Snow Chains

[anatomick]

And don't think the French necessarily know how to drive in snow. The first week I arrived here in Brittany there was about 3 inches of snow and a car in the ditch every 100 meters. These are the same people who flock to the alps every winter. Beware!!!

 

[neilly]

And the posties around here in the Massif central have Renault Kangoo's 2x4 and still go anywhere my Defender will go. They are used to driving in snow conditions which also helps.

I used to drive from Oyonnax to Pont D'ain via Cerdon in the winter, I always drove the back roads. In the winter it was surprising, there were the ones who could drive and enjoyed it, and those who seemed afraid to get anywhere. As this was a place that would get snow every year I found it interesting.

Cheers

 

[Al2O3]

And don't think the French necessarily know how to drive in snow. The first week I arrived here in Brittany there was about 3 inches of snow and a car in the ditch every 100 meters. These are the same people who flock to the alps every winter. Beware!!!

That's why the cops who police the mountain regions are so strict. Some of the drops are a hell of a way down and they don't all have barriers to bounce off.
I've skied in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain quite a few times and if it's snowing the cops block the road and turn around anyone without chains. Loads of guys turn up selling chains out of the boot of their cars. I wasn't sure if they let 4x4's through, but just asked the Mrs. She thinks they make them put chains on too.

 

[mikescuba]

This clip below is fairly informative.:

The rubber compound on snow tires is softer than summer or mud tires hence why they wear out quicker in temperatures above 9C. Mud tires have to be able to dig into the mud which requires a harder tire compound.

 

[neilly]

Since we had our one day of snow and I went out to play.

It was surprising on coming to one car that was stuck..... Oh they had snow socks.....but had not fitted them. This was on road with a layer of snow covered ice.

Cheers

 

[mikescuba]

This is the sort of snow conditions we had here last week which is about normal for the beginning of December. We are at 900 meters here. The snow is fluffy not much ice.The At2's got me up here ok but I had difficulty doing a three point turn as there was no momentum to keep the Defender going. Come Jan/Feb when there will be ice under the snow the AT2's will probably grind to a halt unless I put snow chains on. They will get me up here if I keep the momentum going. Going down hill can be a bit of an adventure for the faint hearted. But trying to do a three point turn will send snow and ice flying everywhere. I normally revers quickly and spin the wheels so the nose of the Defender spins/ slides facing down hill. Steering tends to lose grip when cornering on the roads. Proper snow tires grip much better as can be seen from the previous post .Youtube video's. Just because you have a 4X4 with AT tires doesn't mean you are invincible in the snow. 4X4 do get stuck without the right tires in snow conditions, in the mud and sand. So if your going to the Alps during the skiing seasons snow chains and/or proper snow tires are a must.

 

[anatomick]

Where's the ****ing myself laughing emoji? One day we're going to have to meet!

 

[Stone56]

I got caught out once I can tell you that you will know when you need snow chain's it's when going up hill n snow but when your traction is lost and start sliding back firsts straight down frightening with drops at your side's over 200 ft at are house abroad I drive through snow 2-3 ft deep with chain's on all wheels with no mager problems apart from every 50 or so yards backing up to go round the heap you pushed in front but you have got to learn to fit them correct its no joke in pitch black wife with the torch in a blizzard ####

 

[anatomick]

The rules are - practice fitting them, put a pair of rubber gloves in the container (trying to fit chains with cold wet hands is no fun) and carry a head torch cos it's impossible in the dark.

 

[Stone56]

That's 100%from me I learnt the hard way

The rules are - practice fitting them, put a pair of rubber gloves in the container (trying to fit chains with cold wet hands is no fun) and carry a head torch cos it's impossible in the dark.

 

[Al2O3]

I got caught out once I can tell you that you will know when you need snow chain's it's when going up hill n snow but when your traction is lost and start sliding back firsts straight down frightening with drops at your side's over 200 ft at are house abroad I drive through snow 2-3 ft deep with chain's on all wheels with no mager problems apart from every 50 or so yards backing up to go round the heap you pushed in front but you have got to learn to fit them correct its no joke in pitch black wife with the torch in a blizzard ####

Never been in anything that bad on the mountain roads. Just a few inches of snow, in a hire car with chains on. It was exciting/tense/cacking ourselves, it was snowing hard and visibility wasn't great either.

 

[Wyn Davies]

Some great info chaps, thanks. Keep them coming. Ordered a set of KONIG/Thule chains so all sorted. Got Pirelli Scorpion Zeros all round so hoping they will cope......

 

[Al2O3]

Some great info chaps, thanks. Keep them coming. Ordered a set of KONIG/Thule chains so all sorted. Got Pirelli Scorpion Zeros all round so hoping they will cope......

Sounds like you'll be prepared for the possible conditions. Be cautious, but have fun!

 

[Stone56]

All so keep to the recommend speed for your chain's thay very often start shifting about if to much stress is applied and when finished whith dry well spray with light oil

 

[Stone56]

Should all so say if you go to mad thay will take chunks out of your new tyers lernt the hard way again I think the werst we had was diesel freezing in the filter even with with winter fuel but I think there was condensation build up in it as undoing the drain tap no liquid came out until 1h with a hot air paint stripper the wife mist her flight that day

 

[norseman]

Stretching the thread a bit, has anyone had any success with other types of snow 'aids' on a 4x4 such as SOX (found them very good on our non-LR front wheel drive the last time we had any noticeable snow here in East Anglia) or these jumbo cable ties that wrap across the tyre tread ?

 

[Dippypud]

Stretching the thread a bit, has anyone had any success with other types of snow 'aids' on a 4x4 such as SOX (found them very good on our non-LR front wheel drive the last time we had any noticeable snow here in East Anglia) or these jumbo cable ties that wrap across the tyre tread ?

Have used snow socks in the past and found them better than chains on snow, easier to get on and off too ... the chains are better on thicker ice and frozen 'off-road' conditions ...

 

[MauroV]

Is it possible to avoid chains or socks and just use winter tyres?

 

[Stone56]

Can you go to the moon on a bike whith a fish bowl on your head but it all depends on the conditions . Lots of people do lots of things and get away with it lots of people do things and kill themselves and uthers

Is it possible to avoid chains or socks and just use winter tyres?

 

[brian47]

Is it possible to avoid chains or socks and just use winter tyres?

Here in the UK, of course you can, just as long as you have at least 1.6mm of tread on your tyres you can use whatever you like.
If you're travelling elsewhere on the continent, you should check, preferably with one of the motoring organisations since being caught driving on an incorrect choice of tyres or not being in posession of the correct equipment at the wrong time of the year could lead to prosecution.
See post #5 of this thread.