Jet Pilot
Member Since: 16 Sep 2009
Location: down south
Posts: 109
  
|
Hi all, planning a trip to the French Alps on Boxing Day and am wrestling with the requirement for snowchains. Anyone have any experience of going up the mountains without them? Do you think I will really need them? As I understand it, if the Police instruct you to fit them and you don`t have them ,they won`t let you proceed any further,is this right? Just trying to calm SWMBO who is getting a bit stressed pre holiday. "I went to the Isle of Wight and it was  " Gene Hunt 02/04/10
torque tuned and lovin` it
|
 15th Dec 2009 8:16 pm |
|
|
Rex
Member Since: 17 May 2007
Location: Bucks
Posts: 38
 
|
Snow chains are a requirement and I have always taken them with me but even in heavy snow the roads have been fairly clear. Have gone up the mountain to Meribel in D3, Nissan Quasquai and various French hire cars and never needed them although always carried them.
I purchased some for the D3 as was planning to keep it long term but sold it 6 months ago. Kept the chains though as D4 arriving in Feb 
Beg steel or borrow some as genuine LR ones are not cheep
|
| 15th Dec 2009 8:24 pm |
|
|
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
|
IF you have "snow" rated tyres then you don't HAVE to have chains.. one wife.......livid
|
| 15th Dec 2009 8:33 pm |
|
|
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
 
|
are AT2's snow rated?
I'm off skiing in Austria in April and have been wondering about chains. 2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
|
| 15th Dec 2009 8:40 pm |
|
|
|
|
npinks
Member Since: 31 Jan 2008
Location: Leeds
Posts: 1943
|
I think snow rated tyres have a triangle with a mountain depicted in it IIRC,
but I think my old Goodyear wranglers M+S didn't have it so I think I would still need chains 
|
| 15th Dec 2009 9:07 pm |
|
|
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
|
Had a look here too: http://www.generaltire.com/tires/T5/Grabber-ATsup2-sup
"Snowflake approved and studable design"
"Meets the severe snow service requirements of the RMA and RAC"
whatever they mean! 2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
|
| 15th Dec 2009 9:10 pm |
|
|
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
|
Hmm, I have AT2s, which have the stud holes and an M+S mark on the side but no mountain and snowflake, so I don't think they're winter-rated. That's why I switch to Scorpion Snow+Ice each winter. I might be wrong.
|
| 15th Dec 2009 9:20 pm |
|
|
BLFarrar
Member Since: 02 Aug 2006
Location: Deepest, Dankest, Darkest, Dingiest......Le Halifax, West Yorkshire...with strong links to Ireland
Posts: 6222
 
|
on Saturday..I have Vredestien Wintrac fitted to the D3
I was under the impression these were the full Monty as regards winter tyres for specific places in Europe
If not where can I get some quick chains....other than Carrefour's? BREXIT - done properly.
Right now ...We need Government - not Politics
Save the Dipstick Flagbearer-keep it simple, less likely to fail campaign-agenda items:Starting Handles, Acetylene Lamps.
Founder: Dipsticks-R-Us Inc
D3 HSE-perfectly formed, passenger friendly...has real DIPSTICK
Jag XK-but sadly no DIPSTICK...HUGE design fault
FL2 has DIPSTICK..."real comfort in rear seats"
VW Golf wondermobile (?)..has real DIPSTICK
Morris Minor..original DIPSTICK technology..and a real KEY.
|
| 15th Dec 2009 9:24 pm |
|
|
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
|
you'll be fine BLF. they're rated no worries.
as for cheaper chains, have a look at tyresocks, cheap, light, clean, and i did a magasine test on them in a vulvav70allroadthingy, we drove straight up a 22' ski slope....  one wife.......livid
|
| 15th Dec 2009 9:36 pm |
|
|
JF Lux
Member Since: 08 Sep 2007
Location: A little country in Europe
Posts: 3522
|
snow flake + mountain = snow rated. I.e. a winter tyre.
But they do not substitute for snow chains if required in the area. You will find some roads clearly marked that you can only drive them if you have chains.
Ask your LR dealer if you can hire them. We can here - for about 1.5 euro per day. The next American ex-pat that calls it a "truck" is going to find out what 2.7 tons feels like on their foot...
Club "yes, I too have had the EGR's replaced..."
Club "yes, I too have had the compressor replaced..."
Club "yes, I too once had the car at the dealer for a couple of weeks nearly 4 weeks over 4 weeks...5 weeks"
Club "yes, I too have had EPB failure..."
Club "yes, I too get mysterious bings and bongs..."
|
| 15th Dec 2009 9:39 pm |
|
|
NoDo$h
Member Since: 02 May 2006
Location: Finding new and exciting ways to milk badgers.
Posts: 19689
|
Rental for about £75 here: http://www.snowchains.co.uk/cgi-bin/rental4x4index2.pl
A couple of years ago les flics were focussing on brit cars and pulling them. We were in an L200 and just got waved through while they pulled assorted cars, an XC90 and an X5. Never been pulled in either of the D3s, but I do have chains in the car just in case (they're in the car now). They tend to see LRs as "proper" cars, but that's not a 100% guarantee.
Some roads have a chainage obligitaire sign, usually above 1000m. Where I go near Chamonix, St Gervais is below this line, but Les Contamines (next village up) is obligitaire if the weather is bad enough. I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
|
| 15th Dec 2009 10:07 pm |
|
|
GrenobleLandy
Member Since: 04 Mar 2009
Location: Grenoble
Posts: 116
|
Hi JP
As you can see we live in them there hills... The signs currently say 'Snow chains or Snow tyres' around here. I have never (9 years living the dream  ) had to put chains on as I already have snow tyres from mid November onwards - had a couple of nasty experiences on road tyres after severe weather (braking action non existent!) when I first got the D3 cos I thought it was invincible  ... French police dont seem to use chains either, just tyres...
Personally if you have road tyres for the long drive down then I would have chains available just in case. No doubt it will guarantee bare and dry conditions for your entire stay - but we both know all about contaminated runways and what that does to stopping performance dont we 
Cheers TDV6 HSE AUTO
Defender 90 CSW
Last edited by GrenobleLandy on 15th Dec 2009 10:43 pm. Edited 1 time in total
|
| 15th Dec 2009 10:17 pm |
|
|
Jet Pilot
Member Since: 16 Sep 2009
Location: down south
Posts: 109
|
Thanks GrenobleLandy, yes I think you`re right, big drive on MTR`s or AT2`s beforehand so I`ll get some chains. Anyone up for loaning me a set for a week in exchange for beer tokens? "I went to the Isle of Wight and it was " Gene Hunt 02/04/10
torque tuned and lovin` it
|
| 15th Dec 2009 10:33 pm |
|
|
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
|
Quote: Where I go near Chamonix, St Gervais
Nd, you must be doing OK then...
we lived in chamonix for 2 years.. one wife.......livid
|
| 15th Dec 2009 10:33 pm |
|
|
