 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm going to be driving to Switzerland in my own car this Xmas, rather than flying & hiring a car.
Therefore I need to buy some snowchains.
I know nothing about them whatsoever, but I'm sure there must be a snowhead or two out there who does!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We bought the cheapest we could find off ebay, they were about £18-£20 for our family hatchback if I remember. We haven't used them in anger, but have a dry run before we go each year just to remember how to fit them. We also pack a pair or two of warm flexible waterproof gloves and a waterproof mat to kneel on in case we need to fit them in filthy weather.
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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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Do a search on snow chains and 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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One piece of advice practice, practice, practice mine were a bit of a pain to fit..outside my house on a flat road in the light..I would not have fancied doing it got the first time when it in the cold when it was snowing...
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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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ssnowman, There is loads on here, do what DB, said 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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ssnowman, Snow chains are useless in the UK. Make sure you leave them in Switzerland.
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ssnowman, Don't forget you will also need a set of winter tyres for Switzerland too. We bought a spare set of wheels and keep the winter tyres on them that way its not as difficult to make the change each year, and I think the tyres keep better on the rims too.
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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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| Megamum wrote: |
| ssnowman, Don't forget you will also need a set of winter tyres for Switzerland too. |
Need? I think having winter tyres is certainly desirable, but are they legally required for Switzerland?
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ssnowman,
Info on driving in cuckcoo land.
http://geneva.angloinfo.com/countries/switzerland/snow_ice.asp
http://geneva.angloinfo.com/countries/switzerland/driving.asp
Road Safety from the British Embassy in Bern
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All road users should follow instructions given by local police and officials on the main alpine transit routes, at bottlenecks and areas of heavy traffic congestion. A warning triangle is compulsory and must be kept within easy reach (not in the boot). Radar detectors are prohibited in Switzerland whether in use or not. The limit for alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.05% and police may request any driver to undergo a breath test or drugs test. Swiss traffic regulations are strenuously enforced. Any serious breach of the regulations can result in heavy fines and/or imprisonment.
To travel on Swiss motorways, road users must purchase and display a vignette or face large on the spot fines. Vignettes can be purchased at most border crossings, petrol stations, Swiss post offices, by phone (on 00800 10020030) and online (at http://swisstravelsystem.com). The price of a vignette is currently CHF 40 (£16- June 07)
Alpine winters often make driving more difficult. You should equip your car with winter tyres and snow-chains, and check road conditions prior to departure. The Swiss motoring organisation, TCS, has up-to-date information on its website: http://www.tcs.ch (GER/FR/IT only).
A valid UK, or other EU/EEA, driving licence is sufficient for driving in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. There is no need for an International Driving Permit. Drivers can find up-to-date information about road closures at: http://www.tcs.ch. Information about rails services is available at: http://mct.sbb.ch/.
Further advice on driving outside the UK can be obtained from motoring organisations such as the AA and RAC.
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http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1085326316242
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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It was our understanding that you shouldn't go up a mountain in Switzerland without winter tyres. Due to the chaos you can cause if you get stuck. In fact I'm sure we've been checked in the resort carpark.
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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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ssnowman, I use Weissenfells from: http://www.snowchains.co.uk If you change your car they'll exchange them also. The ones i went for were the 'Clack n' Go' ones, east to fit and self tensioning, so you don't have to stop and retighten them. I take latex disposable glove to put them on as it's a filthy job. Oh yes and take a torch. Practice putting them on before you go. I don't bother with Winter tyres, although it's a very good idea, primarily because it's a £1000+ for a set for the car. I'd rather kill the chains sooner.
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We have been very pleased with the winter tyres, they make a huge difference to the grip of the car if its in any way icy, let alone snowy, we've driven over surfaces on them as we get to the snow line on our mountain that we wouldn't have stood a chance of driving over with standard tyres. The compound cuts into the ice better and the large tracks seem to shed the snow easier. Last year we put them on around the end of November and used them for the winter here - brilliant on frosty mornings, and a huge confidence giver if you watch 2" of snow fall outside the office whilst you work.
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You know it makes sense.
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rob@rar, I know hire cars are require dot have them, but I didin't think it was law. eng_ch's other half will know as he works in insurance.
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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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ssnowman, I have some chains, fitted a previous car (Toyota Carina). Offered with free "how to do it" lesson. However, I live on the South Coast of England) and am currently in the South of France.... back in November.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Megamum wrote: |
| they make a huge difference to the grip of the car if its in any way icy, let alone snowy, |
I agree that winter tyres are much better for traction (I have a set), I was just wondering whether they were required by law in Switzerland, or simply advised as a good thing to have?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ssnowman, post your tyre sizes please, you never know someone may have some in their shed that would suit you.
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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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rob@rar, Don't know if its a law thing or not, but think I'd encourage folks to have them whatever we find out.
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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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If you have a rear wheel drive car get 2 pairs or a different car. My Mercedes was hopeless with chains on the back only.
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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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Thanks for the replies folks.
Whilst I've driven in the Alps many times, I've always managed not to have to use snowchains
I will be driving a 4WD, I'm not sure of the tyre size (but IIRC the wheels are 17") as I'm changing cars in the next week or so. I won't be buying winter tyres as the majority of times I'll be flying to Switzerland. It's just as this will be the first trip to our apartment, we will be bringing quite a lot of stuff with us.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Does having a 4WD compensate in anyway for not having winter tyres?
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ssnowman, NO!
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Personally I'd keep a head torch so your hands are free and some old gardening or ski gloves, latex ones are fine but you'll get pretty cold. I'd probably take a tow rope too. You've done well not to have had to put chains on so far, friends of mine got caught last year, no chains other than the dearest ones on the planet left in the shop, one chain broke on the way up, car abandoned on the mountain road as it could'nt make it up to the house, children and luggage ferried up in a second car , car then covered by snowploughs deposits over night and took hours to dig out in the morning 
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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 tyres are not actually a legal requirement here but they are a de facto one insofar as if you have an accident in the winter and don't have them, the insurance will automatically hold you to be at fault, irrespective of the circumstances. And that's not an argument I'd like to sort out between a Swiss and UK insurer 
The chains we got for our 4x4 in March (coz the old ones didn't fit bah - heavy duty chains for 18" wheels for sale lol) are smashing and a piece of p*** to fit, but I forget the make now. Will have to look it up
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With a 4x4 do you need chains on all 4 wheels?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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johnnyh, it's ideal but cost makes it impractical. The owner's manual should tell you which wheels they should go on if you only put them on 2
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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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Sounds like the law is similar in Switzerland & Austria. (You would have the same insurnace/legal implications).
France isn't covered with mountains, Switzerland and Austria are - this probably identifys why there is a difference.
Driving to a ski resort sounds all very well and good but once you work out the costs of what's really needed to do the job properly it isn't so attractive. Your much greater stopping distances with summer tyres also put other people at risk - Live and let live.
It amazes me how many people will spend thousands more on a 4X4 that they don't really need but then try and save a few quid on a set of winter wheels & tyres.
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| eng_ch wrote: |
| The chains we got for our 4x4 in March (coz the old ones didn't fit bah - heavy duty chains for 18" wheels for sale lol) are smashing and a piece of p*** to fit, but I forget the make now. Will have to look it up |
FYI I just found the make of the chains we got - Maggi Trak. Ease of fitting was an absolute pre-requisite for us
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You know it makes sense.
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| eng_ch wrote: |
| FYI I just found the make of the chains we got - Maggi Trak. |
I'll bet they're very noisy to use
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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| Quote: |
| Therefore I need to buy some snowchains. |
Not necessarily. You can also rent them. We got some for a rented van, from Filarinski in Havant, on the basis that we'd only pay a proportion of the cost unless we had to use them. We were fairly confident we wouldn't have to, it was only mid December..... but no, we needed them just to get the van up the last mile or so. Luckily we had plenty of time to get the damn things on, because the entire road was blocked for over half an hour because a breakdown truck was parked obliquely across the road, to get a good angle on the winch to recover a car which had shot off the road into the forest (without snow chains....). It wasn't a lot of snow, and it wasn't a very steep hill, by any means, but there was no way we would have got up to our new apartment without the chains. Carrying the Ikea flatpacks along the side of the road would have been no fun.
These days I am good at chains. I don't use rubber gloves - they make the job more difficult. I aim to do it very fast, with bare hands, and get back into the car before my fingers freeze. But I practice, without fail, every year before driving down to the Alps and always have a small kids shovel to free the area round the wheel, and a chunk of expanded polystyrene to kneel on. I don't have a head torch but I think I will get one and add it to my emergency kit; sounds a good idea.
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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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johnnyh, I've had a 4x4 for the past seven seasons and have never needed to put chains on any of the wheels. This was the whole point of buying the car. (It's a Daihatsu Sportrak with m&s tyres.)
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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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I have a big toyota 4x4 and am off to les arcs at xmas, im gonna get some snow chains but i have 31" All Terrain tyres that dont stop on any ground, surely they will do the trick on snow over any chelsea tractors?
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surfstar, We made it up the hill to Plan Peisey last year in the dark & in a blizzard in a volvo xc70 with all terrain tyres. At every bend we came across people struggling with chains, & we kept thinking we'd have to stop & put our chains on at the next one, but we made it with no problem. Husband was driving in winter mode & a very low gear - I'd have cracked at the chainage area at the bottom of the hill
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4x4 does not stop you sliding on ice, no matter what tyres you've got, unless they have Studs or Chains to help traction. In fact a heavy 4x4 can be worse as it has a greater inertia.
surfstar, You want to come out with me, I'll get you stuck.
A 4x4 will get you further than a 2wd, but it will also get you further into trouble, likewise M+S or Snow Tyres will get you further than Summer Tyres, but nothing is as good as Snow Chains. I bet a 2wd car with summer tyres and chains would get further up a snowy icy road than a 4x4 with winter tyres.
It's a legal requirement to carry Chains in France on Alpine roads in Winter.
geri, I'd rather go up hill than down hill without chains any day.
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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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What is the difference between all season tyres and winter tyres? Apparently video shows the difference. http://uk.youtube.com/v/AlImS-dLgDA
surfstar, surely as well as being able to go you'd like to be able to stop and steer? I'm not sure that having four driven wheels will help as much as chains with the stopping and steering.
Edit: also I've noticed what the local do. Most don't have "off-roaders" but cars. I've also seen tractors with chains or studs.
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FAQ
having 'pre-owned' snow chains for sale, in various sizes.
