whats your thoughts?? worth spending money on?
whats your thoughts?? worth spending money on?
Not unless you're knee deep in the white stuff.
To quote from the Vx handbook
"Tyre chains may only be used at speeds up to 30 mph (50 km/h).
When driving on roads that are free of snow, they may only be used for brief periods since they are subject to rapid wear on hard roads and could snap."
I don't know if you've ever seen Ice Road Truckers? Most of the lorry drivers loath snow chains because of the time and effort putting them on and taking them off again.
Providing you're gentle with the throttle, progressively smooth with it and that includes the steering and brakes, then you should be able to drive on snow without needing chains.
It's probably worth buying a set of snow socks to keep in your boot incase you get stuck. Then when your free take them off again.
At least you won't do any damage to your car with them if they come off
yes belive the aa and rac use these socks for the vans and for members (only to be used when you are stuck i belive)
Snow chains are an absolute ball ache to fit.
on a winter tour of afghan we had some of best snow I've seen in my life and we only actually fitted the chains to practise.
Snow socks or winter tyres FTW, or both. I would recommend winter tyres to everyone that has storage space. Especially given I think you are based in Scotland.
But to answer your question avoid snow chains and get snow socks.
Aldi are flogging some little orange ramp looking things for £7 that you are meant to use if you get stuck? They look like they'd be neat and tidy to store in the car?
There is also the spray on tyre grip stuff. I know this was also handed out to RAC etc last year, so for a few quid might be worth a try
Generally if you get stuck on ice or snow it's just the small area where the wheels are. If the wheels keep rolling, you're fine. Get hold of a couple of carpet tiles. Look in skips outside offices being refurbished. If you get stuck, push the car back slightly if you can, then put the carpet tiles in front of the tyres, fluffy side down. Stick it in 2nd gear, drive forward slowly. Once you're on less slippery ground, stop and retrieve your carpet tiles. The pressure of the wheels causes the ice to melt slightly and soak into the carpet, causing it to grip. Snow socks work on the same principle.
The problem with chains and socks in the UK is that we grit the roads. If you drive on tarmac that's not covered in snow, you'll either damage the socks/chains or damage the road surface, so you're constantly taking them off and putting them on. If you live in an area where roads aren't gritted then they are worthwhile though.
As for me- when it gets too much for the Vectra (which isn't much), I just switch to using my Pajero, which has no trouble even in 50cm deep fresh snow
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