doleawg
Member Since: 30 Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 768
 
|
| At What Point Do You Need Snow Chains? |
|
Of the to the Alps in the morning. got my HDC sorted, now understand low and high ranget, got Vredestein Wintrac 4 Extreme tyres etc... but at what point does a Disco driver need to get his chains on?
|
 30th Dec 2009 5:09 pm |
|
|
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
 
|
when you're in snow, and you can't go any further, or really it should be just before you cannot go any further,
you SHOULD find that with the tyre choice and the d3 that you'll be just fine...  one wife.......livid
|
| 30th Dec 2009 5:27 pm |
|
|
BobG
Member Since: 16 Jun 2009
Location: West Lothian
Posts: 33
|
I bought a cheap pair of chains suitable for 4x4 earlier this month(£60)just to have in case of emergency or stuck in the hills- and low and behold within a week I have had to use them to get me back up a drive that I had gone down headfirst(no turning plaace available). However despite having practised putting them on in the dry and relatively warm envirnment at home, -10 degrees and 10 inches of snow in the Highlands certainly makes it challenging-so first lesson is try them first.
Once fitted no problems and I felt I could have gone anywhere but there is frighteningly little clearance between the tyre sidewall(255/70 x19) and the shock absorber /strut(less than 10mm when fitted). As the chains fit a variety of tyres there is inevitably some slack and I was very concerned about causing expensive damage so took them off asap and went very slowly when fitted.
Anyone know if this is a function of cheap chains(9mm link) or the 255 tyres. Or was I supposed to buy landrover recommended ones!
As a matter of interest after this experience I always went down the drive in reverse and went up head first-no bother even with another 6 inches of snow.
|
| 30th Dec 2009 6:06 pm |
|
|
andym
Member Since: 16 Jun 2005
Location: london
Posts: 211
|
I have same gap too scared to put them on impossibly close
|
| 31st Dec 2009 12:26 am |
|
|
jeflew
Member Since: 01 Jan 2010
Location: Bristol
Posts: 13
|
Just as a mention. Just drove back from Berlin for Christmas bash. The German Police will prevent/stop you driving in extreme weather if you don't have snow chains fitted.
|
| 1st Jan 2010 11:56 am |
|
|
Non Stick Nick
Member Since: 02 Oct 2005
Location: Reading, Berkshire
Posts: 772
|
My experience is as follows.....
Did Le Crossiere Blanche a few years back. On public roads in the Alps there are signs that local plod will deploy to inform if chains are required. so initally I would be guided by these.
On the issue of clearance, I too was concerned about clearnce and so run 30mm spacers back and front.
If you only have 1 pair of chains whcih end do you put them, front to aid steering & braking or rear? I don't know I do have enough exprience, but in all four wheels the D3 is awesome in GGS mode.
Good luck
Nick I am a hob nobber.
|
| 1st Jan 2010 12:09 pm |
|
|
PaulP
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
|
In theory there will be signs indicating that the use of chains is obligatory from a certain point, however if it's really that bad and the road hasn't been closed, then the police will usually stop all vehicles and make them put their chains on.....if you don't have any (or are not suitably equipped) they will send you back the way you came. If you are in the middle of an area were the use of chains becomes obligatory, then they may make you leave the car there.
Chains are difficult with the D3 due to clearance issues as mentioned.....most people here fit spacers or just fit the chains to the rear wheels (not ideal, but better than nothing).
I was flagged over by the police in Andorra yesterday afternoon (along with everyone else)....they were not forcing people to put chains on, but were just making sure everyone was prepared as it was starting to get complicated on the road I was on.....they spotted the AT tyres and just told us to continue without even asking if we had chains. 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto Buckingham Blue
2007 Golf GT DSG
|
| 1st Jan 2010 12:19 pm |
|
|
slots
Member Since: 30 Oct 2007
Location: Here
Posts: 333
 
|
Quite often on the route up to Les Gets the police will stop everyone other than Land Rover drivers who they wave on through. That certainly brings the permagrin back!
|
| 1st Jan 2010 5:21 pm |
|
|
rodneydisco3
Member Since: 13 Sep 2009
Location: High Wycombe
Posts: 113
|
I have travelled to the French Alps for many years skiing, the police regularly stop the traffic queue at particular places when it is snowing. all cars are required to fit snow chains, there is normally a man in the area selling chains if you do not have any.
But driving various 4x4's i have always been waved on with a smile.
I have even under direction from the local police driven up a blue ski run to pick up a skier with a knee problem. No chains, I am sure LR's are just as capable as any other 4x4. Rodey L
2018 Discovery 5 3L HSE Idris silver and black
14MY liore Blue/Almond HSE (now with new custodian)
Discovery 3 09MY Gaulway Green/Almond (now with new custodian)
1933 MG J2
1934 MG PA
1935 MG PB
|
| 2nd Jan 2010 4:42 pm |
|
|
AndrewW
Member Since: 06 Aug 2007
Location: Saddleworth
Posts: 2302
|
Is there a snow chain expert? Someone who would know what tyre sizes a set of Weissenfels Super Rex M20 GR08 chains would fit?
My guess is M20 is the type (12mm cross-blocked chain rather than 9mm simple link chain) and GR08 is the size range...
as in
WEISSENFELS® Schneeketten POWER GRIP M15 Gr. 08
185-14 195/70-14 205/65-14 215/60-14
175-15 185/70-15 205/60-15 205/55-15 215/50-15
205/50-16
215/45-17 215/40-17
210/65-65 220/55-365 190/65-390 200/60-390 210/55-390
(except mine are M20)
I have these from a previous Subaru and want to sell, if I can advertise them accurately..
A 2006 D3 finally swapped for a 2016 D4 Graphite in Graphite grey. No mods
|
| 13th Jan 2010 2:39 pm |
|
|
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
|
sorry to mention them again but if you phone snow and rock, chertsey store is best for it, tell them you want some chains, give them the wheel dimentions etc they'll find out and call you back..
EDIT, or try here... http://www.skidrive.co.uk/snow-chains/chainsize.php one wife.......livid
|
| 13th Jan 2010 3:12 pm |
|
|
stick
Member Since: 13 Jan 2010
Location: hants
Posts: 592
 
|
On continent where winter is normal, people have blingy low profile alloy and tyres for summer, and narrower, deeper, cheaper steels for winter. THis allows the winter tyres to stay on the rims all year (no garage needed for changeover) and gives plenty of room for chains. Does anyone know where you can buy steel wheels for d3 or d4?
|
| 13th Jan 2010 3:19 pm |
|
|
ad15
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866
|
stick, just buy a set of std 17" wheels, no need to go trying to find steels... one wife.......livid
|
| 13th Jan 2010 3:22 pm |
|
|
stick
Member Since: 13 Jan 2010
Location: hants
Posts: 592
|
d4 does not list 17" as an option. Is it an option on d3? Also, two sets of alloys very expensive, no?
|
| 13th Jan 2010 3:26 pm |
|
|
AndrewW
Member Since: 06 Aug 2007
Location: Saddleworth
Posts: 2302
|
ad15 wrote:.... give them the wheel dimensions etc they'll find out and call you back..
Cheers, ad15 - my problem is a "reverse directory" issue, wanting to know what tyres these chains will fit 
Still - I'll give their website and customer care folk a try 
A
Edit I found my "Reverse directory" for snow chain sizes at http://www.weissenfels.com/ita/Auto-suv-camper-furgoni-e-4x4 2006 D3 finally swapped for a 2016 D4 Graphite in Graphite grey. No mods
Last edited by AndrewW on 13th Jan 2010 7:40 pm. Edited 3 times in total
|
| 13th Jan 2010 3:32 pm |
|
|
