I grew up and learned to drive in Michigan, and I never even saw tire chains until I moved to Seattle. For the flatter states, if you know what you are doing and have snow tires, they really aren't necessary. In mountain passes, however, they are great!

I just checked the code, and in Michigan they are actually illegal unless the road is completely covered by snow/ice. The law states that they are "not allowed to come in contact with the surface of the road," because they tear the hell out of it.

There are also counties in Wisconsin that do not use any road salt on secondary roads. They might put out some dirt, but the state doesn't want the salt eating the roads and the taxpayers agree wholeheartedly. You have to just slow down.