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Chains, Winter tyres or both?

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
My first time as a driver (hire car) in and around 3V in 10 days time. The hire car company want €30 per day for Winter Tyres and €16 for chains. Will I need both?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
It's been talked a lot about before, a search on "snowchains" or "car hire" can help to bring up threads like this

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=220806&highlight=snowchains#220806
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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?
places like Hertz/Avis etc come with a "winter pack" which includes both at no extra cost, hence I always use them and tend to work out cheaper once you start adding both!

Personally I'd never hire a car to drive into the mountains without winter tyres, and on some access roads you won't be allowed up without chains...........

regards,

greg
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Quote:

Personally I'd never hire a car to drive into the mountains without winter tyres, and on some access roads you won't be allowed up without chains...........

agreed. I have four brand new and brilliant Michelin Alpin tyres on my new car and so far have been OK without chains, though many cars have got stuck on our quite steep access road. But they are in the back, along with the shovel, torch etc, and yesterday I thought I was going to have to use them, until some judicious rocking back and forth in the lowest possible revs got us moving (I'm improving... ) In present conditions you need the lot. The problem yesterday was the thaw and eight inches of slush.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
While we're on the subject, I have searched the forum for anything on pressures with winter tyres. Zilch. Any comments? My car manual says to inflate snow tyres .2 of a bar higher than the normal 2.5. I did it, but was quite surprised that they needed to be higher. But I know nothing about tyres. Any advice?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
pam w, I always do what the book tell's me! Even though the higher pressure in my winter tyres does give a firmer ride Confused
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
gregh wrote:
places like Hertz/Avis etc come with a "winter pack" which includes both at no extra cost,


I've recently returned from France having hired a car thru Avis. The cost of the winter pack was 25 euros a day extra from Grenoble airport. it was pricey but definitely worth it as snow tyres are a necessity + I had to use the chains also!. Was not too impressed thou with them adding on other extras "surchages" which weren't advertised on their online quotation when I booked.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
micksup, Even within alpine regions you get a lot of bollox about this. Everyone you talks to has a different perception of the truth. Folks like PG and ise have very 'conservative' views although they are difficult to contradict- and probably be accpeted as the 'norm'.

personally I have a 'real' 4X4 (as opposed to a SUV) and I consider winter tyres absolutely necessary. However I never need, or are asked to use, chains . Conversely if I owned a 2wd (or SUV) car I would always have chains; then again if I had a RWD car I would change it !!

IMHO
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Quote:

Even within alpine regions you get a lot of bollox about this. Everyone you talks to has a different perception of the truth. Folks like PG and ise have very 'conservative' views although they are difficult to contradict

I have no knowledge of cars, traction control, tyres, or anything else. What I know from my own experience - sheer empirical knowledge - is that I sometimes needed chains as well as snow tyres on an "ordinary" front wheel drive Toyota Carina. Nothing to do with being conservative, just could not get up a not very steep hill without them. A hill I had been driving up for months, each winter for three years. Different kind of snow.... Someone hiring a car they don't know, not a specialist 4WD, would be ill advised to go without chains, especially just now when the heavens are dumping from on high.
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Type23, How odd, my hire car (from Lyon had snow tyres fitted and the ski pack (chains and a rack) was 60 euros for the week. I did reserve in advance from the UK so may be this had something to do with it?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
halfhand,
I also reserved in advance, who did you rent thru ? I get the feeling that Avis have different routines / prices etc according to where you rent from etc.
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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.
I rented from Alamo in Geneva, winter tyres and chains included, booked through Holiday Autos via www.travelsupermarket.com, They also upgraded us to 4x4, or rather SUV (although I always think this is an American-ism).
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 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
Type23, Avis. I originally reserved a Laguna size model but was given an X-Trail which I understand is in a higher group. Just lucky I guess
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Just looking out the window - it is definately a both day today Wink
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
gregh, Helen Beaumont, Swiss cars must wear winter tyres in winter by law. Usually hire companies don't charge extra (as you aren't legally allowed NOT to have them. Other countries will charge. The Italians won't provide them and will only use summer diesel.

Beware renting from the Geneva French sector as, if you're heading through Switzerland my belief is you'll be breaking the law without them.

Chains are often obligatory. Especially with the weather as it is and forecast to continue. I'm not sure if 4x4s are exempt.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
David Murdoch, don't remind me about the Summer diesel we put in our car when we had to go to Turin. !!!! 4x4s still have to carry chains, but aren't always made to put them on.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Type23 wrote:
gregh wrote:
places like Hertz/Avis etc come with a "winter pack" which includes both at no extra cost,


I've recently returned from France having hired a car thru Avis. The cost of the winter pack was 25 euros a day extra from Grenoble airport. .

Phew that is a bit steep. I've just put 4 Firestone winter tires onto my car (175x14 somethings) and they cost 45 euros each tire. I bet someone at Avis has got a ncie set of winter tires for free.
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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?
I have just checked my invoice from Alamo, no charges for the winter tyres and chains.
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David Murdoch, that's not strictly true, winter tyres are not a legal requirement in Switzerland but if you are in an accident and don't have them, then you are automatically deemed to be at fault so it's a de facto one
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
eng_ch, aha! THanks for the clarification. Bit weird that isn't it? But then, that's Switzerland, non?
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