Discussion
My M3 is beached in the snow! The wheels spin until the snow turns to hard packed ice! Suffering continued jibes from my Defender driving wife and wondered if anyone has tried snow chains. Anything to stop the jokes (plus that little devil on my shoulder telling me to change car - it has been absent for 9 months since I bought the M3 and my New Years resolution to end the year with the same car is already in jeopardy!!)
You can also get a lenght of 1/4 inch rope and thread it through your rims around the tye ext till you have gone round the tyre about six times tension it up on the outside and you will drive anywere in the snow? Does not last two long on very icy hard roads but in thick snow works like a set of chains??
greenm said:
You can also get a lenght of 1/4 inch rope and thread it through your rims around the tye ext till you have gone round the tyre about six times tension it up on the outside and you will drive anywere in the snow? Does not last two long on very icy hard roads but in thick snow works like a set of chains??
I can see that one tearing off a brake hose + an ABS sensor. mat205125 said:
I'm planning to try a pair of snow socks. At the very least, if i have a set in the boot it wont snow for another 18 months 
I have somecopied from here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
they are truly amazing, the hill I stopped my FWD Volvo on is VERY steep with no grit.. it is very hard to cycle up (bottom gear on the mountain bike), and Thurs night the Quad was wheel spinning just to maintain a steady speed...the car just gripped and pulled away without any wheel slip at all
this is the first time I've tried them
I honestly didn't think they would make that much difference
the Socks are made of a very thick fabric and need to be removed on clear Tarmac, I am still getting a AWD car ahead of next winter as it would be a pain to keep stopping to remove them as I get to within 1 mile of work...and the same again to come home
see below...don't worry about the "fitted over winter tyres" bit
I emailed them to ask the question and they said it wouldn't matter what tyres the socks are fitted over, they would work the same with slicks or winter tyres underneath as the tread does nothing once they are fitted
Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 13th January 13:11
I bought my Spikesspiders in 2002 for my E46 M3 for a trip to the Alps. Of course, there was no snow on the roads, going upor down the mountain, so I didn't use them. It didn't snow to any appreciable extent in the SouthEast of this country for five years or so after that.
In 2007, I took my (still less than a year old) M5 to the Alps, having bought extnesions to make the Spikesspiders fit the bigger wheels. I needed them then and for subsequent trips and I've used themthis year at home.
In 2007, I took my (still less than a year old) M5 to the Alps, having bought extnesions to make the Spikesspiders fit the bigger wheels. I needed them then and for subsequent trips and I've used themthis year at home.
julian64 said:
That graph gives the impression that snow socks are better than both snow tyres and chains.
I can believe they are better than maybe snow tyres, but I don't believe they are antwhere near as good as chains.
the test was carried out by the TUV http://www.tuv.com/de/en/automotive_industry.html I don't think they'd make it upI can believe they are better than maybe snow tyres, but I don't believe they are antwhere near as good as chains.
have you tried snow socks? I agree entirely with the TUV results, the car felt great on the brakes and through the steering even up and down hill, I spent about a hour driving around my local snow and ice covered lanes before heading home VERY impressed
but the most impressive bit was the hill start grip on hardpacked snow and ice, the hill was VERY steep and I honestly felt foolish for stopping there just to try them out (but I do like a challenge) so anyway came to a full stop then sat and thought "was this a good idea"..anyway eased on the throttle and the car just gripped and eased up the hill without ANY wheel spin at all...so yes I'm very confident in them myself
if the weather is still like this I'll stick the gopro hero on the windscreen and do you a little Video if you like
and apart from looking at the pretty graph did you ACTUALLY read what I wrote?
Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 13th January 14:33
I'm planning to drive to Alps in the E90 M3 next month for family ski holiday.
Although I have hired snow chains for previous trips for other cars, have never had to use them.
Looking at the rear tyres of the M3, there is very limited clearance between the wheel and the wheel arch. I am concerned it may make the chains difficult or impossible to fit.
Does anyone have any experience or advice?
Although I have hired snow chains for previous trips for other cars, have never had to use them.
Looking at the rear tyres of the M3, there is very limited clearance between the wheel and the wheel arch. I am concerned it may make the chains difficult or impossible to fit.
Does anyone have any experience or advice?
pjv997 said:
I'm planning to drive to Alps in the E90 M3 next month for family ski holiday.
Although I have hired snow chains for previous trips for other cars, have never had to use them.
Looking at the rear tyres of the M3, there is very limited clearance between the wheel and the wheel arch. I am concerned it may make the chains difficult or impossible to fit.
Does anyone have any experience or advice?
You can get 'limited clearance' chains such as Sportmatik, or maybe one of these. Some are easy to fit assuming you pre-fit the hub attachment to the wheel - others may scratch the alloys.Although I have hired snow chains for previous trips for other cars, have never had to use them.
Looking at the rear tyres of the M3, there is very limited clearance between the wheel and the wheel arch. I am concerned it may make the chains difficult or impossible to fit.
Does anyone have any experience or advice?
It may be worth buying a set of winter wheels & tyres if it's something you do frequently as some of these chain 'systems' can cost over £300.
I use snowchains on my E39 M5. Even in the deepest snow we've had this year it keeps going like a (very fast) yeti.
I have Weissenfels Klack and Go Pro's, clearence is fine while driving but I have to raise the car up slightly to get them on. Its not a big deal and I can get each side on in about 2 minutes now, including jacking the car. Very handy when going from snow covered lanes to main roads, or vice versa.
A worthy investment I think, and one you can always sell on if you don't need anymore.
Edited to say: they are still a ditch last option in my book, if you're going to be driving in snowy conditions reguarly winter tyres are still the way to go.
I have Weissenfels Klack and Go Pro's, clearence is fine while driving but I have to raise the car up slightly to get them on. Its not a big deal and I can get each side on in about 2 minutes now, including jacking the car. Very handy when going from snow covered lanes to main roads, or vice versa.
A worthy investment I think, and one you can always sell on if you don't need anymore.
Edited to say: they are still a ditch last option in my book, if you're going to be driving in snowy conditions reguarly winter tyres are still the way to go.
Edited by OllyBlox on Monday 8th February 18:44
pjv997 said:
I'm planning to drive to Alps in the E90 M3 next month for family ski holiday.
Although I have hired snow chains for previous trips for other cars, have never had to use them.
Looking at the rear tyres of the M3, there is very limited clearance between the wheel and the wheel arch. I am concerned it may make the chains difficult or impossible to fit.
Does anyone have any experience or advice?
Might be easier to fit socks then, as someone else suggested.Although I have hired snow chains for previous trips for other cars, have never had to use them.
Looking at the rear tyres of the M3, there is very limited clearance between the wheel and the wheel arch. I am concerned it may make the chains difficult or impossible to fit.
Does anyone have any experience or advice?
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