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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What about snow socks? Going over the Col from La Grave to Serre Chevalier on the 12th this month, I saw a car with them on that was coping well. The French signs were saying that specialist equipment - rather than just snow chains, was obligatory - so maybe the authorities' objections to snow socks have changed (I have heard they have improved).
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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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Super Eagle, Winter Tyres are the obvious first step, but I'm sure there is a solution to fitting chains, either a very low profile set or something like Spikes Spider.
Try www.snowchains.co.uk for specialist advice.
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Snow socks have indeed been improved and approved for use in France.
http://www.autosock.com/default.aspx?did=9079022
Bare im mind spkes spyders take up a fair bit of room in the boot of the car.
Spare set of steel rims with winter tyres sounds like the way forward, the dealer may perhaps find a discounted set of steels for you?
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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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Boredsurfing wrote: |
the dealer may perhaps find a discounted set of steels for you? |
Quite often they go in the skip when dealer supplied upgraded wheels are supplied.
Bigger wheels might be to allow for a bigger brake option too, so check that they fit.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Having had a Ford Mondeo (17 inch wheels) and having ruined my ABS with a poor installation of snow chains, I'd go for winter tyres, perhaps on a spare set of rims as advised above.
Never tried snow socks though.
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Buy a set of winter tyres/wheels with the smallest wheel set that your car will take and buy chains fof the new configuration.
Many discussions on this site as to whether chains? or tyres?, make your own mind up. But in my view the only way to go.
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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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Super Eagle,
I have the same car. Get some Clack and Go (Quattro)
They work fine. I have used them "lots" of times
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I bought a set of Snow Socks but have yet to use them. My A6 has the S Line suspension which means normal chains can't be used, only the £300 ones that sit in the middle of the tyre will fit.
I researched the socks thing and they are accepted by the French authorities but my four wheel drive system has been more than adequate to cope with the snow here and in Tignes (yes, we had plenty in Tignes over Christmas and New Year).
If buying another set of wheels, buy a set of winter tyres for them too. They will last for many winters if you only use them when the UK weather gets bad or for alpine jaunts.
ETA - I am sure my Mondeo had 17s and I fitted chains to that, with no problems. That was an 04 car though, not the latest shape.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I have Thule K Summitts for my Mondeo Titanium 59 plate and they work fine, expensive at around 280 squid, but good chains and will solve clearance problems
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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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Steel wheels are about £30 each brand new from a main dealer. Worth going back to the dealer you've had trouble with, they'll probably do them at cost because they've made a mistake and don't want you using your return policy in the Ts & Cs - alternatively you can argue not fit for purpose as you made it clear you needed to fit chains. If you hadn't said anything and spoken to the salesperson you wouldn't have a leg to stand on, but as they knew what you were going to use it for and didn't point out the unsuitability, they have a problem.
Once you've got your bargain steel wheels, get some snow tyres. You are unlikely to need chains with good quality snow tyres, so means less chance of having to get out and faff about in the middle of the night. Then buy some standard chains that won't be expensive.
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You know it makes sense.
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Have a look on
http://www.mytyres.co.uk/Steel_wheels.html
When I bought the winter tyres for my car it was only an extra £10 for the steels and that was fitted also so it was cheaper than getting tyres fitted at garage to my own wheels.
Bear in mind that was a bit of a one off deal but you may find similar.
Also 16"winter tyres are way cheaper than 17 or 18.
You`ll find that the 16" wheels will fit with larger profile tyre possibly.
hth
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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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The fact that the rims are 18" in diameter has probably nothing to do with it. Think about it, unless they've changed the suspension, gearbox/differential and the speedo, the outside diameter of the tyre will be the same.
The killer is probably the width of the rim and/or tyre. This will put it nearer the gubbins inside the wheel arch and leave insufficient room for the chains.
As mentioned above, best to get winter tyres on steel rims that are both smaller diameter and narrower. In fact the narrower the better on soft snow. But don't forget to check with your insurance company first
For all information wheely try here:
http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html
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Poster: A snowHead
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I run chains on my RX8 on 225/45/18's and there is very little clearance but have no problems with my Weissenfels 9mm clack and go pro tech's, You will need to watch out when putting them on that you dont snag enything expensive but once on they tighten themselves as you drive so you dont risk that loose end causing damage. Its nice driving past the stranded X5's
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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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Get some michelin easygrip composite chains. They are a peice of cake too fit and remove and are legal in France. Even my girlfriend can fit them in about 20 seconds.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Don't bother with snowchains this year. If you get caught in a blizzard then you're one lucky b....d!!
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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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jellylegs, sounds like a scream of pain?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hi, I have a mondeo ST and my tyre size is 225 40 18. In my manual it also says don't fit chains, but I know plenty of people who have put them on it. With mine being an ST it is much lower than the standard car and I have never had issues.
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Chain clearance issues are hardly ever because of the distance between the tyres and the front wings, it's normally the clearance between the inside of the tyre and the suspension strut that causes problems.
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Having spent far too many years of my life working for and with the mighty blue oval I can confidently say that in all liklihood you won't have an issue. For Ford to approve use of chains they need to do a full wheel and tyre package clearance check. This entails a CAD exercise where the wheel and tyre are modelled in full supension travel with full lock application - full bump, jounce and rebound with full steering geometry and maintain the WCR (Worldwide Clearance Requirements) which as I recall is 10mm (dynamic) to all surrounding components. I don't believe the 18" wheel and tyre package would pass this. Obviously if you're just expecting to use chains slowly and carefully you'll probably never have a problem. If you do a full lock manouvre whilst hitting a pothole and braking you might have a problem... It's a risk I'd be prepared to take. Having said that I dont drive a Ford.
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