Recommendations for snow chains, please?

[philharve]

Title says it all. Please treat 'snow chains' as a generic term. What works best for Mercedes?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[Captain Flack]

I've bought and used Autosocks which work well and get you out of a fix. I don't think that they will stand any long term use though.

Have a look at their web site

http://www.autosock.co.uk/top.html


They do work as I found out last winter and MB do endorse and sell them but for long term use, chains may still be the better option.

 

[verytalldave]

Something different..............

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/sncltrsy.html

BTW.......some wheel/tyre combinations are unsuitable for snow chains. Particularly modern lower profile tyres with larger than standard rims. Check before you buy.

I note that your location is Cornwall.............I wasnt aware Cornwall got bad snow..............

 

[philharve]

Hi

Thanks for your recommendations "Captain Flack" and "verytalldave".

Cornwall is mild all year round (usually) but there have been years when we have suffured very severe weather and experienced snow drifts thick enough to cover most average cars. Snow, a few inches thick, and treacherously slippery roads are far more common.

I have encountered something like a half dozen occasions over 40 years when having snow chains would have been highly desireable but I managed without them, preferring not to drive, if possible. Sometimes driving couldn't be avoided.

Because I tend to keep my cars many years, the purchase of a set of snow chains could be a worthwhile investment if future weather patterns continue to swing bwtween extremes. Cornwall hasn't seen a really bad spell of poor weather for some years, so there is a likelyhood I will be driving my C230K when it next occurs.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[anyweb]

why not just get winter tyres like we do here in sweden, here in sweden in the summer you usually drive using summer tyres (on alloys) and in winter, we must drive with winter tires (or all year round tires like you guys)

the winter tyres here can be plain rubber ones or studded, the studded type are very noisey and destructive to the road surface but are very useful in icy conditions

next month i'll be changing the two cars 8 tyres, i never look forward to it.

cheers
anyweb

 

[television]

why not just get winter tyres like we do here in sweden, here in sweden in the summer you usually drive using summer tyres (on alloys) and in winter, we must drive with winter tires (or all year round tires like you guys)

the winter tyres here can be plain rubber ones or studded, the studded type are very noisey and destructive to the road surface but are very useful in icy conditions

next month i'll be changing the two cars 8 tyres, i never look forward to it.

cheers
anyweb

You are not allowed to use studs outside of Sweden

I drove my 300TE over to here with them on and left it parked in a main road with the wheels pointing towards the kerb, when I got back to the car there was a Que of people waiting to stroke the studs, a heavy fine if you are caught

 

[philharve]

why not just get winter tyres like we do here in sweden, here in sweden in the summer you usually drive using summer tyres (on alloys) and in winter, we must drive with winter tires (or all year round tires like you guys)

the winter tyres here can be plain rubber ones or studded, the studded type are very noisey and destructive to the road surface but are very useful in icy conditions

next month i'll be changing the two cars 8 tyres, i never look forward to it.

cheers
anyweb

Hi anyweb

I'll bear your suggestions in mind. Where in the UK would you purchase them and how expensive are they?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[philharve]

You are not allowed to use studs outside of Sweden

I drove my 300TE over to here with them on and left it parked in a main road with the wheels pointing towards the kerb, when I got back to the car there was a Que of people waiting to stroke the studs, a heavy fine if you are caught

Hi Malcolm

Does this mean studded tyres cannot be purchased in the UK for use on British roads? But aren't snow chains also destructive if used inappropriately?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[anyweb]

ive no idea where you could purchase winter tires in the UK, but i'm sure you must be able to get them from a tire dealer, the rubber ones use diffferent threads and different rubber which copes better with snow/ice and provide much better grip

i think the rubber is softer in the winter tires but i could be wrong

cheers
anyweb

 

[verytalldave]

I can remember reading somewhere that when SAAB was heavilly into rallying, if they had to drive on snow/ice they would always switch to studs on MUCH narrower profile tyres.
The principle being that narrow tyres cut throught the snow whereas wider profile tyres just skimmed on the surface and lost all traction.