Snow Chains, any one used them?

No personal knowledge, but I do know that Canadian and American colleagues regard their use as de-rigeur in the much worse winter conditions they are exposed to. Not relevant to Antarctica, though - tracked vehicles are the norm down there!
 
Used them a fair bit in the Alps....

no probs really.... no different to driving normally other than v noisy!

Be aware though that if you use them on non snowy roads they will destroy themselves in very little time...

on hardpack, they make a world of difference.
 
Best get the missus to put them on as they inevitably get tangled up and yer fingers get fierce cold.
I don't use them anymore. Instead I swop my regular tyres over to winter ones in Novemeber and change back in March. At the moment I am a smug git...
 
Used them a fair bit with my old Citroen Dyane (602cc), fantastic I even went up some country lanes that were blocked and opened them up and have got away when a Land Rover couldn't, large wheels, good clearance and light weight helped. These were Citroen chains of course. Believe it or not, at one stage a lorry snow plough was stuck next to our house and for two days I went up over the frozen drift to work and back.
 
Yes, but not for years. They're going in the back of the car tonight though. Look for a pair that are easy to get on and off. You don't really want to be struggling in the dark to fix'em. Also, pack a torch, a shovel, old gloves and something like a sack to kneel on. Probably a bit like reefing. Put them as soon as you think you might need them.
 
If you know the snow is going to be around for a while and your whole journey is on snow and ice, then chains may be worth considering but unless you live right out in the boondocks I would question their value. Coming off snow and ice on to cleared or semi cleared metalled roads will wreck them in no time. Your speed will also be very limited - much to the annoyance of those behind you who were hoping to put on a bit of pace in the clear bits. Chains may not fit on wide section tyres and there have been problems with wheel arch clearance on some cars.

When I worked in Scandinavia, everyone had a set of chunky tread winter tyres on a separate set of standard wheels. But then they could rely on the conditions turning wintry. You could get tyres with tungsten studs that we used to drive over the frozen lakes, but I recall you had to swap them before taking to city roads because of the damage they caused to the road surface.
 
Those look exactly like the two previous sets I had.. and as Morgana says... take them off as soon as the compacted snow is thinning.. They're made of a very soft metal that will wear to nothing very quickly as soon as they touch the hard road surface.

I found ones similar to your picture very easy to put on and off... the good features being the stiff plastic stiffener on the inner edge meaning the hard to reach part can just be 'clipped on'.. and the colour coded clips on the outer edge of the wheel that are just joined and then the tension is taken up as you start to drive!.. easy!!

Usually they cover a larger range of wheel/tyre sizes though.. and are also for sale (at a similar price at services and petrol stations as you get towards the mountains (that is if you're driving towards the Alps from the UK).

One tip.. if used don't just pack them away in the box and hope they look the same next year.. the salt/damp continues to corrode them... Also - Keep an old pair of gloves with them!
 
I have used them on ski trips. The important thing is to read the instructions and do a trial fitting at home in the light and dry. Doing them for the first time in snow and dark is unpleasant as you say "Can't be difficult - too dark to read the instructions" WRONG.
 
I made some years ago, bit of rope and thin chain from the hardware store. Made a ladder with rope sides and chain rungs, tie inside the tyre first then haul tight on the outside. very effective and cheap. Now I have the proper thing, a pig to fit and no use when everyone else has abandoned their cars and blocked the road.
It is sometimes possible to use thin rope, chain stitch through the wheel so you only pass a loop through each time, depends on clearance round the brake caliper. The advantage is if you get to clear road it just frays away, but you wouldn't want it to wrap itself round the hub/driveshaft.
 
I notice even tractors use them in Austria! Seem to be much more effective that 4WD for compacted snow.

We used to go climbing in Scotland every year, driving up in my old Golf. I would borrow a pair of chains from a friend that were very easy to fit. Instead of having a chain 'ladder' that you draped over the tyre they had a stiff wire hoop that you draped over the top and fastened at the back. The catch was magnetic to help you locate each half in the dark behind the wheel.

The key is fitting and removing them quickly. Because you usually only need them for a few yards. And you can't use them on bare tarmac.

BTW I've heard some modern cars have insufficient clearance to fit chains. Might be worth checking the manual.
 
Last edited:
my old (2004) 3 series couldnt take snow chains as there was some bit of metal too close to the wheel. i think its more applicable on cars with larger wheels for their size.

i have some "snow socks" which i havent used in anger yet but are in the back of the car.
 
Snow chains totally work, I have used them for many years. It gives you a great feeling of smugness as you drive past all the people spinning their wheels while you do 40 mph quite safely.
Important safety tips:
1. Do not use them if the road is not covered in snow they will destroy your tyres in minutes.
2. It takes about 30 minutes to put them on and about 15 minutes to take them off again.
3. Do not drive at more than 40 mph as if a chain breaks above this speed you are in trouble.
4. At the end of the wintrer dump them in a bucket full of old engine oil or they will corrode right through by the next winter.
 
I have used them in the Alps, even then it is only in villages and small towns. Most main roads are kept clear and the chains need to be removed. It's putting them on that can be a pain, I always pull into a garage where the use of a trolley jack makes it easier. If your putting them on yourself make sure they are tight, and no fittings on the inside of the tyre will rub on brake pipes. Also if you have a 4x4 you will need 2 pairs.
 
They look exactly like ones I used regularly in Spain and Greece. Dead easy to put on you just hook them round and they have a self tensioning system so they wont come off. You dont even need to move the car to put them on and certainly don't need a jack. I used to have it down to about 10mins from box to fitted and faster to get them off. Fantastic tool but only on a front wheel drive car believe me i found that putting them on a rear wheel drive car for traction was all well and good until you want to turn! that gets a bit exciting! If you have a rear wheel drive car 2 sets is best or be extremely careful.
 
got a set i used to use in the bavarian winter when the snow was so compacted you only had the poles at the side of the road to guide you...
a pain to fit, but the snow stayed for a couple of weeks/months, so ok once they were on..

over here the europeans must be laughing their socks off the way a couple of mm of snow stops this country dead...
 
I have a set (similar to those in the add above).

To tell the truth did not use them that much as I had winter snow tyres on my vehicle (4x4) But did have to have a set to access certain company sites (company regs)

Used them a couple of times in anger though, on hard packed snow/ice roads.

Tip to fitting them is like reefing. If you need them it is too late.

Best to put on early (but only on snow covered road) best on the flat obviously.

Have a few practices taking on and off when you do not need them, quiet road or car park. After a couple of times you can put them on in just a few minutes.

Do not bother trying to tension them up fully as soon as you put them on, get a good tension, then drive a few metres (CAREFULLY) then stop and re-tension, gives them time to settle in.
 
winter tyres

Just moved to Austria and finally realised why people fit winter tires. 1/ they are compulsory 2/ they actually work, so maybe think about that instead of fitting snow chains, which are a real bugger, especially is you have a "low" car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top