Oregon does not require chains on Subarus. For 2 winters I drove in chains required conditions and was waved through. That applies to all 4 wheel drive vehicles. Washington??

 

Tripcheck.com has this for Oregon.

Exemptions
In typical winter conditions, the following vehicles are completely or partially exempt from the chain law. However, in very bad winter road conditions all vehicles may be required to use chains regardless of the type of vehicle or type of tire being used (this is known as a conditional road closure). A conditional road closure may occur on any of Oregon's highways and are frequent in the winter on Interstate 5 through the Siskiyou Pass south of Ashland:

1. Police vehicles, and fire vehicles, ambulances, and Department of Transportation highway maintenance vehicles when performing their duties.
2. A four-wheel or all-wheel drive passenger vehicle if all of the following statements are true:
   1. It has an unloaded weight of 6,500 pounds or less;
   2. It is operated to provide power to both the front and rear wheels;
   3. It is carrying chains;
   4. It has mud and snow, all-weather radial, or traction tires on all of its wheels;
   5. It is not towing another vehicle or a trailer;
   6. It is not being operated in a manner or under conditions that cause the vehicle to lose traction.

 

Tripcheck.com has this for Oregon.

Exemptions
In typical winter conditions, the following vehicles are completely or partially exempt from the chain law. However, in very bad winter road conditions all vehicles may be required to use chains regardless of the type of vehicle or type of tire being used (this is known as a conditional road closure). A conditional road closure may occur on any of Oregon's highways and are frequent in the winter on Interstate 5 through the Siskiyou Pass south of Ashland:

A four-wheel or all-wheel drive passenger vehicle if all of the following statements are true:

Thank you. I had read that in the Oregon DOT website. The exemptions apply under typical winter conditions, but there is the "However, in very bad winter road conditions all vehicles may be required to use chains regardless of the type of vehicle or type of tire being used" part. That's the part that has me concerned, because I'm planning to drive down to California on I-5 through the Siskiyou Pass... in mid-January.

 

Hello. I bought four Autosocks. They are fabric that slips over the wheels. Approved in many states.

 

From reading their website, autosocks are approved traction device but they also state in certain conditions actual chains might be required, what I understand from it is they are approved to be used, but if chains are required good luck explaining it to traffic control.

 

Exactly. I ended up calling Les Schwab Tire, and was told they sell a set of chains that will work if put on properly (tension needs to be good, or they'll be loose and cause problems). They should also be installed in all four tires to avoid issues with the AWD. I understand they can be returned if unused, so for the moment, I think that's what I'll do.
The guy at the store also said that the one complaint he has heard about auto socks is that they pick up snow as they go and eventually they lose traction, especially on ice. Chains, of course, don't lose their "bite."
Thanks for the input!

 

Carry cable chains or snow socks. You will feel better and they will stay clean and fresh.

 

Ditto what has been stated by others, cable type "chains" are designed for low profile wheel wells like the Subie has.
The owners manual tells you to install on the front wheels only.
By law you have to carry "traction control devices" for your car in certain areas.
I keep a set of cables in my subie and I've never put them on except to check that they actually fit, and to install them to learn how when I wasn't going to freeze my posterior off during the process.
If you are in road conditions where you actually need chains on a Subaru, you probably shouldn't be driving in the first place, but the typical use of chains on a Subaru is to show the boys in blue that you have them.

 

Chains and tire cables are also two different things too. Look at tire cables made for tight clearance, such as Security's Radial or better, their Super Z. I'm sure there are other brands as well.