Snow Traction System for 20" L322

I'm heading to Europe over Xmas and will legally need to carry snow chains.

I have found RUD chains on roofbox.co.uk that will fit 255/50/20 20" wheels on my L322 Supercharged but apparently I can only run the Land Rover Snow Traction System on the 20" tyres on the front wheels?

Does anyone know the reasons behind this? Forking out £600 is a joke for something that will probably never be used.

From what I can tell Land Rover Part No LR005737 is just the Spikes Spider Sport Style wheel for £384 on Roofbox.

They do indeed look awesome but I might as well buy snow socks for £60 to meet the legal requirement.

Anyone have any ideas what is so special about the 20" wheels and why I can't just use RUD chains on the front?

Snow chains are either fitted on the Rear or all four wheels...

So just fit them to the rear and job done (unless I am missing something?)

According to the owners manual... you are right for 18" and 19" wheels.

For 20" wheels it states you must use the Snow Traction Systems on the fronts only.

Go figure.

I'm wondering if it is a miss-interpretation...

It may be the case that you can fit whatever chains you like - but if you have 20" wheels and you want to run chains on all 4 wheels then you can ONLY use the LR STS on the Front wheels (you can use what you like on the rears).

But if you only want to run Rear Chains you can use what you like!

Official Land Rover show chains appear to be rebadged RUD chains, so I'd be looking at their web site for their version.

I believe the reason Land Rover don't recommend front show chains is the lack of clearance between the wheel and chassis, if the axles are crossed.

The P38 owners manual states only snow chains on the rear, no snow chains on the front as "this could damage brake components", I personally know with 235/70 x 16 tyres theres room, but with 255/55x16 theres very little room.
I've never had a look at 18" rims so i don't know...let alone 20"ers...

I have a spare set of chains for 16" rims

It could indeed be misinterpreted/poorly written or (I'm hoping) out of date.

It does clearly state don't use conventional snow chains with the 20" wheels on the front or rear, only the Land Rover Snow Traction System\Spikes-Spider on the front.

From what I can tell the Spikes-Spider are designed for performance cars with low clearance and are specially designed not to chaff alloys and interfere with ABS/DSC etc.

I can't believe its a clearance issue as its hardly got Porsche 911 clearance but I phoned Land Rover Wimbledon and they repeated the same story.

They advise against using conventional chains due to clearance with the 20" wheels.

I run 295/45/20 on my 2007 l322 tdv8. I use Thule K-summit 77 xxl snow chains. Google them and you'll see what I am on about,but they are freakishly expensive.

put a set of 18" wheels on for the trip and GG tyres..

There's always been controversy over Range Rovers, chains and clearances.
Love to know what owners living in countries that legally require chains do every winter.

Thinking along those lines, have you tried an email to a Range Rover dealer in such a country?

donp38 said:

put a set of 18" wheels on for the trip and GG tyres..

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Legally required to carry snow chains in some of our snowier neighbours.

dogsbody said:

Legally required to carry snow chains in some of our snowier neighbours.

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Parts of France require snow chains to be carried. As far as I can see the problem is axle articulation and wheel clearance, unless the suspension collapses or you are off road it looks like standard chains would do the job but don't quote me

I am in France and have to carry snow chains,I use the Thule K summit XXL 77.