Snow Chains, any one used them?

[Amphitrite]

I have used them quite a lot in the Alps and during my military time - once you get the hang of mounting them, it is done within less than 10 mins, and it makes a world of difference! Highly recommended!

 

[Heckler]

So how do you fit them to the boat?

no car no boat!
stu

 

[Sailfree]

Snow Chains

Couple of words of caution

1. Someone mention USA and Canadian use of chains - I have many pairs of USA snow chains from skiing in Lake Tahoe but they are of a "ladder" type and illegal in Europe.

2. If you have "sport" suspension and wide wheels the clearance can be so small you need "Micro" chains.

3. An old one piece ski suit or dinghy overalls are great for putting them on.

4. Buy extra Rubber spring tensioners helps

5. Make sure you have a screwdriver and pair of pliers as it helps open/close deformed links.

6. Slightly loose chains quickly ruin any aluminium wheel rim!!


Problem with England is the mixture of uncleared roads and cleared trafficked roads. Chains work on packed snow and to some extent on ice but don't last if you leave them on for a cleared stretch of road.

 

[sarabande]

in anticipation of a little bit of snow overnight, I fitted two of my six snow chains onto a spare pair of 750x16 wheels and tyres for the Landrover.

Six ? I had eight until a couple of weeks ago when I sold a pair to a stuck visitor who just had to get off the moor so that she could go shooting in Wiltshire the next day. One transaction paid for the lot !

The industrial ones are the only type I'd consider.

 

[nordic_ranger]

I have a set of the belt on type. Three to wheel only ever used them once in ernest when I was stopped at the Drumocheter pass on the A9 years ago. Stopped by the Police who were walking down a long line of vehicle advising caution when they saw me puting the chains on I was told I would be the first car behind the Snowplough.

 

[photodog]

I never needed them in Canada. I never saw anyone I knew using them.

See... No chains.

 

[KREW2]

Ah! soft snow.

 

[Goldie]

I never needed them in Canada. I never saw anyone I knew using them.

See... No chains.

Looks just like the A27 an hour ago. I left work just as the first flakes started to fall and it took me 8 hrs 15 mins to cover the 7 miles home

 

[V1701]

Buy them immediately, then you'll have no more snow this year!

 

[BobnLesley]

It's all right for some!

I've just been wandering around Marmaris, wondering whether we might get some snow here too as it's looking a bit nasty, what with cloudy things in the sky and temerature's dropping to around 12/13C; but I can't find snow chains in the shops for love nor money. On a more positive note, I did manage to find some bargain priced (last summer's stock) sunglasses.

 

[misterg]

...I can't find snow chains in the shops for love nor money. On a more positive note, I did manage to find some bargain priced (last summer's stock) sunglasses.

How many pairs do you need to go around each wheel?



Andy

 

[Jamesuk]

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...

Indeed my dad in Scotland does the same for those not in the know check this you tube video out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfvyPtYR0Y

I used Chains years ago but now I have a Bike so while you are all looking for chains im looking for Spiked Tyres for my push bike :_)))))

 

[BrianH]

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.

To my knowledge winter tyres are not compulsory here (Switzerland) but not fitting them will nullify any accident insurance claim that occurs in winter. Also, I don't know anyone who doesn't fit them; it is just standard practice to buy a spare set of wheels with winter tyres fitted on buying a new car - or summer tyres if buying in winter when the winter tyres will already be fitted as standard.

It is very rare to see chains here unless one goes into the mountains - even then not too often. When I drive into the Alps for skiing, my winter tyres cope perfectly well on the snow there, as do the vehicles of all the other locals.

For anyone living in central Europe the scenes of the chaos in the UK that our TV news screens bring us seem unreal - most of the time one can see the actual road surface through the rutted snow. Unless that is black ice it is hard for us here to understand why the average vehicle cannot keep moving. I suppose that is because in the same circumstances we all would be shod with winter tyres, and it only needs one that is not to block the road.