Member Since: 07 Mar 2018
Location: Mansfield Woodhouse
Posts: 38
tyres to drive to the Alps - 850 wet roads, 10 of snow
The ski season approaches and the D3 will be taking 4 of us to the French alps and needs a full set of tyres.
Its mainly English and then French motorway for 850 miles and then around 10 miles of mountain zig zag from Bourg St Maurice to Les Arcs. Coupl eof runs up and down to get the shopping and then inter village stuff on snowy roads then repeat back to home.
I expect snow and lots of it and previously the French police have been out enforcing snow chains on the way up the hill where if its snowing, they don't clear them so you get compacted snow.
The car parks aren't frequently cleared giving standing compacted snow.
Once the snow stops and the roads are cleared, its slush and lots of water particularly near bends where the snow melt runs off
I have one set of chains for the D3.
The rest of the time its UK roads and some grass and if last year is anything to go by, a bit of snow
The D3 has Scorpion Zero at the moment which seem to get mixed reviews. I don't want hardcore off road as 90% of what I do is on road.
My partner uses all season cross climates on her car and rates them
Scorpion ATR look like the snow wont be an issue but how are they on a road
Scorpion Verde All season says light snow on the Pirelli site.
any recommendations ?
23rd Oct 2018 11:36 am
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4399
I've been running Continental CrossContact for a while now. Fantastic tyres, full wither symbols (snow flake and mountain symbols) M+S.
I've actually run then through this summer (with a view to wearing them out!) and they have performed brilliantly. Motorway, country roads, wet/dry hot/cold snow mud. They seem to do everything!Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
23rd Oct 2018 11:57 am
Gazellio
Member Since: 09 Jan 2011
Location: Chilterns
Posts: 4130
I have been running Cooper Weather-Master WSC 255/55 R20 110T XL (studdable) through last winter and all summer locally. They are still at full tread and grip like crazy summer/winter/snow and look just fabulous on a D4 without being ATR. Great value to at £150 - £175 depending on supplier. (just found them at £124 inc VAT at Camskill)
PS: You can also take a bag of emergency studs just in case it get really icy/slippery on the hills up/down
23rd Oct 2018 12:22 pm
Browny90
Member Since: 19 Jul 2016
Location: Ashbourne
Posts: 687
GG AT3 are my current favourite..
Great on road, off road and (althought I haven't tried yet) I think snow will be good too..
They have the snowflake etc so (As far as I'm aware), no snow chains required for French Alps.. )
We're knocking the alps on the head his year, I always think I'll be fine, then I remember the drive and just can't be a :censored:sed this year.. so We've just booked ARE in Sweden for early next year..
Went last year and loved it..
We fly to Trondheim in Norway then drive the 2/3 hours to cross the borfder into Sweden and Are isn't much further..
Member Since: 10 Mar 2017
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1072
9 times out of 10 you will be fine with regular M&S, but there is that chance you will not.
Last year, we had loads of snow just up the road from you in Tignes/Val D. Roads were covered for weeks and snow outside my apartment was a good meter deep. Not once did I need chains. The D4 just just drove everywhere without a single issue.
The road between Tignes and Val D'Isere was closed a number of afternoon/nights, and the police just looked at my tyres and waved me through the road closed signs.
I have Vredstien Wintracs and couldn't recommend them enough. Think they were £560 for the set, fitted.
My trip last year was what one might call a "difficult" one.
Off the tunnel at Calais and within 30 mins snow started to fall. 30 mins later and the motorway was covered, and 12 hours of driving through the night in 6+ inches of snow across both lanes. It never let up for a minute. I was knackered, but the car never flinched.
I am putting them back on this weekend, cant wait. Much MUCH nicer than the Scorpion M&S I run in the summer.
23rd Oct 2018 2:29 pm
ostosix
Member Since: 19 Mar 2017
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 305
Philip1972 What a great read!
23rd Oct 2018 8:21 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 11 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6562
I swear by studded Nokian Hakkapelliitta 9 SUV tires.
23rd Oct 2018 8:26 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26698
I think I was trying to get to Tignes the same time as you! We flew to Chambery then got stuck for 10 hours in a coach on the motorway. Nightmare!! but great skiing.
Philip1972 wrote:
9 times out of 10 you will be fine with regular M&S, but there is that chance you will not.
Last year, we had loads of snow just up the road from you in Tignes/Val D. Roads were covered for weeks and snow outside my apartment was a good meter deep. Not once did I need chains. The D4 just just drove everywhere without a single issue.
The road between Tignes and Val D'Isere was closed a number of afternoon/nights, and the police just looked at my tyres and waved me through the road closed signs.
I have Vredstien Wintracs and couldn't recommend them enough. Think they were £560 for the set, fitted.
My trip last year was what one might call a "difficult" one.
Off the tunnel at Calais and within 30 mins snow started to fall. 30 mins later and the motorway was covered, and 12 hours of driving through the night in 6+ inches of snow across both lanes. It never let up for a minute. I was knackered, but the car never flinched.
I am putting them back on this weekend, cant wait. Much MUCH nicer than the Scorpion M&S I run in the summer.
23rd Oct 2018 9:08 pm
Ipken
Member Since: 07 Mar 2018
Location: Mansfield Woodhouse
Posts: 38
Thanks for the replies
All this talk of snow and pics of Are is increasing the need to ski.
Last year was a dumper year for snow and hope it's repeated.
The uncertainty is in a way the issue.
Go m&s for the autoroute and chains for the villages and road up.
Do that and there will be waist deep snow.
Go more heavy duty and there will be a dusting.
Girlfriend favours quiet comfy ride down
Having service in 2 weeks so have a while to mull the choice over
Driving down 15 Dec to arrive 16th. Back home 6th & 7th with sons coming and going over the break.
A post for a ski meet may be in order
23rd Oct 2018 9:44 pm
ostosix
Member Since: 19 Mar 2017
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 305
I’d go for a proper winter tyre with sipes, the discos are still 2.7t, and they work much better than M+S under 7 degrees, so ideal for general UK winter as well.
23rd Oct 2018 10:00 pm
Philip1972
Member Since: 10 Mar 2017
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1072
Ipken wrote:
Thanks for the replies
All this talk of snow and pics of Are is increasing the need to ski.
Last year was a dumper year for snow and hope it's repeated.
The uncertainty is in a way the issue.
Go m&s for the autoroute and chains for the villages and road up.
Do that and there will be waist deep snow.
Go more heavy duty and there will be a dusting.
Girlfriend favours quiet comfy ride down
Having service in 2 weeks so have a while to mull the choice over
Driving down 15 Dec to arrive 16th. Back home 6th & 7th with sons coming and going over the break.
A post for a ski meet may be in order
Me too, especially as my season ski pass arrived this morning
24th Oct 2018 8:47 am
Ipken
Member Since: 07 Mar 2018
Location: Mansfield Woodhouse
Posts: 38
Ordering season passes today as it gives a good discount.
As sons coming in and out, we are getting three ski a la carte passes and they can mix and match who uses them.
Cheaper than paradiski for the days they are out as they give 1 euro days.
Philip1972, you rate the Vredstien but mention using Scorpion in the summer. Why did you change ? Are Vreds noisy in the summer ?
The pics of Are remind me of eastern Canada where it wasn't that high, it was just bloody cold with the pylons, trees etc looked snow blasted.
The locals all had electric heated jackets, pants, boots and gloves
24th Oct 2018 9:51 am
Philip1972
Member Since: 10 Mar 2017
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1072
Continentals
I only put the Continentals on (I know I said Scorpions but I was confused ) as that seems to be "the thing to do"!
I cant wait to get the Vredstiens back on, they are silent compared to the Continentals.
i will be leaving them on year round from now on.
Anyone want a set of wheels with Continentals on??
24th Oct 2018 1:05 pm
Gazellio
Member Since: 09 Jan 2011
Location: Chilterns
Posts: 4130
What effect would fitting 255/55 r20 against 255/50 r 20 have other than a slightly larger rolling radius and speedo deviation? 13mm difference I think....
28th Oct 2018 10:22 am
Ipken
Member Since: 07 Mar 2018
Location: Mansfield Woodhouse
Posts: 38
Thanks for all the recommendations
in between the posts I had reason to speak to an associate who lives out in Bourg all year round who last year used Michelin Cross Climates in all types of snow and rated them.
They are M&S and have the winter tyre rating as well in the D3 size.
My partner also uses them on her Alfa and rates them for wear and in the wet and slippy in the UK
Fitted at the weekend at £150 a corner and they put my two month old Scorpion Zero on the spare.
I'm still taking the chains as they take up no space but am looking forward to a sure footed trip.
The D3 is being serviced next week and will no doubt include more than the fluid changes.
Both tyre places have identified that the pads are low and the rear discs aren't looking that great.
I would guess that new discs and pads front and rear would be £500 ish in total ?
It had new EGR's in March and an air pump a few months before that plus rear suspension arms.
There is a clunk when that seems to come from the rear when cornering which may be the roll bar bushes but I'll see what they say
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loads of snow just up the road from you in Tignes/Val D. Roads were covered for weeks and snow outside my apartment was a good meter deep. Not once did I need chains. The D4 just just drove everywhere without a single issue.
