C4S - driving on snow
Discussion
Can anyone offer any guidance / advice of driving on snow in a 996 C4S. I have just booked my ski holiday for February and have been thinking of driving down (we are off to Meribel). Can you get snow chains for a C4S - is it recommended or should I look at taking another car.
I really fancy a nice highspeed blat through France :)
I really fancy a nice highspeed blat through France :)
There was a thread about this a while back - I tried to do a Clarkson with my cousin and beat JC's time to Verbier around new year...
The way down took around 18 hours and was mental and dangerous, even the frenchies and swiss were coming off on the sheet ice (all the way from Reims!). There was a recent snowfall which had melted and refrozen, and the roads up to Verbier hadn't been cleared. To make it harder, my cousin's girlfriend navigating with a laptop and GPS managed to get us lost (how do you do that???)...
Chains weren't an option on my 17 inch wheels, you'll be running 18s so probably even less likely.
I fitted Pirelli Snowsport winter tyres, they were lifesavers but I was still sliding around *everywhere* and had to go very slowly, winding up the locals. Get winter tyres!
The way back was a different story, Verbier to Calais in 7hrs 45mins.
It's definitely worth doing for a laugh but if you hit poor conditions then it requires crazy levels of concentration and some luck!!!
I have since heard that you can get push-on 'spider' type plastic grippers that may fit between the tyres and arches of a 911. Sorry but can't remember what they were called.
The way down took around 18 hours and was mental and dangerous, even the frenchies and swiss were coming off on the sheet ice (all the way from Reims!). There was a recent snowfall which had melted and refrozen, and the roads up to Verbier hadn't been cleared. To make it harder, my cousin's girlfriend navigating with a laptop and GPS managed to get us lost (how do you do that???)...
Chains weren't an option on my 17 inch wheels, you'll be running 18s so probably even less likely.
I fitted Pirelli Snowsport winter tyres, they were lifesavers but I was still sliding around *everywhere* and had to go very slowly, winding up the locals. Get winter tyres!
The way back was a different story, Verbier to Calais in 7hrs 45mins.
It's definitely worth doing for a laugh but if you hit poor conditions then it requires crazy levels of concentration and some luck!!!
I have since heard that you can get push-on 'spider' type plastic grippers that may fit between the tyres and arches of a 911. Sorry but can't remember what they were called.
CarlT said:
Can anyone offer any guidance / advice of driving on snow in a 996 C4S. I have just booked my ski holiday for February and have been thinking of driving down (we are off to Meribel). Can you get snow chains for a C4S - is it recommended or should I look at taking another car.
I really fancy a nice highspeed blat through France
Carl,
I have a place in the three valleys, and have pondered this a few times myself for my turbo, but decided to leave the alpine passes 'til the summer months instead, much more fun, and safer.
Watch out for the speed camera (coming home) when exiting the tunnel out of Moutiers.
As for chains, as mentioned, you will have to change to 17" wheels for this, as per handbook i think ?
Don't gamble on not taking any though, as they won't let you up the moutain without them if the weather turns bad, especially in a porker.
I have heard they will let you up if you have snow tyres and 4wd though, but can't confirm it.
Have fun.
G.
^^ the voice of wisdom, my post may have come across a bit gung-ho, looking back it was not 100% sensible.
If you are going to get a separate set of rims to fit chains, then I strongly suggest you get narrower than standard tyres. I did use snow tyres, but in the standard width at the back... which still struggled in packed snow on ice.
A swiss local in the hills came past me at some insane speed in a Subaru - it was running what looked like 2CV width wheels with chains. 255s on the back, snow or not, don't dig in as much as you'd like!
If you are going to get a separate set of rims to fit chains, then I strongly suggest you get narrower than standard tyres. I did use snow tyres, but in the standard width at the back... which still struggled in packed snow on ice.
A swiss local in the hills came past me at some insane speed in a Subaru - it was running what looked like 2CV width wheels with chains. 255s on the back, snow or not, don't dig in as much as you'd like!
cyberface said:
I have since heard that you can get push-on 'spider' type plastic grippers that may fit between the tyres and arches of a 911. Sorry but can't remember what they were called.
That will be these then - www.spikesspider.com
>> Edited by Carlt on Saturday 13th August 10:23
this topic, and especially that video remind me of my last skiing holiday... sitting on a lift as you do going up a mountain, what should be coming down the red run below me... a 996 c4 
never saw any camera men or anything to suggest it was being televised, but clearly something was going on... it was very james bond!
possibly one of the coolest things ever. i'd love to do that.
in someone elses car.
never saw any camera men or anything to suggest it was being televised, but clearly something was going on... it was very james bond!
possibly one of the coolest things ever. i'd love to do that.
in someone elses car.
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