 Poster: A snowHead
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Another agreement. No problem at all in a fiesta.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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In many ways, the question you should be asking yourself isn't "Will I be forced to stop by the police?" but "What is the sensible options for driving in the Alps?". Every year, the police across the Alps have to deal with visitors from NW Europe who have summer tyres on and chains in the boot, who have crashed, caused an accident, are blocking the road, or are stuck. This is why they stop cars, not because they are being difficult. Mainland Europeans who swap to winter tyres as a matter of course - even if there isn't any more chance of snow where they live than for someone in England - are completely bemused by Brits whose cars are stuck with wheels spinning on light snow. Especially when, given the type of vehicle, it's obvious that cost isn't a limiting factor. Even more so when it's a local person, in a beat-up old Fiesta with winter tyres, watching a new £55K GB 4x4 at a complete standstill, wheels spinning, on a section of road that the Fiesta takes easily every day. Winter tyres are beneficial even if there's no snow and for much of an British winter anyway. So I'd always say, get them.
I know this sounds like preaching, but I had an expensive BMW and chains for about 4-5 years of Alpine trips and thought I was OK. That was just good luck and good weather. When I switched to an AWD, I also got winter tyres and that year we made it through the Jura Mountains no problems when there were Audi Quattros and summer 4x4s stuck all along the roadside. We never needed to use the chains.
I appreciate that there is a real cost, even if fitting winter tyres extends the life of the summer set: one way or another, there's the capital cost of £300-£500 plus a change-over twice a year.
And make sure that your existing wheels can take chains. Don't believe any chain vendor who says "They should be OK" or "Try them out'. My 3-Series xDrive can take 16", 17", 18", 19" and 20" wheels, and came fitted with 18". BMW doesn't certify 18"+ for chains, as they can foul the suspension/brakes. so I have had to buy a separate set of 17" wheels for winter.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Conditions could be interesting tomorrow. I drove up to Chamrousse today for lunch and the roads were snow/ice covered from 1400 meters with a surprising amount of people having difficulty in the conditions. If I were in resort I would head out v.early and try and beat the snowmageddon.
> are completely bemused by Brits whose cars are stuck with wheels spinning on light snow.
it is not just Brits, places like Geneva and Grenoble (not to mention Lyon) are utter chaos when there is snow.
Regarding the X5, I wouldn't be keen to drive such a big beast in slippery conditions myself. Very easy to lose control. The OP may be an expert driver so my comments are strictly personal.
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@davidof, we're heading to Italy tomorrow and thought we'd top up petrol in Chamonix .... I am afraid I do not generally queue 20 mins for fuel.
I guess it'll be Italian gas then  I foresee many early departures.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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While I am a huge fan of winter tyres - don't forget that only a few years ago winter tyres were unheard of outside of ski forums and a few specialist tyre places. Even now, that they are being pushed more, most people have know idea what they are
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Boris,  in your vilage maybe ....
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@Boris, uh, I first used them in 1988... And they were well known before then...
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Thanks to those who responded to my question. I have an X3 and I am now thinking of putting the best 4mm plus tread winter tyres on the front and new winter tyres on the back, for a trip out at half term, does this sound like a good plan?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@DavidYacht, different traction, different aquaplaning properties. 17 or 18 inch winter tyres for x3 is not that expensive. If you do change only 2, then yes 2 new should go on the back
Just put my winter set on my x3 
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Boris,
When my sister bought her Beetle in 1982 it was fitted with winter tyres. In the 1970s folk used studded tyres. Some still do although they are a bit illegal
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Peter S wrote: |
Boris,
When my sister bought her Beetle in 1982 it was fitted with winter tyres. In the 1970s folk used studded tyres. Some still do although they are a bit illegal |
Studdied tyres while their use is regulated, they are not illegal to use per say
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Idris wrote: |
| Studdied tyres while their use is regulated, they are not illegal to use per say |
stop calling me Persay
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@mooney058, @under a new name, well I know Banbury is a bit backward but Kwik Fit and ATS had never heard of them about 8 years ago - which was the first time I'd heard of them - and I'd only heard of them through SH
Maybe different story further north, but just isn't the weather for them here (yes I know they work less than 7c) but again I bet I could stand in Oxford for hours and ask people randomly and majority of people would have no clue
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You know it makes sense.
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Latest information from Tignes web site;
A lot of snow expected this weekend!
Some advices for those who are coming to Tignes this weekend:
1-Take your snow chains
2-Read the instruction before leaving
3-Organize your car boot, in order to find them easily…not under all your luggage
4-If the road become snowy, stop at the first chains area
5-No worries & keep smiling
For those who use a GPS, keep in mind that the mountain passes are closed during the winter. So check out your itinerary before.
Have a good trip
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| stewart woodward wrote: |
For those who use a GPS, keep in mind that the mountain passes are closed during the winter. So check out your itinerary before.
Have a good trip |
Good point, someone tried to take the Col du Mont Cenis the other day, ended up stuck on a ski piste.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@davidof, lucky there was no snow.
We use our satnag to monitor traffic more than anything else, how surprised were we a few years ago when it directed us across a well closed summer only road? (It has done much worse...!)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Friends that run the Edelweiss in La Grave always have stories of clients (usually from across the pond) who fly in to Geneva, rent a car and then have the Sat Nav direct them over Galibier 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Weathercam wrote: |
| Friends that run the Edelweiss in La Grave always have stories of clients (usually from across the pond) who fly in to Geneva, rent a car and then have the Sat Nav direct them over Galibier |
I stupidly made this schoolboy error when I drive to Val D for the first time. Blindly followed the sat nav, went through the Mnt Blanc tunnel and it tried to take me over a piste. And I had 4 month old baby in the car which was far from ideal. Took us over 7 hours from Geneva to Val! Ummmm. I know the way now, but still take an old fashioned map just in case we need to detour, Sat Nav's have their place but that was a lesson on not using them in isolation.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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So prefect has ordered police to make sure all drivers have snow chains or equivalent (spike spiders, easy grip). Snow tires not acceptable today.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just arrived in Les Arcs. Apparently, carnage yesterday. Took a friend 10 hours to get from Bourg to les arcs! A route that normally takes 30 mins!
French group reported a 24 hour journey covering just 400 kms slept in car in Albertville.
X5 with fat tyres, useless! Police insisted on chains.
Bright sunshine for rest of week. Happy daze!!
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You were lucky Jane. I heard the police were holding a lot of X3 and X5 drivers at a hair salon car park in Bourg until they could do Point Cut within 10% of the time of a French hairdresser.
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@davidof, PMSL
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Ditto...extremely lucky!! I have an x5 and would not dream of doing your journey without winters and chains.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I wonder how the original author got on without winter tyres or snow chains given the chaos that ensued mainly as a result of cars without snow chains or winter tyres...
Funny a couple of years ago on icy roads in the UK it was the 4x4s that I saw in the ditches. It seems some of the drivers of said vehicles think they are immune from the laws of physics.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@buchanan101, just seen one near here, X5 its side in a ditch on an icy bend, folks stood there (all ok btw) looking sheepish......loads of folks going past in all manner of 2WD cars tittering, even the sheep looking on in sheepish surprise! ........ 
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| Markymark29 wrote: |
| @buchanan101, just seen one near here, X5 its side in a ditch on an icy bend, folks stood there (all ok btw) looking sheepish......loads of folks going past in all manner of 2WD cars tittering, even the sheep looking on in sheepish surprise! ........ |
Exactly - they think the brakes are better - but it's four wheel DRIVE, which seems to engender false confidence.
And above all that, all X BMWs are hideous. And a waste of raw material, and never been off road in their lives. Pointless.
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You know it makes sense.
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@buchanan101, yep, Q5 and Audi Quattro in general with winter tyres climb anything......my A4 2WD with winter tyres is great too, but lousy with normal summer rubber on.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Range Rover Sport - summer tyres, no chains 8% up hill bit and 8% down no problem with the right button pressed 🚜 Perhaps it's one of these strange 4x4s that a designed to be used in these conditions. Not sure I would have been so confident if it was icy though, and also not sure I would have been allowed through a police check if there had been one as suspect they don't know the difference between 4x4s
PS is this now Topgearheads rather than  ? Missing the reports on how good it must be out there right now.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Peter S, with a Bettle there is more to worry about than what tyres you have. Surely a functional engine is required first?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| alti - dude wrote: |
Range Rover Sport - summer tyres, no chains 8% up hill bit and 8% down no problem with the right button pressed 🚜 Perhaps it's one of these strange 4x4s that a designed to be used in these conditions. Not sure I would have been so confident if it was icy though, and also not sure I would have been allowed through a police check if there had been one as suspect they don't know the difference between 4x4s
PS is this now Topgearheads rather than ? Missing the reports on how good it must be out there right now. |
I suspect Range Rovers are a bit better than BMW 4x4s for the job in hand, but mostly down to the drivers. They give a false sense of security to some.. And on ice, a 4x4 is no better than a 2wd, which is where I've seen them go wrong before in the UK.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@dobby, I have an old beetle in a shed that hasnt moved for more than 20 years. I would bet I could have its engine running in 15 minutes. The body work would however, take a little longer to fix! and even then it would be like a fridge on wheels.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@buchanan101, stupid remarks, honestly
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