Rear drive car - Snow chains front, rear or both?

[mrmr96]

Assuming winter tyres are out of the equation and you have a RWD car - What do we think?
I have my thoughts but want to see what you lot come up with!

Cheers

[Grenoble]

No point in having power without control.
No point in having control with no ability to apply power.

[the stigs dad]

Snow socks are an alternative

[mrmr96]

the stigs dad said:

Snow socks are an alternative

Indeed, but the question of "which wheels" remains. I.e. buy two sets or only one.

[vrsmxtb]

Now where's that bmw pic when you need it....

[Caulkhead]

If it's got an LSD, try one on the front and one on the back.

Disclaimer - this may kill you.

[Bluebarge]

Only on the driven wheels. Snow chains are for traction, so it makes sense to put them on the axle that generates some!

[James_N]

vrsmxtb said:

Now where's that bmw pic when you need it....

and another

[Captain Muppet]

Bluebarge said:

Only on the driven wheels. Snow chains are for traction, so it makes sense to put them on the axle that generates some!

So snow chains don't work when braking or turning?

Seems silly to accelerate a car you can't stop.

[David87]

vrsmxtb said:

Now where's that bmw pic when you need it....

I love that.

In answer to the OP: BOTH!

[buggalugs]

I personally would go for the back wheels, and just be careful of understeer on the bends, because I'm not a big girls blouse.

[Zad]

Driven wheels, you should be using quite a lot of engine / throttle braking anyway. If you go off on a corner because you were going too fast then that's your own stupid fault! If the fronts wouldn't grip then the rears wouldn't have either.

[Bluebarge]

Captain Muppet said:

So snow chains don't work when braking or turning?

Seems silly to accelerate a car you can't stop.

They will work on the back wheels when braking, but the front wheels will still turn the car, even in deep snow. You can't exceed 50kph with snow-chains anyway, they are very much a poor relation to winter tyres.

[falkster]

Both!

It makes me laugh people's ignorance to traction (not OP). A friend of mine took my wife to work in the snow last year in her Honda HIV. She was doing 40 down this hill and didn't understand why the car didn't turn the corner when it arrived!!
'But I thought it was 4wd???'

[v8250]

mrmr96 said:

Assuming winter tyres are out of the equation and you have a RWD car - What do we think?
I have my thoughts but want to see what you lot come up with! Cheers

OP, please do not listen to the very incorrect "advice" being given here. All RWD cars must have snow chains fitted to ALL four wheels.

For the muppets advising otherwise...the RWD chained drive wheels will grip...which results in your RWD car pushing its front end in uncontrolled understeer; even at the slowest of speeds, let alone 30mph or more. If in doubt try this on a descending hill, snow chains on rears only...and try steering the car, let alone braking to a controlled standstill.

To confirm, before the FWD topic arises...it is possible to run chains on the FWD wheels only providing you have winter tyres on all four wheels. This because if the car is running std summer tyres the backend will oversteer at the first corner. Result? Near zero car control.

From one driver with 25yrs+ of using snow chains? Buy the right diamond pattern chains and use four chains at all times.

PS snow socks are for townies doing the shopping run...they're a waste of time in serious snow and will wear out very quickly.

[Six Fiend]

v8250 said:

OP, please do not listen to the very incorrect "advice" being given here. All RWD cars must have snow chains fitted to ALL four wheels.

For the muppets advising otherwise...the RWD chained drive wheels will grip...which results in your RWD car pushing its front end in uncontrolled understeer; even at the slowest of speeds, let alone 30mph or more. If in doubt try this on a descending hill, snow chains on rears only...and try steering the car, let alone braking to a controlled standstill.

To confirm, before the FWD topic arises...it is possible to run chains on the FWD wheels only providing you have winter tyres on all four wheels. This because if the car is running std summer tyres the backend will oversteer at the first corner. Result? Near zero car control.

From one driver with 25yrs+ of using snow chains? Buy the right diamond pattern chains and use four chains at all times.

PS snow socks are for townies doing the shopping run...they're a waste of time in serious snow and will wear out very quickly.

Serious question...AWD cars? My spider senses tell me all 4 again. Mind you, never bothered with any chains even when doing silly miles in snow in a Connect a couple of years back. I just used my loaf when driving (and carried a shovel and grit just in case )

[EDLT]

v8250 said:

mrmr96 said:

Assuming winter tyres are out of the equation and you have a RWD car - What do we think?
I have my thoughts but want to see what you lot come up with! Cheers

OP, please do not listen to the very incorrect "advice" being given here. All RWD cars must have snow chains fitted to ALL four wheels.

For the muppets advising otherwise...the RWD chained drive wheels will grip...which results in your RWD car pushing its front end in uncontrolled understeer; even at the slowest of speeds, let alone 30mph or more. If in doubt try this on a descending hill, snow chains on rears only...and try steering the car, let alone braking to a controlled standstill.

To confirm, before the FWD topic arises...it is possible to run chains on the FWD wheels only providing you have winter tyres on all four wheels. This because if the car is running std summer tyres the backend will oversteer at the first corner. Result? Near zero car control.

From one driver with 25yrs+ of using snow chains? Buy the right diamond pattern chains and use four chains at all times.

PS snow socks are for townies doing the shopping run...they're a waste of time in serious snow and will wear out very quickly.

If the roads are THAT slippery I advise staying at home.

[mrmr96]

Thanks for the input chaps, an interesting mix of answers and some lively debate, which is good!

I've bought two sets, so I have a pair for the front and also a pair on the back. To me it makes sense that I'll need power to move and also steering and braking, so "both" front and rear seems right.

FWIW the car does have snow tyres on, but when travelling to the alps it's my understanding that sometimes (weather/road conditions dependant) the police will insist you fit chains before proceeding no matter what tyres you have. If you don't comply they'll turn you around and send you back down.

Cheers.

[thinfourth2]

EDLT said:

If the roads are THAT slippery I advise staying at home.

i have chains in the landrover so i can get home