when to use snow chains?????

[dave0010]

so guys expecting the worst of the weather this year and being self employeed i thought i best buy a set of snow chains for the transit as it was totaly useless last year but when to put the chains on???

my only experiance of using chains in the past was when i went snow boarding last year in france we had to put them on to get up to the resort but there was prob a ft of compact snow underneath us.

now im guessin not to bother woth the first drop of snow as the wheels and tyres will normally dig through the snow and just put them on when i get stuck or sould i just wack them on ryt away ?????

[Or888t]

Surley, snow chains in the uk is just too excessive, full stop? No?

[Defcon5]

what about those wheel socks? Are they a viable alternative?

[eldar]

Or888t said:

Surley, snow chains in the uk is just too excessive, full stop? No?

Yup. Winter tyres are fine 99% of the time. For that 1% a few loops of sash cord rope round the rims works perfectly

[dave0010]

last year with the snow everyone i new was stuck apart from a m8 with a dodgy old van with a set of snow chains he was puttin 4x4's to shame up sum of the hills

[anonymous-user]

You need these http://www.autosock.co.uk/

Not chains!

They use these socks in the ski resorts in the Alps. Work amazingly well!

[Tea Pot One]

One of the guys I work with got into work when everyone else was failing last year - his 10 year old Renault Clio and a cheapo set of snow chains .... and that was Surrey - not Scotland.

The chains were in the car when he bought it but he swore by them for the worst of the weather until the grit took effect and the ice on side streets went.

He got in when I could get nowhere in my Z4.

I now have snow socks and a set of Thule Summit snow chains for my M Sport BMW .... as that is total c**p in any snow

[dave0010]

alien vs predator quote about a condom but still applicable "id rather have one and not need it, then need one and not have one"

[m4rk]

I am not sure about the UK but there can be laws about when and where to use them. 100% unbroken snow cover on the roads IIRC and then its OK. I have used mine a few times but only on steep roads when I got stuck. Winter tyres are OK 99% of the time.

Chains totally transform the car in snow and I was able to drive up a steep road with 30cm of snow on it. They really come into their own when going down hills were 4x4 and traction control is of no use yet you still need steering and braking!!! Mandatory to have in some parts of Europe. Sometimes the police will not let you down a mountain without them.

Most but not all chains can be a real pain to fit and I'd advise practising with them in comfort before you actually need to use them. Snow shovel is also handy if you do need to fit them. Tolerances can be tight and if the tyre is buried in the snow you may need to be clear it to get them on. Its not much fun grappling with chains in the very cold icy conditions.

Check your user manual before fitting chains. Not all cars and tyre combinations can use the standard type. I had to get spikes spiders for my Audi. 30sec to fit and OK for sports cars and alloys. These are very good but expensive. I stopped on a hill once and I just hopped out the car,fitted them and was off before anything else came along. My passengers were well impressed.

edited to add:
I live in the Alps and have yet to see a snow sock!

Edited by m4rk on Monday 29th November 21:32

Edited by m4rk on Monday 29th November 21:35

[Ranger 6]

Well, think back to your French experience and when you've got a layer of snow on the road for the chains to bite into and there's and extreme likelyhood of you losing traction then put them on. Try not to leave it until you have lost all grip and are blocking the road.

Once you reach clear or wet tarmac then take them off.

Chains(like socks) should not be used for too long on tarmac, they're designed to be used in snow. Careful with the speed, if you lose a tensioner you could shred the wheelarch.

[nonuts]

NinjaPower said:

You need these http://www.autosock.co.uk/

Not chains!

They use these socks in the ski resorts in the Alps. Work amazingly well!

Anyone got any 1st hand experience of these?

[GTIR]

nonuts said:

NinjaPower said:

You need these http://www.autosock.co.uk/

Not chains!

They use these socks in the ski resorts in the Alps. Work amazingly well!

Anyone got any 1st hand experience of these?

Yes, fine in The Alps where there is lots of snow but in the UK you'll have snow, then clear roads. Then what?
Jump out in -5 and whip them off then put them back on two miles down the road?

fk that.

Just stick some winter tyres on.

[dave0010]

the resort we stayed in every merc had these on didnt see any driving along but they were everywhere but still no where near as many as people with chains