We are going to Le grand massif tomorrow and we are divided whether or not to get snow chains, we are staying in Morillon at 800m so not that high which means i don't think we will get any massive accumulations where we are staying however the grand massif website is forecasting 30-50cm tomorrow and if the freezing level were to come down then we might be in trouble...thoughts?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Wouldn't risk it without, they aren't that expensive.
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?
Whoyton1, tomorrow is a HUGE transfer day and if there is anything approaching 50 cms of snow (which would be very nice if it actually happened) the police could well be stopping anybody without chains, to try to ensure that the traffic keeps moving. Even if you have snow tyres, having chains is obligatory. Is it your own car or a hired one?
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
pam w wrote:
Whoyton1, tomorrow is a HUGE transfer day and if there is anything approaching 50 cms of snow (which would be very nice if it actually happened) the police could well be stopping anybody without chains, to try to ensure that the traffic keeps moving. Even if you have snow tyres, having chains is obligatory. Is it your own car or a hired one?
Its our own car, and seeing this i think you are all right, we might also drive up to Flaine for New Years so in that case it would be useful, hoping the grand massif website is right
It does not take a drive up to Flaine for your regular tyres to loose traction. Its little drives up to the lifts in Morilon/to get out of the car park in Morillon or drive up to Smoens 1600 that will give you problems. Buy the chains and practice....tonight
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Do you have snow tyres?
If you do, particularly if they know the car, the police usually just wave you through.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Quote:
the police usually just wave you through
but not always.... my brother in law was forced to put chains on his snow tyres on one particularly snowy day and I have also had to put chains on mine, when losing traction, once or twice a season - and not necessarily in heavy snow.
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If the police are getting arsey then they have the 1st roadblock before the col de chatillon which you usually go through before you turn off the taninges road to get to Morillon.
And btw I needed chains on an XTrail with snow tyres a few times when I lived at rivière enverse
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Chains were obligatory for the Avoriaz road on boxing day, inc. 4WDs with snow tyres. It's 50cm at 1800m btw, only a few inches at 800m on Sat night. So you'll still need the chains!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
We once drove all the way to Chamonix from the south of England without chains on the car only to get the car stuck at the front of the hotel while we unloaded the bags and we had to put the chains on to move it to the car park at the back!! Would never travel to Europe in winter without chains.
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.
FFIRMIN, that's what usually happens. There are lots of side roads with icy, compacted, snow - days and days after the last snowfall. And they are often quite steep, in ski resorts.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
FFIRMIN, I got stuck in a hotel car park in Argentiere. Until the point when my car would not move I had not even noticed there was a gradient!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
If you do not have winter tyres then get some chains.
If you do have winter tyres you won't need chains for Morillon
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Quote:
If you do have winter tyres you won't need chains for Morillon
Probably not, but that's too emphatic - see the post above from marcellus. You should have chains even if you have winter tyres.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Warning: Tongue in cheek comment follows:
If you were to listen to some people on the Schumacher thread, any kind of safety apparatus (helmets, safety belts etc) will instantly make you an ignorant so and so who takes unjustified and extreme risks, cloud your judgment and impair your senses... According to that 'logic' snow chains will be detrimental to your driving...
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
psyxologos, I find the same is true of the brakes in my car and intend to have them disconnected soon. I am worried they are giving me a false sense of security. I have also removed my seat belts as they impair my peripheral vision
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?
Quote:
According to that 'logic' snow chains will be detrimental to your driving...
However, one of my friends learnt to be a bit more distrustful of his (new, good) winter tyres after doing a 180 skid on a downhill bend - and he is an over 60 year old cautious driver, not a boy racer. Winter tyres are not bomb-proof, even on modest gradients - you can definitely get "the wrong kind" of snow.
And btw I needed chains on an XTrail with snow tyres a few times when I lived at rivière enverse
I have both snowsocks and chains for our Landrover Discovery 3. I can't envisage ever actually needing them.
Where we stay in Chamrousse, there is a parking area just in front of the apartment and to get there you have to negotiate a turn joining two levels which drops at a 50% gradient - the same drop in height as the length of the drop. To get down, you turn right from one level, go very sharp down, then turn right again to get onto the next level. If you miss the second turn, you go into the side of the apartment building. Going back up is the opposite - left, hard up, left again, and if you fall backwards you hit the wall. Did I mention that the slope is basically solid ice? Yes they put grit on it, but it's seriously steep, and cars without snow chains on aren't allowed down there. I've seen cars with winter tyres try and fail to make it all the way up (trying to save time by not using the chains which he'll only have to take off again at the top).
The Discovery, however, isn't fazed by this at all. The car is on AT tyres, not true winter tyres. Put it in Snow mode, it raises up to off-road height, changes to the low ratio gearbox, and turns on Hill Descent Control...and its like there is no ice and snow on the road. Going up, there is no wheelspin of any kind, just grip from all four corners (or at least that's what it feels like). Going down is even better - I just let go of the pedals and steer, the Hill Descent Control moves the car slowly and evenly down, using the ABS to control the speed of each wheel individually. I guess what I'm saying is, if you're going to get a 4x4 to drive in snow, get one that does it properly
That said, I am very glad that we have the chains in the car, if only because we were once stopped by the Gendarms on our way up to the resort, where they demanded to see our chains...
-simon
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Definitely have snow chains. We have recently had a big dump of snow in the 3V and people were reported to be dumping their cars - although not sure what they did then!
And btw I needed chains on an XTrail with snow tyres a few times when I lived at rivière enverse
I have both snowsocks and chains for our Landrover Discovery 3. I can't envisage ever actually needing them.
Where we stay in Chamrousse, there is a parking area just in front of the apartment and to get there you have to negotiate a turn joining two levels which drops at a 50% gradient - the same drop in height as the length of the drop. To get down, you turn right from one level, go very sharp down, then turn right again to get onto the next level. If you miss the second turn, you go into the side of the apartment building. Going back up is the opposite - left, hard up, left again, and if you fall backwards you hit the wall. Did I mention that the slope is basically solid ice? Yes they put grit on it, but it's seriously steep, and cars without snow chains on aren't allowed down there. I've seen cars with winter tyres try and fail to make it all the way up (trying to save time by not using the chains which he'll only have to take off again at the top).
The Discovery, however, isn't fazed by this at all. The car is on AT tyres, not true winter tyres. Put it in Snow mode, it raises up to off-road height, changes to the low ratio gearbox, and turns on Hill Descent Control...and its like there is no ice and snow on the road. Going up, there is no wheelspin of any kind, just grip from all four corners (or at least that's what it feels like). Going down is even better - I just let go of the pedals and steer, the Hill Descent Control moves the car slowly and evenly down, using the ABS to control the speed of each wheel individually. I guess what I'm saying is, if you're going to get a 4x4 to drive in snow, get one that does it properly
That said, I am very glad that we have the chains in the car, if only because we were once stopped by the Gendarms on our way up to the resort, where they demanded to see our chains...
-simon
And are you there for the full 150 days of the season, out before dawn and the snow plough?
As for a "proper" 4x4.... A Discovery.... Please.... See the 110 (now that's a proper 4x4) Which was our 2nd ca never needed chains and was also waived through checkpoints... But not really relevant to the OPs topic is it?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
pam w, I slid the rear a little on a steep road in deep slush in a Subaru Forester with all season tyres (winter rated) but I was doing 45 lol. I have only needed chains once in an old Escort (God, that sounds soooo wrong ) getting out of the apartment car park at La Grave many years ago. The road was a few inches thick in refrozen slush ice, even winter tyres would not have helped there.
After all it is free
After all it is free
marcellus wrote:
And are you there for the full 150 days of the season, out before dawn and the snow plough?
Erm, no. Not really sure where I claimed to be. I did go out before the snow plough one day though (we ran out of milk at breakfast!). Does that count?
marcellus wrote:
As for a "proper" 4x4.... A Discovery.... Please.... See the 110 (now that's a proper 4x4) Which was our 2nd ca never needed chains and was also waived through checkpoints... But not really relevant to the OPs topic is it?
The 110 could crawl up to the top of the Matterhorn, hell it could probably climb the north face of the Eiger, but damn it's much less comfortable on the motorways - did you really drive one all the way to the Alps? In any case, it's overkill - I suggested to get a 4x4 designed to drive in snow properly, and the disco does that pretty damned well. As for post relevance, like many others I was pointing out that no matter how capable your car you still need them in case "ze police" get you...but thanks for pointing it out I guess, and adding your own relevant post. Hope you feel better soon.
I'm off to bed, gotta be up to catch the first lift
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All you chaps willy waving about your 4 x 4s. I have no problem with my Zafira with four good snow tyres - just drove over some quite steep roads in a near blizzard, ending with the steep drive up into the garage, with no problem. Chains in reserve, of course, but weren't necessary this morning though I'd say a majority of vehicles in town were chained up. There were a few daft locals, as usual, dancing round the road out of control but fortunately no damage done. I was giving a lift home to one of the women in my morning cross-country ski class. I learnt a new French expression - as someone came sideways down the road towards us, fortunately recovering his equilibrium before reaching us, she said "Il ne faut pas faire du gymkhana!" A new one on me. She's from Picardie; I wonder if that is a local expression or more widely used?
she said "Il ne faut pas faire du gymkhana!" A new one on me. She's from Picardie; I wonder if that is a local expression or more widely used?
rodeo might be more common in the Hotte Savoie but it is widely used.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
pam w, sure you mean good winter tyres rather than snow tyres They are different things as I'm sure you know.
Agreed that you don't need a 4*4 generally - although I have an enourmous one (car not willy)
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.
Going to the alps or scandinavian mountain = always winter tyres + chains. (no matter what altitude).
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Just "test fitted" my new chains before my first trip. Not the easiest ones I've ever fitted I'm glad I didn't wait until I was in the snow and mud. Hopefully with winter tyres too I may not need them although I suspect that with the amount of time I'm out there I probably will.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Pam I wasn't willy waiving about the 4x4s....... my initial response to the OP was given on the basis that I had lived within a couple of Kilometres of where the OP was going for 4 years every day driving the roads the OP will have to drive, so was able to provide 1st hand detail on whether he might or might not need chains, including that he would have to drive past where the Gendarmes set their check point to get to where he was staying and that even though it's only 800m there have been instances where we chose to put chains on Mrs M 4x4 albeit not a full on 4x4 but more of a soft roader... thus imparting additional knowledge to the OP.
Then someone who has "been to the Alps" but stayed 200km away and had a completely different beast of a 4x4 said that they'd never needed them...... which I felt was completely irrelevant to the OPs very reasonable question so said as much.
Claude B, good call, always practice in daylight and comparative warmth so you can get the knack of them before you have to do it at the side of the road in the snow and cold!!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I'm tempted to buy chains for my Navara even though its crawled up the side of Everst, twice.
Its gonna be expensive.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
homers double, legally you should if going to the French Alps during the Winter Season!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
homers double, snowchains.co.uk do an exchange service if you never use them by time it comes to change car. I have a set for the Disco but never needed them so far
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?
As my car is outside my office and the internet is sdoing what it does best, worrying people then I thought I'd check.
My tyres have all season markings and are super chunky knobblies, Hankook Dynapro ATM but DO NOT have the snowflake in the mountain which signifies a PROPER winter tyre.
However they are designated as M+S (mud and snow...)
Boris, yes, whatever, they are Continental Winter Contact TS 850, with snowflake symbols. They tend to be known as "pneus neige" round here (my passenger asked me if I had "pneus neige" this morning, as I drove carefully past someone putting chains on in the middle of the road). The tyres are new, as is the car - though it does nothing for the "looks" of a new car to spend a winter in the Alps. I have already grazed it on one of the concrete pillars which flank my parking space and loads of snow blew into it this morning, or dropped off the gear we had to shove inside. And the ABS system thinks there's something wrong though I doubt that's the case - I've had that before.
You are welcome to your enormous one - my Zafira cost less than £12K, will seat 7 and does squillions of miles to the gallon. And gets up hills without snowchains (I have practiced with my new chains but am grateful not to have had to put them on, up to now).
marcellus, as you will see I commended your earlier post to the OP - it is just stupid to tell people they don't need chains.
I was joking about the willy waving. Chaps will be chaps.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Today to get to relatively low La Plagne Montalbert you would have needed chains up to about 3pm after that you wouldn't have needed them.
How daft you would have looked a t lunchtime with no chains! (Even with a willy waving 4x4!)
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Need chains or socks today in Reberty.
After all it is free
After all it is free
marcellus, if you actually read what I wrote, you'd see I was agreeing that no matter what car you have you still need the chains, because the rules say you have to have them. This was the same point made by a number of other posts, but for some reason you decided mine was irrelevant? Maybe the way I said it got your goat...oh well. I've just had a wonderful day's skiing, sod anything else
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pam w, may be my consusion, but I always thought snow tyres had a more aggressive studded tread and would be very uncomfortable on normal roads and that winter tyres was more to do with the tread pattern and snipes and compound.
Had the same tyre as you previously
EDIT: A quick google would seem to suggest I'm wrong and that snow and winter is now a pretty much uinterchangeable term
Don't misunderstand me - I agree that enourmous 4*4 are not a necessity for driving to Alps - the fact I have one is more to do with its capability for pulling caravan than anything else. Of course it is actually Mrs B's car not mine!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Boris, it's OK, I do understand that if a chap wants a 4 x 4 he will find a reason. For Szymon it's driving in the snow.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
However, one of my friends learnt to be a bit more distrustful of his (new, good) winter tyres after doing a 180 skid on a downhill bend - and he is an over 60 year old cautious driver, not a boy racer. Winter tyres are not bomb-proof, even on modest gradients - you can definitely get "the wrong kind" of snow.
) getting out of the apartment car park at La Grave many years ago. The road was a few inches thick in refrozen slush ice, even winter tyres would not have helped there.
I have no problem with my Zafira with four good snow tyres - just drove over some quite steep roads in a near 
They are different things as I'm sure you know.
(no matter what altitude).
and loads of snow blew into it this morning, or dropped off the gear we had to shove inside. And the ABS system thinks there's something wrong though I doubt that's the case - I've had that before.
