plenty of 16%, 17%, 18% grade hills, maybe as much as 20%.

There are a couple of really nice neighborhoods in the Grand Rapids area (along Grand River Drive especially) where you'll see cars parked out at the entrance because they couldn't get up their streets.

But in answer to the OP, no chains.

[ethnicappalachian]

I see. what is the lake effect snow? I remember that phrase when I lived in Chicago. You think Chicago's lake effect is worst than Detroit?

Originally Posted by Republic of Michigan

Not that much. Detroit escapes the Lake Effect Snow, and nobody and I mean nobody uses chains on tires. Even in places with a lot of snow like GR, people don't use them. You will be fine.

[craig11152]

Originally Posted by ethnicappalachian

I see. what is the lake effect snow? I remember that phrase when I lived in Chicago. You think Chicago's lake effect is worst than Detroit?

Lake effect snow comes when the great lakes are nor frozen and the air over them is moist from evaporation. In the winter that moist air produces snow but its the prevailing winds that drop that snow over land. So its mostly the east and southeast sides of the lakes that get it.
Generally both Chicago and Detroit dodge a lot of lake effect snow since they are mostly upwind from the lakes. That isn't to say some lake effect snow doesn't happen but they get way less snow than Grand Rapids,Cleveland or Buffalo which are all downwind from the lakes.

http://glisa.umich.edu/climate/lake-...t-lakes-region