EU driving, need advice on snow chains etc..

[drainaudio]

Hi all,
I will be travelling in Europe, mostly France and Germany over the Xmas period and am unsure about how I should be prepared. I have the obvious things such as the headlamp stickers, EU plates, AA cover and Sat Nav . The car is in pristine mechanical condition with a new Bosch 76amp battery and 5 new Continental Premium Contact tyres (which are supposed to be all weather). I'm sure I'll be fine on the motorways but my main concern really is snow chains as I will be driving through some areas in Bavaria that are fairly remote. What should I have with me? Do I need snow chains for all four wheels, which ones are the best to purchase etc?
Car is a 1993 190E with 8 hole factory alloys.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I've never had to drive in these sorts of conditions.
Thanks in advance, Geoff.

 

[television]

Fun in the snow

And now for something different, Germany does not use salt where as Scandinavier does. bear in mind the the snow is a dry snow and nothing like the UK to drive on. I first went to Sweden with a Citreon CX Dti, it drove with no problem at all even down to -45 but antifreeze must be added to the fuel at those temperatures.Dub Deck that's spiked tyres are not allowed in Germany. When I came back to Harwich there was 1" of snow and all of the trafic including me came to a halt.
The tyres and wheels are the main difference,My 1928 Rolls Royce with 5" wide tyres would go anywhere in the snow, where as my 300TE with super wide wheels would not move 1 meter, the back end just wrigled around. People who live there have two sets of wheels, the winter ones are like our town and country tyres.
I think very few use chains if used they are on the rear Wheels, as the back of the car you cant control. When you are there try and find a skid pan or an empty car park its good fun. If ever you get stuck there are allways people happy to give you a hand. Don't worry and live a little longer.

Have a good time, Malcolm

 

[television]

And now for something different, Germany does not use salt where as Scandinavier does. bear in mind the the snow is a dry snow and nothing like the UK to drive on. I first went to Sweden with a Citreon CX Dti, it drove with no problem at all even down to -45 but antifreeze must be added to the fuel at those temperatures.Dub Deck that's spiked tyres are not allowed in Germany. When I came back to Harwich there was 1" of snow and all of the trafic including me came to a halt.
The tyres and wheels are the main difference,My 1928 Rolls Royce with 5" wide tyres would go anywhere in the snow, where as my 300TE with super wide wheels would not move 1 meter, the back end just wrigled around. People who live there have two sets of wheels, the winter ones are like our town and country tyres.
I think very few use chains if used they are on the rear Wheels, as the back of the car you cant control. When you are there try and find a skid pan or an empty car park its good fun. If ever you get stuck there are allways people happy to give you a hand. Don't worry and live a little longer.

Have a good time, Malcolm

I forgot the anti freeze, though it does not normally get very cold before the new year most garages offer a free anti freeze test, either with a test strip or sample. Malcolm

 

[Myros]

do what the Germans do

get yourself a good set of M+S tyres and proceed with caution. Have a shufti at the following link

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/start.html

 

[clive williams]

Hi all,
I'm sure I'll be fine on the motorways but my main concern really is snow chains as I will be driving through some areas in Bavaria that are fairly remote.

Geoff, I'm not completely sure about Germany but many of the alpine areas in France require snow chains to be fitted. I would expect Germany to be the same. You can hire snow chains from various outlets in this country including the AA or buy them if your planning more trips. Whatever, make sure you have dry runs (forgive the pun) putting them on and get the easiest (but not the cheapest) to install as although they are not quite as good usually as the top range stuff, it's a waste of time having the best if you can't fit them especially, in the dark and on a snow covered layby. Fit them to the driven wheels only as fitting to all four wheels is for the extreme and requires skill to use. There is also potential damage to the front wheel supension of mercs with chains.

Remember to keep the speed down and change back to naked tyres as soon as you can.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[Morzine]

Hi,

I have Conti premium Contact and they summer tyres, for winter here in Germany I use Conti Winter Contact T810's these are dedicated winter tyres different rubber compund and a more open tread pattern.

As you intend to be driving in what are often extreme conditions then winter tyres are a must, the police and possibly your insurance company will take a very negative view in the event of an accident if you are trying to make do with summer tyres.

As for snowchains then for instance in the alps there are advisory notices which indicate the use of chains and some roads remain closed to cars without chains. I have a set from TRAX, quick fitting and most helpful for a merc eclass rear wheel drive, which otherwise is pretty poor in snow.

Other than that it's take it easy and keep your distance, you see all to often four or five cars in a shunt and a hoilday ruined.

Good luck,