Using a RWD car for a ski trip?
Discussion
I have the choice of taking the 530d to the french alps or a slightly leggy 280K mile Isuzu Trooper...reason for the concern is that we are/will be taking our 3 month old with us and the other half is concerened about safety etc etc blah blah. Are snow chains worth it for when we get there? How long do they take to fit?
Tyre chaims are a bugger when you first get them and they'll probably take ages to fit. Once you get some practice though and have done it a few times they become a doddle. So if you do decide to take the Beamer with snow chains make sure you get some practice fitting them on the drive first until your confident with them.
Worst thing you want is having to fit them for the very first time when your up in the Alps in the freezing cold and you can't feel your fingers anymore after 15mins of trying and swearing.
Worst thing you want is having to fit them for the very first time when your up in the Alps in the freezing cold and you can't feel your fingers anymore after 15mins of trying and swearing.
DanielC4GP said:
Tyre chaims are a bugger when you first get them and they'll probably take ages to fit. Once you get some practice though and have done it a few times they become a doddle. So if you do decide to take the Beamer with snow chains make sure you get some practice fitting them on the drive first until your confident with them.
Worst thing you want is having to fit them for the very first time when your up in the Alps in the freezing cold and you can't feel your fingers anymore after 15mins of trying and swearing.
True! Can I get them from Halfrauds or am I better of getting from a specialist provider?Worst thing you want is having to fit them for the very first time when your up in the Alps in the freezing cold and you can't feel your fingers anymore after 15mins of trying and swearing.
Depends where you are going. If not to high and a major resort, the roads will be meticulously clear.
It is only the UK that has snow issues for more than 5 mins. We went to Austria a few years ago - had between 8 and 14 inches of snow most nights and never saw a road closed or perfectly clear.
That said - winter tyres are always worth a consideration.
It is only the UK that has snow issues for more than 5 mins. We went to Austria a few years ago - had between 8 and 14 inches of snow most nights and never saw a road closed or perfectly clear.
That said - winter tyres are always worth a consideration.
Snow chains are compulsory if the road is covered in snow in most areas, the gendarmes will turn you back if you don't have them fitted (not that you'll be able to climb any sort of snowy slope without them or winter tyres in a rwd car with fat tyres). Check your handbook for advice re snowchains - you may only be able to fit ones which cover the face of the tyre because of clearance issues. Www.roofbox.co.uk have a good selection.
Snowsocks are not legally approved as a substitute for chains, so will not get you past the gendarmes.
Advice re practising fitting them is spot-on/
Snowsocks are not legally approved as a substitute for chains, so will not get you past the gendarmes.
Advice re practising fitting them is spot-on/
Ramses said:
Depends where you are going. If not to high and a major resort, the roads will be meticulously clear.
It is only the UK that has snow issues for more than 5 mins. We went to Austria a few years ago - had between 8 and 14 inches of snow most nights and never saw a road closed or perfectly clear.
That said - winter tyres are always worth a consideration.
Not so everywhere, in France they won't bother clearing the roads completely in many resorts if further snowfall is expected - they will clear enough to make the road passable to cars but there will still be compacted snow on the road surface. It is only the UK that has snow issues for more than 5 mins. We went to Austria a few years ago - had between 8 and 14 inches of snow most nights and never saw a road closed or perfectly clear.
That said - winter tyres are always worth a consideration.
I've done plenty of ski trips in an E36 328Ci, E46 330Ci, E46 M3 and E60 M5, all with winter tyres and chains in the boot. In the M5, I've had babies in the car. We've always made it safely to the resort.
The only time I've thought I was going to die on a mountain road was in a hired Saab 9-3. It was hired in Italy and I was assured that it had winter tyres. It didn't and the front end lost all grip on an uphill bend. FOrtunatley, by luck more than skill, I got the car to hit the snowbank on the inside of the bend rather than tip over the edge on the outside. To add insult to injury, the chains were too small and I only managed to bodge them to fit by jacking up the car and stretching the fasteners.
The only time I've thought I was going to die on a mountain road was in a hired Saab 9-3. It was hired in Italy and I was assured that it had winter tyres. It didn't and the front end lost all grip on an uphill bend. FOrtunatley, by luck more than skill, I got the car to hit the snowbank on the inside of the bend rather than tip over the edge on the outside. To add insult to injury, the chains were too small and I only managed to bodge them to fit by jacking up the car and stretching the fasteners.
Zod said:
I've done plenty of ski trips in an E36 328Ci, E46 330Ci, E46 M3 and E60 M5, all with winter tyres and chains in the boot. In the M5, I've had babies in the car. We've always made it safely to the resort.
The only time I've thought I was going to die on a mountain road was in a hired Saab 9-3. It was hired in Italy and I was assured that it had winter tyres. It didn't and the front end lost all grip on an uphill bend. FOrtunatley, by luck more than skill, I got the car to hit the snowbank on the inside of the bend rather than tip over the edge on the outside. To add insult to injury, the chains were too small and I only managed to bodge them to fit by jacking up the car and stretching the fasteners.
Bloody Italians! Was the Saab ok?The only time I've thought I was going to die on a mountain road was in a hired Saab 9-3. It was hired in Italy and I was assured that it had winter tyres. It didn't and the front end lost all grip on an uphill bend. FOrtunatley, by luck more than skill, I got the car to hit the snowbank on the inside of the bend rather than tip over the edge on the outside. To add insult to injury, the chains were too small and I only managed to bodge them to fit by jacking up the car and stretching the fasteners.
RoseyG21 said:
Zod said:
I've done plenty of ski trips in an E36 328Ci, E46 330Ci, E46 M3 and E60 M5, all with winter tyres and chains in the boot. In the M5, I've had babies in the car. We've always made it safely to the resort.
The only time I've thought I was going to die on a mountain road was in a hired Saab 9-3. It was hired in Italy and I was assured that it had winter tyres. It didn't and the front end lost all grip on an uphill bend. FOrtunatley, by luck more than skill, I got the car to hit the snowbank on the inside of the bend rather than tip over the edge on the outside. To add insult to injury, the chains were too small and I only managed to bodge them to fit by jacking up the car and stretching the fasteners.
Bloody Italians! Was the Saab ok?The only time I've thought I was going to die on a mountain road was in a hired Saab 9-3. It was hired in Italy and I was assured that it had winter tyres. It didn't and the front end lost all grip on an uphill bend. FOrtunatley, by luck more than skill, I got the car to hit the snowbank on the inside of the bend rather than tip over the edge on the outside. To add insult to injury, the chains were too small and I only managed to bodge them to fit by jacking up the car and stretching the fasteners.
The road up to La Plagne is quite easy really.
It's pretty much all motorway until you get to Bourg St Maurice.. but then it's quite a twisty road up the mountain – and it gets snowy and icy.
I've done the trip a few times, and I wouldn't want to do it without snow tyres.
For the majority of the drive you probably won't need them at all (depending on general French weather) – but on the last 2 hours up to the resort you'll be grateful for them.
Also, they will help a lot when you're trying to park in an ice covered carpark.
You'll also be grateful for the snow tyres on the way down.
If I was in your situation – I'd take the trooper.
The 4wd and the luggage space will make a big difference.. and the high ground clearance and high seating position too.
Sometimes the roads can get mini avalanches of football sized blocks of snow – no problem in a Trooper – but potential buggerage of BMW bumpers.
The trooper has probably already got some decent M+S tyres on it – and IMO, 4x4 with decent M+S tyres is going to be marginally better than rwd with snow tyres.
But – you will find that chains are a LOT cheaper for the beamer.
But *2 – you may find you don't need chains on a 4x4 with M+S tyres – I can't remember the exact law in that regard.
If there's no snow you won't notice much of a difference either way – but if you’re going skiing you're going to be sacrificing any virgin you can find to the snow gods – so you might as well be prepared to arrive with the roads covered in a foot of fresh snow.
It's pretty much all motorway until you get to Bourg St Maurice.. but then it's quite a twisty road up the mountain – and it gets snowy and icy.
I've done the trip a few times, and I wouldn't want to do it without snow tyres.
For the majority of the drive you probably won't need them at all (depending on general French weather) – but on the last 2 hours up to the resort you'll be grateful for them.
Also, they will help a lot when you're trying to park in an ice covered carpark.
You'll also be grateful for the snow tyres on the way down.
If I was in your situation – I'd take the trooper.
The 4wd and the luggage space will make a big difference.. and the high ground clearance and high seating position too.
Sometimes the roads can get mini avalanches of football sized blocks of snow – no problem in a Trooper – but potential buggerage of BMW bumpers.
The trooper has probably already got some decent M+S tyres on it – and IMO, 4x4 with decent M+S tyres is going to be marginally better than rwd with snow tyres.
But – you will find that chains are a LOT cheaper for the beamer.
But *2 – you may find you don't need chains on a 4x4 with M+S tyres – I can't remember the exact law in that regard.
If there's no snow you won't notice much of a difference either way – but if you’re going skiing you're going to be sacrificing any virgin you can find to the snow gods – so you might as well be prepared to arrive with the roads covered in a foot of fresh snow.
Edited by Snowboy on Friday 4th November 11:35
Good advice Snowboy, although I expect it with your username! Winter tyres compared to chains....hmmmm.
We have driven down to Annecy and surrounding area several times and really appreciated the comfort of the beemer. The trooper has the space and the 4WD but might need 2 or 3 tanks of fuel just to get there.
I think the toss up is between taking the Trooper, being safer on the slippery stuff and taking the hit on fuel OR getting winter tyres or snow chains for the beemer and getting there with time and energy left to ski!
With a 3/4 month old squidgy along for the ride comfort is pretty important...I cant really imagine such a long drive with a screaming, pooing baby in a Trooper.
Anyone want to lend us a Range Rover for a week?
We have driven down to Annecy and surrounding area several times and really appreciated the comfort of the beemer. The trooper has the space and the 4WD but might need 2 or 3 tanks of fuel just to get there.
I think the toss up is between taking the Trooper, being safer on the slippery stuff and taking the hit on fuel OR getting winter tyres or snow chains for the beemer and getting there with time and energy left to ski!
With a 3/4 month old squidgy along for the ride comfort is pretty important...I cant really imagine such a long drive with a screaming, pooing baby in a Trooper.
Anyone want to lend us a Range Rover for a week?
RoseyG21 said:
OR getting winter tyres or snow chains for the beemer
I'd be inclined to suggest you'll need winter tyres AND snow chains for the beemer.Winter tyres for the ice and thin layers of snow.
Chains for if there's more than 4-6" of fresh snow.
Arguably, if there's enough snow to warrant putting on the chains then you're better off waiting for a snowplough to clear the road first and then just follow it up on the snow tyres.
AFAIK The main road from Bourg to La Plagne is kept fairly clear.
If you have chains on the back and regular tyres on the front you'll be able to move, but not turn.
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