Range Rover Sport, French Alps - Snow Chains
Discussion
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!!
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!!
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.
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.
leemind said:
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've got a 2014MY SDV6 and done 2 big trips to Europe this year, including one to Val d'Isere during that big dump. Both times I've been almost afraid to drive at night for fear of blinding all the oncoming traffic. Almost everyone flashed me. 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!!
It got so bad, that whilst in Val, I popped open the bonnet and "wound down" the lights, so they were aimed a bit lower. Voila, no more flashing. I think they are a bit too low, but I haven't gotten around to calibrating them property.
The dashboard adjustment is just for which side to detect oncoming cars for the auto hi-beam. It does nothing to the beam pattern or alignment unfortunately.
Still don't really believe the handbook as I can clearly see that the beam pattern is asymmetric.
Gassing Station | Land Rover | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff