Snow chains

[mickandnorma]

We are going to Spain in three weeks time. We went there last year and as we drove through The Central Massif in France, we kept seeing signs saying we were lawfully required to carry snow chains. We didn't have any and thankfully we did not encounter any snowy conditions.
However I am now going to get some for this year and I really want to know whether snow socks are legally accepted or whether snow chains are the only answer. Snow socks look much easier to fit.
Can somebody please advise me?
Thank you in anticipation
Michael

 

[Lenny HB]

I think socks are legal but they easily get torn on a heavy vehicle, probably better to have something that works rather than something that can cause more problems.

You don't need chains if you have winter or 4 seasson tyres with the 3 peaks marking.

 

[mickandnorma]

I think socks are legal but they easily get torn on a heavy vehicle, probably better to have something that works rather than something that can cause more problems.

You don't need chains if you have winter or 4 seasson tyres with the 3 peaks marking.

Thank you Lenny , That's useful to know.

Regards

Michael

 

[Brains]

I think socks are legal but they easily get torn on a heavy vehicle, probably better to have something that works rather than something that can cause more problems.

You don't need chains if you have winter or 4 season tyres with the 3 peaks marking.

Think that depends on the country.

Austria simply declares certain roads 'chains only' in heavy snow conditions.
The Police just stop anyone trying to proceed beyond a certain point without chains on the wheels.

We had to leave a hire car on the side of the road as we did not have chains fitted.
Luckily we were 10 mins walk from our accommodation.

 

[DandJ]

We live on the western edge of the central massif. We have (unused) snow socks. I've no inclination to buy chains as all I'd need socks for is to get me out of a tricky situation...i.e...off the main road/hill etc. They work fine for their intended purpose

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[carolyn]

We researched it 2 years ago as we were travelling home through France and Switzerland from Turkey in November just into the “wrong” season. We didn’t have the correct tyres and were only passing through for about 4 days on our way home. I’m paranoid about not breaking the law so wanted to be legal but also knew we’d not feel safe driving other than into a safe layby or whatever to sit it out.

Austria is the only country that will not accept snow socks. You have to have chains.

We bought the expensive branded ones, Norwegian I think.

 

[WESTY66]

I think socks are legal but they easily get torn on a heavy vehicle, probably better to have something that works rather than something that can cause more problems.

You don't need chains if you have winter or 4 seasson tyres with the 3 peaks marking.

I wouldnt waste my money on socks with the weight of our van, I have winter tyres on, snow chains in garage (not cheap ones) and Mrs Westy has her own shovel.
Then again I am in Switzerland and not France, but I would equip myself the same

 

[optimus-prime]

+1 for chains as they can also save you in many other situations (mud, sand, etc.)

 

[Landy Andy]

Socks is all you will need. They will get you out of trouble, comply to the rules, far easier to use, smaller + lighter to store.

 

[Kirsten]

Some discarded and wrecked socks on roadsides here in alpe d huez … but roads mainly clear this week dk if people misused them.xx

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[AlunandFelicie]

I have snowchains also suitable for getting you out of a muddy field (supposedly ) bought them for use at music festivals primarily ,have not had to use them yet ,the one time we got snowed in(in the Black Forest) I was able to ask a German snowplough operator to dig us out and followed him down the mountain

 

[Davecrawf]

We are going to Spain in three weeks time. We went there last year and as we drove through The Central Massif in France, we kept seeing signs saying we were lawfully required to carry snow chains. We didn't have any and thankfully we did not encounter any snowy conditions.
However I am now going to get some for this year and I really want to know whether snow socks are legally accepted or whether snow chains are the only answer. Snow socks look much easier to fit.
Can somebody please advise me?
Thank you in anticipation
Michael

Otufan 8PCS Snow Tire Anti-Skid Chain 38cm X 11cm / 15.0" X 4.3" Car Accessories Wheel Safety Chains Fit for Sedan SUV Hachback RV Trucks https://amzn.eu/d/b8xtUAp

 

[Davecrawf]

+1 for chains as they can also save you in many other situations (mud, sand, etc.)

Agree I used mine to get out of mud on an aire in Northern France in January.

 

[optimus-prime]

Agree I used mine to get out of mud on an aire in Northern France in January.

Did you use the ones in your link above? They are very light compared to standard chains (mine are 10kg), so I’m tempted to replace mine . If you used them, what’s your front axle weight, as mine is 2300kg.

 

[Verteuil Man]

We have chains. A couple of years ago there was a discussion on this subject and a fellow funster said that the NHS Ambulances carry socks 8n case they get stuck. They only last a few meters.
Alternatively you could travel to Spain as we do down the west side of France ans over the Pyrenees by San Sebastian. It may seen like a bit of a dog leg but the distance is about the same and a lot flatter. No requirement to carry chains that way.

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[Brains]

Otufan 8PCS Snow Tire Anti-Skid Chain 38cm X 11cm / 15.0" X 4.3" Car Accessories Wheel Safety Chains Fit for Sedan SUV Hachback RV Trucks https://amzn.eu/d/b8xtUAp

These look interesting.
Can you fit them in the dark when it's snowing/raining and you are up to your knees in mud/snow ?
(I'm RWD, so can not turn the wheel for easier access!)

 

[varaizian]

I used socks on a Passat to get out of the Mendips a few years ago. They worked fine on snow but shredded the moment they touched tarmac. I can't see them lasting long on a motor home.

 

[Pablo19]

I used socks on a BMW 4 series a few years ago and they disintegrated as per the above post, as sson as they touched tarmac. I have bought chains for an upcoming trip.

 

[gerry mcg]

I have these heavy duty chains for the van with 16" factory wheels fitted with Michelin Crossclimates

 

[Rick@62]

Snow chains!! Aargh!!
Still sends shivers down my spine now. Freezing fingers, heaving the snow chains on, drive a few minutes down the road, stop and retighten!
And when it was really bad I had one on the O/S steering axle tyre and one on the rear trailer axle too
Photo from early 90’s

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[G-RMPS]

215/70 unused chains in the "for sale" if anyone's interested.

 

[Dart]

I used socks on a Passat to get out of the Mendips a few years ago. They worked fine on snow but shredded the moment they touched tarmac. I can't see them lasting long on a motor home.

Yes, and it is surprising how many patches of clear tarmac you can encounter even on heavily snow covered routes, tunnels, under avalanche shelters or trees etc.

 

[3crispies]

Only fitted our chains once and that was on a T6, apart from kneeling in freezing conditions, without the feeling of my fingers I seem to remember it seemed so easy in the garden practising. Just gave up and used large cable ties in the end whilst the missus moved the van too and fro. Now just keep and eye on weather conditions and plan the route round it.

 

[Davecrawf]

These look interesting.
Can you fit them in the dark when it's snowing/raining and you are up to your knees in mud/snow ?
(I'm RWD, so can not turn the wheel for easier access!)

As soon as I got them, I practiced putting them on, on a sunny day at home, and that really helped when I needed to fit them in mud, in the dark.

 

[Davecrawf]

Did you use the ones in your link above? They are very light compared to standard chains (mine are 10kg), so I’m tempted to replace mine . If you used them, what’s your front axle weight, as mine is 2300kg.

Did you use the ones in your link above? They are very light compared to standard chains (mine are 10kg), so I’m tempted to replace mine . If you used them, what’s your front axle weight, as mine is 2300kg.

Did you use the ones in your link above? They are very light compared to standard chains (mine are 10kg), so I’m tempted to replace mine . If you used them, what’s your front axle weight, as mine is 2300kg.

Very similar I would say. However I couldn't find the identical ones on Amazon to post in my reply. Here is the photo of the said incident. Only used x2 straps per wheel, and this was enough to do the job. I later realised that the one that snapped hadn't been fitted correctly. Hope this helps.