 Poster: A snowHead
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anyone ever rented a car from Carcassonne airport and managed to get winter tyres.? I cant find any supplier who has them available, even at a cost. rental period is in feb and given the proximity to the pyrenees and andorra I am surprised I cant get them.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I asked the exact same question this time last year. I think the general consensus of replies suggested that there were no car rental firms at Carcassonne airport that would supply winter tyres. I fired a few emails off to various car rental companies and they all replied that winter tyres weren't offered at Carcassonne. It was suggested that maybe you could pick some up enroute at one of the local supermarkets or garages, which is a good idea unless you are arriving after midday on a Sunday. We didn't book flights to Carcassonne in the end for this very reason as we didn't want to risk getting caught out .
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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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@backhojo, Check that if you have a diesel car that it will have winter diesel. If not it will be a far greater problem than winter tyres.
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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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@backhojo, Check that if you have a diesel car that it will have winter diesel. If not it will be a far greater problem than winter tyres.
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Or probably not
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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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It was suggested that maybe you could pick some up enroute at one of the local supermarkets or garages, which is a good idea unless you are arriving after midday on a Sunday.
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Or don't want to spend a small fortune!! Ordinary tyres will be OK if you have chains and fit them swiftly at the first sign of loss of traction.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@gvj, OK my sample on tyres is large and on winter diesel small. I have driven many time to the Alpes in winter with my own car and hire cars with normal all season tyres (ie not winter tyres) and never had a problem. Friends rented a car from Venice airport to goto the Dolomites. It came with all season tyres but not winterised diesel. The tyres were no problem but the diesel waxed up and spent hours in the garage with a heater under it so it could run. A much greater problem.
A usual I find myself agreeing with @pam w,
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@johnE, good luck finding a car hire company that will guarantee your hire car has winterised diesel.
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In venice the gave my friends a bottle of addin. It was insuffcient.
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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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winter diesel should not be a problem - I am sure the cheap duty free diesel in andorra will be winter diesel - it woudl be nuts not to be. We always carry additive for our own car so I can take some for the hire car. Not sure about the "pick some up on the way" comment - i am presuming you are referring to snow chains and not tyres as I sure you cant be advocating spending £500 on tyres and putting them on a car you dont own !! The issue is that none of the airports that serve andorra appear to offer winterised hire cars. I am having enough trouble finding a flight as it is without the added complication of picking an airport based on its hire car criteria ! I actually have a set of chains from last time I went to andorra 12 years ago. We made it to within a mile of the hotel in bad snow but then got stuck and had to buy some ! i would take them with me but there i no guarantee they will fit - and they eat into the luggage allowance ! I guess we just have to do the same if the weather is bad (we would arrive on friday night and do the drive to resort on saturday so shops will be open). I have a couple of sets of snowsocks at home - will take those as they may help if we are stuck and they dont weigh much ! thanks for all your comments.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@backhojo, Couple of final thoughts. We run two diesel cars in a valley that runs north south near la Clusaz so it can get pretty chilly here ! Having said that there's only been one week in the past five years when any local cars have had problems with waxing fuel so you'd be very unlucky if you had the same - the temps. at the time were -15c ! If you can park undercover overnight you'll be fine and if you keep the tank full that helps too. Happy travels.
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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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I am sure the cheap duty free diesel in andorra will be winter diesel - it woudl be nuts not to be.
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But the car they pick up will be full of fuel in Carcassonne, not Andorra.
Having worried about it I suspect all diesel sold in France during winter will be appropriaely treated. I have regularly full up just sout of Rheims and had no problems even down to -20. Venice is in Italy and in Italy lots of things are done in weird ways.
@gvj, why does keeping the tak full help? Just curious
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Less room for anything else. Including cold, damp air, I guess.
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You know it makes sense.
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@johnE, diesel is not hydrophobic like petrol so attracts water. The fuller the tank with diesel, the less possibility for water contamination and the less water the less the chance of freezing. I'm not 100% of the science but i'm pretty sure that's the reason people say to leave it full. I've been from Carcasonne to Andorra several times on summer tyres and have always been fine. Cheap chains can be bought along the way if you need them. As long as you are sensible you'll be grand.
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