Snow chains . . . again . . . ?

stockhausen

stockhausen

stockhausen

Capodecina
Soldato
Joined
30 Jul 2006
Posts
12,130
I am looking for two pairs of easy to fit, cheapish but reliable snow chains for use in the French Alps and would appreciate any useful, informed feedback. Wheel sizes are 185/60-15 (Alloy) & 195/65-14 (Steel).

I am thinking about Weissenfels Techna M30-06s at about £60 a pair or RUD Grip chains at £55 a pair - has anyone got any experience of either of these?
 
I cant stress how important it is to get ones that fit your wheels perfect, I used to work in Sonthofen, and the amount of times people would get these wrapped around the back of the wheels was stupid. Can do a fair bit of damage as well.
 
I just got ones from ebay, think they ended up costing around £35 for 255/35/R18 fitment. And they are a perfect fit, you certainly wouldn't get them over anything larger, nice and snug fit!

I used them a lot last year and will be using them again this winter.
 
Tim said:
These look pure win:cool:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Konig-K-Summi...s_Skiing_Accessories&var=&hash=item8e07930c93
Click to expand...

only if you are lazy :p

snow chains once you have put them on a few times are a doddle, the konig stuff is for russian idiots who think the most expensive makes it the best. Those chains cover 50% of the tyre conventional chains cover the whole tyre plus I really cant see those spreaders holding up against much torque, normal chains spin round or break a link, those look like they will snap and make you cry £250 worth of tears.

2p
 
dsb said:
I cant stress how important it is to get ones that fit your wheels perfect, I used to work in Sonthofen, and the amount of times people would get these wrapped around the back of the wheels was stupid. Can do a fair bit of damage as well.
Click to expand...
Good point. As it happens, I have previously used snow chains and know of someone (a friend) who didn't adequately tighten theirs resulting in a broken chain and damage to one side of an Espace. I always tighten mine up as much as possible, drive 100 yards or so and tighten them again and then check them once more after about a mile of gentle driving.

Snow chains really aren't that difficult to fit, especially if you fit them early enough rather than waiting until you have absolutely no choice. It also makes sense not to drive like a complete lunatic when you have fitted them.


Tim said:
These look pure win:cool:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Konig-K-Summi...s_Skiing_Accessories&var=&hash=item8e07930c93
Click to expand...
Not at that price they don't. I don't feel inclined to buy a set of winter tyres and rims for a couple of one-week skiing trips either, I am more than happy to have a set of cheap(ish) snow chains . . . just in case and in order to satisfy the Gendarmerie.

I know someone who picked up some incredibly cheap snow chains in a Carrefour on the way down to the Alps last year - that may be my best solution.
 
Yep, there is a Carrefour right in Dunkirk so you can get them right after you get off the ferry. there's probably one in Calais as well.
 
Cristian said:
Yep, there is a Carrefour right in Dunkirk so you can get them right after you get off the ferry. there's probably one in Calais as well.
Click to expand...
Just ran a search at the Calais Carrefour web-site and couldn't find snow chains :( . . . or cheese come to that :eek:

On the other hand, I couldn't find lots of other random things for which I searched - though there did seem to be lots of wine & beer ;)


The best I have found online in the UK are THESE at £50 a set - they look OK but they might not protect the alloys too well.

The fitting instructions are HERE and make it sound oh, so very easy - in a nice warm, dry garage where you aren't kneeling at the side of the road, in slush, in the dark, with cars whizzing past inches from your behind :p
 
those are run of the mill chains, easy to put on, prepearation is the key, lay them out in the boot so that everything is untangled, pass the red loop round the back of the wheel, join it, then connect the hooks, pass the red chain through the rachet tighten as much as possible, drive 10m, re-tighten, drive 1km or so then retighten.

they will solid as a rock and as long as the red joiner lead has a rubber protector they wont hurt your alloys :)
 
stockhausen said:
The best I have found online in the UK are THESE at £50 a set - they look OK but they might not protect the alloys too well.
Click to expand...

They are the ones I have, only bought from their eBay shop at much less than £50, and that's for 18-inchers.

And yes, the red bit it all rubber/plastic coated, no scratches from the chains on my wheels anyway :)
 
Will Gill said:
Those are run of the mill chains, easy to put on, preparation is the key, lay them out in the boot so that everything is untangled, pass the red loop round the back of the wheel, join it, then connect the hooks, pass the red chain through the ratchet tighten as much as possible, drive 10m, re-tighten, drive 1km or so then retighten.

They will be solid as a rock and as long as the red joiner lead has a rubber protector they wont hurt your alloys :)
Click to expand...

paradigm said:
They are the ones I have, only bought from their eBay shop at much less than £50, and that's for 18-inchers.

And yes, the red bit is all rubber/plastic coated, no scratches from the chains on my wheels anyway :)
Click to expand...
Thanks for that guys, I have found "NEW SUPERIOR QUALITY POLAR EASY-FIT CAR SNOW CHAINS" which seem to be the same as the £50 jobs above on eBay for £35 and will go for those.

Again, thanks for your replies, all I need now is lots of snow :)
 
expect these chains to break quite a few links if you are using them for any period of time, I had mine for 6 months and I'm pretty sure I replaced nearly 30-40 links! bit like trigger in only fools and horses's broom :D
 
Last time I fitted snow chains we were in a ditch in a LWB Pajero. We got them half fitted on one side of the car (the other was stuck in said ditch), locked the diffs and reversed a bit, the chains bit and launched us straight out. They really do make a big difference, we were stuck fast before that.

Lucky I remembered we had them in the boot, my mate (who's Pajero it was!) had forgotten he'd even bought them in the first place.

They were cheap Ebay jobs too, didn't get enough use to ever break them.
 
Not broken a link yet Mr Will, but I certainly don't use them as often as you would.

I also keep them lightly coated in WD40 and in an airtight container whilst in storage, so they (touch wood) should be as good as they were when they were new.
 
paradigm said:
Not broken a link yet Mr Will, but I certainly don't use them as often as you would.

I also keep them lightly coated in WD40 and in an airtight container whilst in storage, so they (touch wood) should be as good as they were when they were new.
Click to expand...

haha, well mine were on my work van so I didn't care for them at all, would regularly be flying down tarmac at 30+ so its no remotely surprising they chucked a few links.

the ones I had on the mighty saab were treated well and I think I replaced 4-5 links on them :)
 
Will Gill said:
haha, well mine were on my work van so I didn't care for them at all, would regularly be flying down tarmac at 30+ so its no remotely surprising they chucked a few links.

the ones I had on the mighty saab were treated well and I think I replaced 4-5 links on them :)
Click to expand...

no wonder the roads fell apart then
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom