Seasonal topic alert - Snow chains on A6 with 19" 255 tyres

[Raven Flyer]

Do they exist?

Any links to manufacturers that have been used would be gratefully received.

[bigtalljim]

I think you may find that the clearance between tyre and arch is too little for chains now. I have 18s on my S6 and its close.
Audi recommend 16 inch mud/snow tyre combo with 225/16/50 profile.

I just stuck to 4 wheel drifts and light right foot.

[Tame Technician]

I'm afraid I dont own an Audi, However I do have a helpfull story for those of you that do.

My stupidly heavy, rear wheel drive 3.0 Omega, equiped with wide, sporty dry weather tyres, is the worst car in the snow ever.

I have be so precised and gentle coming off the clutch in 2nd gear with 0% throtle and still get stuck on the flat, and soon find myself going backwards down hills.

However fitted these, now its like a 4x4, can go anywhere, steepest hills no problem.

http://www.autosock.co.uk/

I have no connection with the company, was just totally knocked off my feet by how somthing that looks so stupid can work so well.

Took me 1 minute per side to fit, and 30 secs per side to take off. Given that down south the snow is deep and unpassable one minute and melted away to slush the next, this is far better than the chain alternative that take much longer to fit and removed and so much cheaper and easier than a spare set of winter tyres for the week of snow we somtimes get here.

Keep them in the boot, if its gets tricky, slip em on, job done.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNTf-NYXbBw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIJNb261u08&fea...

Found this on youtube, there the ones.

You can order them through your local Audi centre as an approved Accessory for £100 a pair, or from the manufacturers web site for £59.

[Raven Flyer]

TT I have seen these.

Its for a trip to Tignes/Val D'Isere and its mandatory to carry chains in the Alps. Often, if the road up from Bourg St Maurice is snowy, the Police turn back cars that don't have their snow chains fitted. Drivers with snow socks have also been turned back.

I would be interested to know how long the socks last. Probably quite a while on snow, but suspect they wear out very quickly once back on tarmac.

[blueg33]

Handbook says snow chains cannot be fitted to A6 with 19 inch rims.

[blueg33]

Tame Technician said:

I'm afraid I dont own an Audi, However I do have a helpfull story for those of you that do.

My stupidly heavy, rear wheel drive 3.0 Omega, equiped with wide, sporty dry weather tyres, is the worst car in the snow ever.

I have be so precised and gentle coming off the clutch in 2nd gear with 0% throtle and still get stuck on the flat, and soon find myself going backwards down hills.

However fitted these, now its like a 4x4, can go anywhere, steepest hills no problem.

http://www.autosock.co.uk/

I have no connection with the company, was just totally knocked off my feet by how somthing that looks so stupid can work so well.

Took me 1 minute per side to fit, and 30 secs per side to take off. Given that down south the snow is deep and unpassable one minute and melted away to slush the next, this is far better than the chain alternative that take much longer to fit and removed and so much cheaper and easier than a spare set of winter tyres for the week of snow we somtimes get here.

Keep them in the boot, if its gets tricky, slip em on, job done.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNTf-NYXbBw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIJNb261u08&fea...

Found this on youtube, there the ones.

You can order them through your local Audi centre as an approved Accessory for £100 a pair, or from the manufacturers web site for £59.

When I looked, I couldnt get these in the right size for 255/35 19 tyres

[Raven Flyer]

Thanks Blue

[Christiaan]

Check this site out

http://www.roofrackshop.co.uk/Car-Products/Snowcha...

Pricey, but they do say they fit 255 35 19

[Tame Technician]

Raven Flyer said:

TT I have seen these.

Its for a trip to Tignes/Val D'Isere and its mandatory to carry chains in the Alps. Often, if the road up from Bourg St Maurice is snowy, the Police turn back cars that don't have their snow chains fitted. Drivers with snow socks have also been turned back.

I would be interested to know how long the socks last. Probably quite a while on snow, but suspect they wear out very quickly once back on tarmac.

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel2t.php?emulate=snowchains&query=4597&vptype=346609


They list chains here for all A6 tyres sizes including RS6. But Some are £300
http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel2t.php?em...

[Tame Technician]

blueg33 said:

When I looked, I couldnt get these in the right size for 255/35 19 tyres

http://www.autosock.co.uk/ASsize.php

Yep 255/35/19 number AS685

[blueg33]

Tame Technician said:

blueg33 said:

When I looked, I couldnt get these in the right size for 255/35 19 tyres

http://www.autosock.co.uk/ASsize.php

Yep 255/35/19 number AS685

They must have added those, it was a few months ago that I looked

So, do I need 2 pairs for a quattro?

Edited by blueg33 on Wednesday 10th February 19:04

[APJ]

I have the same potential problem with an A6 Avant on 19 inch wheels - going to Alps at Easter - I have however seen these http://www.snowchains.co.uk/main/quattro.htm

Does anyone have experience of them, or better still a set I can hire for the week - they are close to £250 a pair

[Marcellus]

blueg33 said:

So, do I need 2 pairs for a quattro?

No front wheels only!

Catching up on the legality of snow socks...... socks still aren't legal in France although more and more the Gendarmes are accepting them as "non slip" devices..... it is believed that the wording of the law will be changed to this new definition to allow for socks and nets.

Edited by Marcellus on Wednesday 3rd March 09:50

[Raven Flyer]

There are many stories, on the skiing fora, of sock equipped cars sliding down roads, all the way to the point of impact. They are no substitute for chains in mountainous regions.

[Marcellus]

Raven Flyer said:

There are many stories, on the skiing fora, of sock equipped cars sliding down roads, all the way to the point of impact. They are no substitute for chains in mountainous regions.

Oh totally, I will never use socks or nets on any car I drive.. and yes often see cars leave the road or have trouble with them!!

[blueg33]

Marcellus said:

blueg33 said:

So, do I need 2 pairs for a quattro?

No front wheels only!

Edited by Marcellus on Wednesday 3rd March 09:50

Still not sure. If Audi says that the tyres on a quattro should all be the same tread pattern and compound, and even have similar tread depths to prevent stressing the system, surely socks on fron only have the same effect as different tyres on the front?

Anyway...its spring this morning :-) who needs snow chains, socks, winter tyres etc :-) I am readying my Semi Slicks :-)

[Marcellus]

blueg33 said:

Marcellus said:

blueg33 said:

So, do I need 2 pairs for a quattro?

No front wheels only!

Edited by Marcellus on Wednesday 3rd March 09:50

Still not sure. If Audi says that the tyres on a quattro should all be the same tread pattern and compound, and even have similar tread depths to prevent stressing the system, surely socks on fron only have the same effect as different tyres on the front?

Anyway...its spring this morning :-) who needs snow chains, socks, winter tyres etc :-) I am readying my Semi Slicks :-)

OK, all I can tell you is what happens in the French Alps..... the only vehicles you see with chains/socks/nets on all 4 wheels are the snow ploughs... you never see them on any private, Gendarme or Pompier vehicles.

[Marshy]

I've just bought a pair of Thule K-Summit's for my A8. They're similar to the quattro thingies mentioned earlier in the thread. If I actually use them, I'll try to remember to report back.

They're well suited to cars with limited clearance, because you don't have to get around the back of the wheel as they clamp onto the hub (via a clever wheeze with a wheelnut) and crank themselves onto the tyre. Sorta. Test fitting earlier today seemed pretty straightforward. Be warned, the instructions are like something off the Krypton Factor though (for viewers under 25, "it's well complicated, innit").

Lastly: feck me, but they're expensive. 300 notes for the pair, thanks to my car running around on 20" wheels. Whoever specced that was a lunatic.