Snow Chains

[VEIGHT]

I'm driving to Tignes on Friday and need to get some snow chains.

Is it something I can rent? I'm only going for the weekend so won't need them often? Or would anyone like to borrow them when I have finished?

Are they easy to fit to a V8 Vantage?

[F1NDW]

I have a set of Thule chains that fit my Vanquish. Unfortunately your profile does not give any indication of your location.

[VEIGHT]

I'm outskirts of London - did you get them online?

[IanV12VR]

When we were driving up in the Alpes in summer remember seeing lots of signs saying winter tyres were required between October and April. We were not near Tignes but it may be the case for there. Thought would mention just in case you only had summer tyres on the car. Apparently the police can stop you driving any further if you have the wrong tyres on. No experience, and may be wrong, but a quick google search pulled up this requirement.

[VEIGHT]

Ok thanks for the heads up...

Should have booked a flight!

[BeauBee]

IanV12VR said:

When we were driving up in the Alpes in summer remember seeing lots of signs saying winter tyres were required between October and April. We were not near Tignes but it may be the case for there. Thought would mention just in case you only had summer tyres on the car. Apparently the police can stop you driving any further if you have the wrong tyres on. No experience, and may be wrong, but a quick google search pulled up this requirement.

Not strictly speaking correct!
Speaking from experience...
Winter tyres are not obligatory.
The signs you'll see up the mountains are for snow chains (wheel with a chain round it), that is, you can not proceed further unless you have snow chains.
(...and yes the Police can stop you going any further).

[BravoV8V]

Snow socks are an (easier) alternative to snowchains and can be used in most places where snowchains are obligatory:

http://www.autosock.co.uk/faqs/#q12

[graham 500]

Just checked and they do not do a sock for 285x35x19..... However got carried away last year and bought a set of part worns for my V8V and have not had them fitted.

[BravoV8V]

graham 500 said:

Just checked and they do not do a sock for 285x35x19.....

Autosocks aren't the only option! I only provided that link because it refers to the legality in France.

A quick googling produced these: http://www.snowchainsandsocks.co.uk/silknet-snow-s...

[VEIGHT]

Went for chains! Should get them tomorrow and might have a trial fix!

If anyone wants to borrow them let me know!

[BravoV8V]

VEIGHT said:

Went for chains! Should get them tomorrow and might have a trial fix!

If you've never put chains on before, I would definitely have a trial fit. Most variations of chains are an absolute bugger to fit.

Especially when it's dark and your hands are freezing.

[F1NDW]

Yes I bought the Thule chains on the net and they are the easiest chains I have ever fitted. A really professional piece of kit and just right for the small tyre to arch clearance.

[Bincenzo]

Oh you'll have fun fitting them. Top tip, take some rubber gloves with you, as you will be in a complete state by the time you've fitted them and the last thing you want is to get inside you P&J and contaminate it with dirt. I admire your bravery taking a V8V to Tignes. I go most years and inevitably fly or take the Eurostar to Moutiers.

[notsaV8V]

another top tip is to jack the wheel up before putting the chains on - I haven't done it on the Aston as I don't think I would take the risk in the snow and ice, but it was the best tip I had from a local as it gives you the room to get your hands behind the wheel. Sounds like a pain but actually saves time and skinned knuckles in the end. I've got the Thule chains for the other car and they are a doddle - well worth the extra money.

[BravoV8V]

notsaV8V said:

another top tip is to jack the wheel up before putting the chains on.

Tricky in a V8V - which doesn't have a jack!

[notsaV8V]

Somebody had to state the bleedin' obvious. There are plenty of people however, who still manage to raise their car - if the OP was one of them and there was space, it would be worth thinking about!!

[VEIGHT]

Ok - they have turned up!

Looks perfectly straight forward

[Bincenzo]

Are you sure that's not a hanging basket?

[Vanin]

Four of us took two hire car Citroen C5s to Courcheval supplied complete with snow chains. Pulled into the special bay made for the job on the approach to the mountains and four of us (not only with four university degrees but also petrolheaded and in my case a mechanical genius) failed to fit the things having tried everything.

I was so angry that I bought a cheap set off Ebay on my return to try and do the task in the warmth of my garage and even then it was not easy. Maybe Thule ones are different.

But you are a very brave man to take an Aston to a resort, even if the chains fit without flailing the wheel arches on bumps, you have all the other drivers to contend with, usually out of control!

[Zod]

notsaV8V said:

another top tip is to jack the wheel up before putting the chains on - I haven't done it on the Aston as I don't think I would take the risk in the snow and ice, but it was the best tip I had from a local as it gives you the room to get your hands behind the wheel. Sounds like a pain but actually saves time and skinned knuckles in the end. I've got the Thule chains for the other car and they are a doddle - well worth the extra money.

I learned that the hard way the first time I had to put on chains on a rental car in a blizzard.