Tonight both 50 and 80 have chain requirements. 80 was closed for 2 hours this afternoon according to KCRA, a Sacramento TV station. 10-12 inches of snow is expected from the storm coming through right now.

50 is a mostly a two lane road from Kyburz to Meyers, where chains are required tonight, with an occasional passing lane, and takes you into South Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border at Stateline. The problem in using 50 to go to Reno is that you then need to go over Spooner Summit on the way down into Carson City and then into Reno. An alternate route would be over the Mount Rose Highway from Incline Village to Reno. Both of those routes present their own obstacles with winter weather/snow because of their elevation (Spooner Summit is at 7,146 feet and the Mount Rose Highway at 8,911 feet).

80 is freeway the whole way. I just wouldn't be thinking about alternate routes that may end up causing you even more problems.