here we go again, snow chains

[A6quattro3.0]

My fellow Audi learned members,

Got a 3.0 tdi A6, Quattro, 55 plate, manual, saloon.

There's a bad winter to come according to the forecast (see exactaweather.com - believe it if you like :D but he has been right before)

Anyway, going to the French Alps in February 2012, driving there in the Audi of course. Its got summer tyres on it and i dont really want to splash out on Winter tyres. In UK on summer tyres it was excellent in the snow and ice in the past couple of years. So I am thinking snow chains, because they are a legal requirement in French alps I believe.

Wheels are 225/55/ R16.

I checked http://www.roofbox.co.uk/snow-chains/ but it says conventional chains can only be put on Winter tyres because (I think) i have 7J rims. Am i therefore stuck with using some silly looking snow socks which I will probably destroy, or some £250+ chains I will use once then sell (actually some seem to fit many sizes of tyre)?

Be glad to hear from you.

PS despite a search I couldn't find the answer to this on this forum !!!

[AxeMurderer]

The chances are that you won't actually need to use chains. The roads are cleared pretty efficiently so unless you are driving during a snowfall, you won't have to put them on. Even then, you'll only need them during the final climb up to the resort. On that basis I'd buy snow socks (one pair) and hope not to have to use them (they'll be fine if you do - they are robust enough).

We drove to the Alps during last December's snowfall. While the drive was a nightmare, we didn't need or use chains until we were in the Alps. Even then, we panicked and put them on too early, though we would have had to use them for the final climb up to the resort anyway. When they are needed in the Alps the gendarmes will stop you and make you use them for the final climb.

[A6quattro3.0]

Thanks Axe murderer, is yours a quattro?

Maybe the more expensive chains £250 plus that i can use on future cars, or snow socks is the way forward then. I would be a bit reluctant to go with neither.

[AxeMurderer]

Both cars are fwd, and we took the Golf. So 2wd can get through!

You'll need to take something as they won't let you on to the roads up the mountain if they are covered with snow.

If I were in your position I'd spend my money on snowsocks as they are i) cheaper ii) good enough iii) won't mark your alloys iv) bet your next car has a different wheel size anyway v) if they break, won't flail through the wiring to the brakes (can you guess why I mention this?)

[A6quattro3.0]

axe murderer

Thanks for your comments. If they will allow snow socks as a form of 'snow chains' then thats OK with me too. Thanks.

[A6quattro3.0]

I cant sprecken zie deutch well enough, but you get the idea.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zfKRdgoRo4&feature=fvwrel

sorry if its a repost.

[Atlas Grey]

I take my A6 Avant FWD to the Alps 3 times a years and I have winter tyres fitted, I also carry snow chains. Based on previous experiences with a FWD Volvo fitted with summer tyres and snow chains this combination can be a right pain. I fell into the trap that the roads are cleared promptly, which they are not, especially if the conditions suggest that more snow is on the way. Sometimes it is the preferred option if a thaw/freeze cycle is forecast as a cleared road will run with melted snow from the verges and potential freeze on the carraigeway which is a very dangerous situation. The trouble with chains is that for relatively short journeys you may have to fit and remove chains a number of times as the road surface changes from snow to tarmac, often at night, during a snow storm etc etc. The worst situations are normally outside your accommodation (driveways and slopes) and your destination (ski resort?). The French do their best to clear the roads but after a massive dump it may take several hours.

The benefit of using winter tyres is that they are suitable for all but the most dire situations, then you may need to fit your chains. Depending on which tyres you have fitted (Conti Sportcontact 2 are rubbish in the snow) you may get reasonable grip but nowhere near that of a specifically designed tyre. Beside winter tyres are useful in UK too.

Interesting your tyre size?, my summer tyres are 225/50/17 but the handbook suggests a 205/50/16 option which I use for winter tyres which makes them cheaper than a lower profile option, getting chains to fit these was a doddle and I have had to use them when the Police checkpoint up the mountain was making all drivers fit them (including 4x4's). I managed to get a set of alloys from alloywheels.com a couple of season a go for £225 and fitted them with Pirelli Sottozero tyres at £105 a corner. Inital outlay was expensive but once purchased the tyre cost is halved as it were. There are steel rims/tyre options out there but I am not sure who does them (mytyres I think), but you may need to order them early.

Where are you going in the Alps?.

Good luck

[A6quattro3.0]

Hi Atlas Grey

Thanks for the advice. I will have a look into getting winter tyres fitted either to steel wheels or my existing rims anyway, with another bad winter forecast, even in the South East why not ? I definately have 225/55/R16 99Y fitted (Conti Premium Contact 2s) but with quattro I found it brilliant in the snow last year. So I will need chains /snow socks because I may be forced to put some on, which is a pain because as you say you have to put them on for the snow (when a copper tells you !!) and take them off on the tarmac. I got some cheapy 'All season' tyres on the front of my FWD transit van and drove it to Bulgaria. It was great in the snow, no chains needed, but the rear stepped out with summer tyres :D . So I definately believe in All Season let alone Winter tyres.

We will be staying in Chamonix and going to a few resorts from there.

[EssexGonzo]

I can vouch for the snow socks. My A6 is a FWD auto and with socks on never needed to use chains in the narrow twisty lanes above Val D'Isere. A doddle to put on and take off. Still carried chains, unused, as it's the law.

No point shelling out for expensive chains as they can be size-specific and your next car may have different size rims. Mine cost £60 for the low profile chains that will fit between 18" tyres and the wheelarch.

Oh - and practise socks and chains before you go. You'll be pleased when the time comes.

And winter tyres? Mine are going on our 10 yr old A2 at a cost of £75 a corner fitted to a set of 15" rims from ebay. Double that cost on the A6 with larger wheels thrown in.

[A6quattro3.0]

thanks for the advice essexgonzo :D