Range Rover Sport, French Alps - Snow Chains

Range Rover Sport, French Alps - Snow Chains

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andrewt1982

Original Poster:

44 posts

167 months

Sunday 28th December 2014
quotequote all
looking for some advice...

Going to the French Alps in January - Interested in opinions/experience regarding snow chains.

I'm driving through the night to Meribel, planning on arriving for breakfast in the resort - the bit i'm struggling with is the rules on snow chains. I have a 2014 Sport with the 22" wheels and the standard Conti M&S (road biased tyres) - I know that if the conditions are such then the Gendarmerie will stop all vehicles at the base of the mountain and enforce chains...

So i've had a look at "snow chains" - apparently conventional chains are not suitable and something like the Thule K-Summit system is required, this is about £400. I've used snow socks before so have looked at these (about £60) but there seems conflicting ideas as to whether they are an legal alternative.

I've never had any experience of getting to the bottom of a mountain when chains are being enforced - I don't want to spend £400 if having a set of snow socks will suffice but at the same time if they are not legal/suitable better to know now!!

I've used snow socks before but never chains and never going up the side of a mountain - any opinions/experiences on this would be appreciated!!


CSK1

1,598 posts

123 months

Sunday 28th December 2014
quotequote all
I would fit proper Winter tyres for a start. The gendarmes will let you through if you have them fitted. Land Rover also have a snow traction system which is essentially a Spikes Spyder system which is easier to fit than chains (which you will have trouble finding for 22 inch wheels).

camel_landy

4,861 posts

182 months

Monday 29th December 2014
quotequote all
Get rid of those bling wheels for a start and get a narrower set, running winter tyres... Then, get yourself some chains and learn how to fit them. When you have compressed snow, all you'll need is a bit of a slope and you'll end up with an expensive toboggan!!

I'm currently in the Alps, in my RRS, with winter tyres and chains. Whilst the tyres do give better control than standard tyres, the conditions we're currently experiencing make the chains essential once off the main roads.

"Better to have and not want than want and not have..."

M

foliedouce

3,067 posts

230 months

Tuesday 30th December 2014
quotequote all
Personally I'd get yourself a set of winter tyres as has already been suggested. Get proper ones with the snowflake symbol then you have no worries getting passed the Gendarmes as that's what they look for (or snow chains).

Re the snow chains v snow socks debate, I don't known the legalities or what the Gendarmes will accept. I'm currently sat in Val D'Isere where the mountain road was closed for 24 hours last weekend stranding a few thousands people. I have witnessed both socks and chains coming up the mountain since they reopened the road. So read it that what you will.

However I'd think about what is best in getting your pride and joy through tough winter conditions safely and choose that option, therefore all roads lead back to smaller wheels with a a set of winter tyres. You could alternate between summer and winter rims / tyres. I don't agree that you need chains and decent winter tyres but there is no harm in doing that if you want belt and braces.

Following the recent disruption in the Alps, we've been having a similar debate on Snowheads, you may want to read that thread as they gave some recommendations on chains if that's the route you go down. If you want winter tyres, sarge4x4 on here is the man to speak to.

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=115...

Let us know what you decide and how your trip goes

Oh, and have fun!

Edited by foliedouce on Tuesday 30th December 18:52

Marcellus

7,111 posts

218 months

Tuesday 30th December 2014
quotequote all
Even with full snow tyres on, if les gendarmes are enforcing the "all vehicles must have chains/sock on to go past this point" then that will apply to you in an RRS.

Personally i prefer chains (as do most residents) but if socks are more affordable and you feel ok with them then i know a lot of tourists feel the same and very few have issues (both are legal)

foliedouce

3,067 posts

230 months

Tuesday 30th December 2014
quotequote all
Marcellus said:
Even with full snow tyres on, if les gendarmes are enforcing the "all vehicles must have chains/sock on to go past this point" then that will apply to you in an RRS.

Personally i prefer chains (as do most residents) but if socks are more affordable and you feel ok with them then i know a lot of tourists feel the same and very few have issues (both are legal)
Interesting, where in the Alps do you live? They certainly haven't enforced chains/socks coming up the hill to Val D where vehicles have 'proper' winter tyres.

As a resident, does that mean you can confirm for the OP that socks are treated the same as chains? It would be good to know as I don't take either.

Ranger 6

7,040 posts

248 months

Tuesday 30th December 2014
quotequote all
camel_landy said:
"Better to have and not want than want and not have..."
yes

I've been going to the alps for 15 years with chains in the boot. Only used them twice......

Marcellus

7,111 posts

218 months

Tuesday 30th December 2014
quotequote all
foliedouce said:
Interesting, where in the Alps do you live? They certainly haven't enforced chains/socks coming up the hill to Val D where vehicles have 'proper' winter tyres.

As a resident, does that mean you can confirm for the OP that socks are treated the same as chains? It would be good to know as I don't take either.
Lived in the Grand massif with a 110 defender for 4 years... and legally you should carry one or the other.


I guess the difference is the road up to VDI is pretty straight and wide so they can keep it open whereas those in to the GM are quite narrow so they worry they can't so regularly enforce the chains/socks.

How long was the road to VDI shut this week? (The roads into the GM weren't)

Joegarthy

2 posts

111 months

Tuesday 30th December 2014
quotequote all
So, I've just returned from the Alps and experienced the nightmare that was last Saturday.

We were lucky, although it took 6 hrs to go 15km, the diffrerence for us was 1) chains (obligatory) and 2) winter tyres.

Yes it was freakish weather but you're going to the bloody Alps! The alternative isn't worth considering,

Thule snow chains were brilliant and easy to fit even for a novice. Go get them...


foliedouce

3,067 posts

230 months

Wednesday 31st December 2014
quotequote all
Marcellus said:
foliedouce said:
Interesting, where in the Alps do you live? They certainly haven't enforced chains/socks coming up the hill to Val D where vehicles have 'proper' winter tyres.

As a resident, does that mean you can confirm for the OP that socks are treated the same as chains? It would be good to know as I don't take either.
Lived in the Grand massif with a 110 defender for 4 years... and legally you should carry one or the other.


I guess the difference is the road up to VDI is pretty straight and wide so they can keep it open whereas those in to the GM are quite narrow so they worry they can't so regularly enforce the chains/socks.

How long was the road to VDI shut this week? (The roads into the GM weren't)
I wouldn't describe the mountain road in / out of Val as straight but then I've never been to GM so can't compare. My 3 year old would certainly disagree as he's always sick by the time we get from Val to St Foy, but that's probably my driving more than the road smile

The road shut sometime on Saturday and reopened around 3am Sunday morning, it was closed for avalanche clearance rather than road conditions. The Gendarmes were out and enforcing 4x4 with winter tyres or chains (or apparently socks but I can't confirm that for sure). There were the usual issues of people getting stuck / not knowing how to put the chains on etc and apparently some abandoned vehicles which didn't help. All in all it was a nightmare for those further down the road especially with the lack of information that was being shared. The pistes were certainly very quiet on both Sat and Sun.

Out of interest, what tyres did / do you use on your 110? What conditions do you put your chains on?

I guess the big advantage of Val D is that they clear the road quickly and when I drive here I stick to the main route through town, and tend to park underground.

I'm driving to Chatel in Feb (in my 110 UW with GG AT2s fitted) and the kids ski school is about 2 miles from where we are staying, so it will get used daily which maybe a good test.

andrewt1982

Original Poster:

44 posts

167 months

Wednesday 31st December 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies. Will look at getting some smaller wheels and winter tyres and i've ordered the appropriate chains- it seems whether or not the car has winter tyres it will still need chains!

Camel_Landy - what tyres/size are you using?


Marcellus

7,111 posts

218 months

Wednesday 31st December 2014
quotequote all
foliedouce said:
Out of interest, what tyres did / do you use on your 110? What conditions do you put your chains on?
We had Cooper Winter Tyres on the 110, and were often out before the Snow Ploughs had got to the minor roads.

camel_landy

4,861 posts

182 months

Wednesday 31st December 2014
quotequote all
andrewt1982 said:
Thanks for the replies. Will look at getting some smaller wheels and winter tyres and i've ordered the appropriate chains- it seems whether or not the car has winter tyres it will still need chains!

Camel_Landy - what tyres/size are you using?

I'm running 19" rims with the standard 255/50R19. This size lets you run chains, anything wider will rub on the suspension.

The tyres are the good old Vredestein Wintrack Extreme.

HTH

M

numtumfutunch

4,704 posts

137 months

Saturday 3rd January 2015
quotequote all
camel_landy said:
I'm running 19" rims with the standard 255/50R19. This size lets you run chains, anything wider will rub on the suspension.

The tyres are the good old Vredestein Wintrack Extreme.

HTH

M
I am running the above tyre on a first gen RRS

We've just returned from a week in a cottage located down a 3 mile track
With the snow on boxing day still fresh on our arrival we got in and out of the hamlet in which we were staying when the local farmer and all the other residents were immobilised despite a variety of serious 4x4's and utes

Sorry - cant help on chains though, but WIntrac Extremes rock

g7jhp

6,958 posts

237 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
quotequote all
I drove from Geneva to Morzine last Saturday (27th Dec) in a FWD Volvo V40 D3 hatchback with snow tires. It took 4 hours, we passed through two Police checks and decided not to fit the snow chains (which proved an issue to try and fit later in the week and so we're never used).

You must have winter tyres and ideally you want 4WD and some easy to fit snow chains (check out the Thule chains which can be fitted in 12 secs).

camel_landy

4,861 posts

182 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
quotequote all
g7jhp said:
I drove from Geneva to Morzine last Saturday (27th Dec) in a FWD Volvo V40 D3 hatchback with snow tires. It took 4 hours, we passed through two Police checks and decided not to fit the snow chains (which proved an issue to try and fit later in the week and so we're never used).

You must have winter tyres and ideally you want 4WD and some easy to fit snow chains (check out the Thule chains which can be fitted in 12 secs).
Hahaha... I did exactly the same but my journey was a fraction of the time! Which way did you go (It sounds like you went via Cluses & Les Gets.)???

I went from Geneva, via Thonon-Les-Bains... From there, Morzine is just straight up the valley. If you go again, it's worth remembering as you don't get stuck in the holiday traffic.

I ran on winter tyres the whole way and only fitted chains (Thule) when pulling into the carpark of the apartment.

M

g7jhp

6,958 posts

237 months

Monday 5th January 2015
quotequote all
camel_landy said:
Hahaha... I did exactly the same but my journey was a fraction of the time! Which way did you go (It sounds like you went via Cluses & Les Gets.)???

I went from Geneva, via Thonon-Les-Bains... From there, Morzine is just straight up the valley. If you go again, it's worth remembering as you don't get stuck in the holiday traffic.

I ran on winter tyres the whole way and only fitted chains (Thule) when pulling into the carpark of the apartment.

M
Yes we went Cluses, Let Gets.

I did drive from Morzine to Thonon and back later in the week, but only to visit the hospital. It's a cracking road!


camel_landy

4,861 posts

182 months

Monday 5th January 2015
quotequote all
g7jhp said:
Yes we went Cluses, Let Gets.

I did drive from Morzine to Thonon and back later in the week, but only to visit the hospital. It's a cracking road!
Well next time, go that way as it's a simple run to Annemasse from Thonon and it bypasses that busy stretch of autoroute from Geneva.

M

andrewt1982

Original Poster:

44 posts

167 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Thought i'd update this after my trip...

I bought the Thule K-Summit Chains but decided to hold off for winter tyres until I could find some wheels/tyres suitable - rather than rush now and pay a premium.

Left at 8pm on the Friday night and traveled in convoy with our friends (BMW 3 Series on Winter tyres) - made good progress until about 100 miles away, when it began to snow heavily - got to the base of the mountain for sunrise and with the roads covered with the still heavily falling snow began the drive up. As we entered Meribel Villages a snow plough came up behind so I pulled over and followed him the rest of the way up. When we arrived there was probably about 20-25cm of snow on the pavements, side streets etc, the chalet had an uphill driveway that had not been cleared but this posed no problems at all (though the BMW did not fare quite so well and would not go near the slope - despite numerous attempts!)

Drove the RRS around at various points of the week - the French are super efficient at getting the roads and pavements clear. The chains never came out the bag and I never felt that I was struggling for control - though I must admit to driving steady and cautiously.

Driving home was straight forward - roads were completely clear.

Biggest irritation of the trip was the car headlights - I purposely checked the owners handbook which states:
HEADLAMPS - DRIVING ABROAD
The headlamps have a beam pattern that eliminates the need to mechanically adjust the lamps or add any external stick-on decals.
Every oncoming car I passed seemed to think this was complete rubbish!!

Thanks for all the comments posted in reply to my OP - I haven't ignored the advice regarding the winter tyres (I also have a Defender that already has a set fitted) they will get purchased this year. Though I must say the standard Continentals were very good in the conditions I experienced.


camel_landy

4,861 posts

182 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
andrewt1982 said:
Biggest irritation of the trip was the car headlights - I purposely checked the owners handbook which states:
HEADLAMPS - DRIVING ABROAD
The headlamps have a beam pattern that eliminates the need to mechanically adjust the lamps or add any external stick-on decals.
Every oncoming car I passed seemed to think this was complete rubbish!!
I can't remember off hand but I think there's an option you have to set within the dashboard setup pages...

M