Snow Chains On Defender - Front, Back or Both ?
Discussion
Looking to get a set of snow chains for my Defender for the coming winter.
I only anticipate using them very occasionally - I live in town and my house is accessible only via a ~400m long private road (ie council won't grit it) with a moderately steep hill. Last winter after the snow became hard packed and polished to sheet ice it was impassible for a week or so. I only envisage using the chains to get up and down this hill - nothing else.
Don't want to buy chains for all 4 wheels unless I have to. Can I get away with just buying chains for 2 wheels - and if so should they go on the front or the back ?
I only anticipate using them very occasionally - I live in town and my house is accessible only via a ~400m long private road (ie council won't grit it) with a moderately steep hill. Last winter after the snow became hard packed and polished to sheet ice it was impassible for a week or so. I only envisage using the chains to get up and down this hill - nothing else.
Don't want to buy chains for all 4 wheels unless I have to. Can I get away with just buying chains for 2 wheels - and if so should they go on the front or the back ?
You'll always be better with 4 chains BUT it would have to be pretty bad before you couyldn't get up the road with a decent set of tyres.
If you decide on 2 chains i would put them on the front, it's permanent 4x4 with a locking centre diff so if you put the chains on the front you can still get drive and you can get more steering/braking input with chains on the front axle.
We live in a very rural part of Northern Scotland (last winter we had snow fall of maybe 3-4 feet and drifts of >10ft in places). My old 110 didn't get close to being stuck on a set of new AT2's.
All-terrains are generally considered to be better in snow than mud tyres...
One last thing, if you don't want to change your tyres, consider snow socks. I haven't used them but have been told by people I trust that they are very good and much easier to fit than chains.
If you decide on 2 chains i would put them on the front, it's permanent 4x4 with a locking centre diff so if you put the chains on the front you can still get drive and you can get more steering/braking input with chains on the front axle.
We live in a very rural part of Northern Scotland (last winter we had snow fall of maybe 3-4 feet and drifts of >10ft in places). My old 110 didn't get close to being stuck on a set of new AT2's.
All-terrains are generally considered to be better in snow than mud tyres...
One last thing, if you don't want to change your tyres, consider snow socks. I haven't used them but have been told by people I trust that they are very good and much easier to fit than chains.
Thanks.
It's not the deep snow that bothers me - confident I can deal with that - it's when the hard packed snow gets polished by numerous cars wheelspinning on it that I worry about. It got so bad that you couldn't walk on it for a few days - let alone drive on it. It's that specific case that I reckon that I'll need some help of sopmething that can dig into the ice.
It's not the deep snow that bothers me - confident I can deal with that - it's when the hard packed snow gets polished by numerous cars wheelspinning on it that I worry about. It got so bad that you couldn't walk on it for a few days - let alone drive on it. It's that specific case that I reckon that I'll need some help of sopmething that can dig into the ice.
My hill is extremely steep and pretty much gets the worst of the snow in England! The only vehicles able to get to the top of my hill and back down (back down being the hardest one) were me in the D3 with chains and a stable owner on her quad bike. I had AT2s as well but added the chains just be safe. I ended up having to get medicines from the GP for the old people and collecting and driving the postman!
Even those who were living at the bottom of the hill were unable to use normal cars - and in fact many people in 4x4s were crashing due to normal tyres and inability to realise that a big heavy 4 wheel drive vehicle cant defy the laws of physics (even when they only lived at the bottom of the hill).
Even those who were living at the bottom of the hill were unable to use normal cars - and in fact many people in 4x4s were crashing due to normal tyres and inability to realise that a big heavy 4 wheel drive vehicle cant defy the laws of physics (even when they only lived at the bottom of the hill).
I have all terrains on my 90 and have never had any trouble in snow, to be fair we do not get really bad snow very often,but last winter was our worst for many years,our company issued us with snow socks for the vans and i did get stuck on a steep hill on a remote road, the socks got me out and are very easy to put on,but i doubt they would last very long if they were kept on for any length of time.
You need an air gun to fit the studs afaik plus they will be dangerous when off ice/snow (like running in football boots on a path) and are illegal on Tarmac and will wear quickly on Tarmac. So useless in this country. Also consider insurance implications. Easier to fit chains or snow socks. Or winter tyres.
Gazzab said:
You need an air gun to fit the studs afaik plus they will be dangerous when off ice/snow (like running in football boots on a path) and are illegal on Tarmac and will wear quickly on Tarmac. So useless in this country. Also consider insurance implications. Easier to fit chains or snow socks. Or winter tyres.
I don't live in England. I run winter tyres.
And i doubt if your daily commute in the winter involves a mile of compacted snow and ice with the nearest road that has seen a gritter 5 miles away.
A to wether they are illegal is a debatable.
Also what do you mean by an Airgun?
thinfourth2 said:
I don't live in England.
I run winter tyres.
And i doubt if your daily commute in the winter involves a mile of compacted snow and ice with the nearest road that has seen a gritter 5 miles away.
A to wether they are illegal is a debatable.
Also what do you mean by an Airgun?
Winter tyres? Sorry I thought we were talking AT2s? I run winter tyres.
And i doubt if your daily commute in the winter involves a mile of compacted snow and ice with the nearest road that has seen a gritter 5 miles away.
A to wether they are illegal is a debatable.
Also what do you mean by an Airgun?
Airgun to fit the studs ie compressed air gun.
My commute can involve up to 5 miles of compacted snow and ice in deepest winter. We dont get gritters on the roads from my house.
They are illegal - anything that can damage the road is illegal. Plus you are effectively driving without insurance unless declared.
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