sorry, your right . maybe I was thinking of studded tires. but now I am not really sure about that either. having a bad day. LOL
Probably, a lot of states have banned studded tires.
In a previous century I was a sales rep and was on the road a lot. Rarely was a snow storm so bad that the roads were impassable. When it did happen I holed up at a restaurant for a few hours or got a hotel . Before too long the road crews got the roads cleared and passable. I only used chains twice, both when heading to PA ski slopes early in the AM, enjoying the snow coming down on the slopes but cursing the roads. I only needed the chains for a few miles to get past a ridge. Chains are a PITA but will get you going. PA roads, hills and snow are a lot less challenging than getting over the Rockies, so if you absolutely must urgently have to drive, chains will help. But if you have flexibility, find a local place to wait it out, get to know the local folks, trade stories with fellow travelers in the same situation and wait for the road crews.
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Climbing I-80 from US 395 one winter about 20 years ago a huge storm was covering 80 as we drove. Everyone had to stop to chain up and follow a snowplow. My hands froze putting on the chains. It was slow going. Caltrans had a number of snowplows escorting groups of drivers both ways. These days Iād back off, spend a day or 2 waiting for it to clear.
Your tires are grand touring all season tires, not summer tires.
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Yes, that is my thinking too. But I hope not to be holed up for more than a few days.
This would be better than the I35/70/335/40 route for winter-driving?
The tires on the car are Bridgestone Touranza EL-400 for three of them, and Bridgestone DriveGuard for the one that was replaced earlier this year. The tire shop in small-town IA said that they were not able to get that other one.
As for not buying Run Flat tires ( which many times canāt be repaired ) we have been to the East and West coasts , north and south borders without having a flat tire. The last one was 7 years ago a block from home while a new home was being built .
Four regular all season tires plus the spare tire kit to fit this Mercedes will still be less money than 4 Run Flat tires . Of course a road side service would be a good idea for this trip.
There have been a few times that I wished I had chains. Between yesterday and this morning we got 10" of snow, but it got pretty warm out (29) and the sun was shining. I didnāt clear the driveway out until early afternoon. When I did go out, the roads were fine. A lot of them were clear and just some in town with snow on them. So it doesnāt take long.
I donāt know how to respond to the OP but seeing that he has all season and not summer tires, that is better. That is all I ever have used. There is more than one Youtube on Donner Pass though with snow and one would be wise to avoid that. Usually best to take the southern most route but still not assured of having good conditions. Tornados, and also snow as far south as Georgia and Texas which shuts them down. Go to safetravel.com to see what is instore where you are heading. Most states now have cameras and even snow plow views to see what the roads are like ahead of you.
The only problem with that is you wonāt be the only one looking for a motel if one is needed.
It might be a longer wait now, at least in WA, because of the covid mandate requiring state employees get vaccinated, many chose not to and lost their jobs, weāre going to be in trouble here if we get heavy snow, our state road crew lost about 200 people, mechanics and plow operators.
Simple enough to me 
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Sure, I appreciate very much all the comments here. I learnt a few things along the way (tire socks, how would I have thought such a thing existed, though it is not completely clear to me how common these are).
I looked up Donner Pass and that is on I-80 into CA. We are staying as far south as possible. If we were to go north from CA, I prefer US-1.
I would o as far as to say a must have with all the wide open areas the OP will go through what ever route he takes.
I would also suggest to check the weather forecast each day before starting out.
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We have the State Farm emergency road service that comes with insurance for the car. However, I am not sure how useful this is, in a remote situation, because the model seems to be reimbursement. I would rather have more surety of timely service. Is there a better road service that you suggest.
I have very little experience with roadside service while I was working the company took care of it since I retired I have to get my own in the last ten years I have had three AAA is one I would not recommend as they seem to only have good service in the big city areas I live about 50 miles from the nearest AAA service center and few times I have used them it takes forever to get to me I found out anything past a certain mileage they try to contract with who ever is in the area but have a hard time getting any one because they will not pay them what they get for the same service if I was to call them myself with that said I always had to get a local service my self as long as I called AAA first and waited 2 to 3 hours before calling someone else they would reimburse me about 80 % so with all the wide open country you will be in I would say to forget them as for my third service I have it through my insurance and I donāt know how it will work out yet as I have not had to use it yet, Maybe others here will know something better good luck.
I have the Amoco/BP motor club. Itās about $26 a quarter. I have never had a problem with them provided they can figure out where you are. Never waited too long, but have never needed them outside of Minnesota/South Dakota. I also pay the $3 or so every 6 months for the State Farm reimbursement plan. AAA is maybe more available in some locations. It is a little higher priced. When I quit the employ of AAA, I no longer got it free so went to Standard motor club. The problem on the road is knowing who to call. AAA used to provide a book with nation-wide first responders listed which was nice but now you just call and itās on computer but the dispatch desk may be in India.
When with AAA, the determined the majority of service calls were for things like flat tires, batteries, fan belt, or going in a ditch. All preventable with a little preventive maintenance. My calls were more serious though.
My wifeās cousins con grew up in LA and was clueless about driving in the snowā¦ He had a first model Mazda MPV van and got caught in a snowstorm driving over the mountains to Bend OR.
He was forced to buy tire chains and have them installed but he thought it was a good thing he had them because he barely made it over the pass with his tires spinning all the way.
They had installed the tires on the front wheels of his rear wheel drive van. he was so clueless about cars that he did not know his van was reae wheel drive until I told him.
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I was probably 10 years old (late 60ās) and saw this idiot driving is big fancy new car with the snow chains on the front wheels, I knew nothing about cars then, but knew chains went on the rear tires.
Told my dad later that day about it, found out is was probably a Buick Toronado or a Cadillac Eldorado.