Snowchains

[sasha320]

I’m mildy surprised not to find any results when searching for snowchains in this forum.

According to the handbook, snowchains are not allowed on any wheels aside from the official ‘skinny’ 20” wheels (i.e., not the standard 275 concave 20” wheels).

I’m not interested in the recommended ‘skinny’ wheels as they look awful and I don’t wish to void my warranty by putting on spacers.

So... I have the 20” concave wheels with full winter tyres on them and I am due to go the French Alps. I cannot imagine actually needing snowchains with AWD and winter tyres - even in freshly fallen snow; however I am conscious that French plod may insist on them.

Clearly the reason snowchains are unable to be fitted to the wide 20” and 21” wheels is because there is limited space between the outside edge of the tyres and the outer edge of the front wing (let along there not being enough space between the inside edge of the tyre and the suspension struts / wheel arch).

Clearance once fitted aside, it also looks impossible to actually fit the chains.

So I was wondering if anyone had any luck fitting snowchains that are mounted to the outside of the wheel?

I know that the clearance is still potentially an issue but at least the chains can be fitted.

Any thoughts welcome!

I hipe you enjoyed the essay!

[Toffeebananas]

What about snow socks? Not sure if the french police accept them as a substitute for chains though? Are you planning on using certain roads which require chains? As not all access roads to resorts require you to carry chains.

[sasha320]

Thanks, I think socks would be a challenge to miunt because of the clearances around the wheel arches etc. But they may need to be a fallback option!

[Toffeebananas]

Shame you ain’t got air, you could raise it a little when fitting them

[stephen_m]

Any new ideas/tips on this subject. I plan to use my RS4 in the mountains this year and I would like a back-up to the quattro grip. Any ideas?

[SimonY]

So I couldn't get snow chains for my C5 RS6 back in the day or my current B8 RS4 mainly due to clearance issues with them. Invested in winter tyres and also bought socks for it this year. On coming down the mountain in Risoul I got stopped by French plod and he just looked at my winters and there was no discussion re chains/socks and he just waved me on.

It's an expensive option buying winter tyres but I overtook stranded Landys/Jeeps and all sorts of 4WD drive vehicles on the way home and the RS didn't once have any traction issues which says a lot for the quattro system. My father, who was with me, still goes on about it today he was that impressed!

[Tadass910]

Snow chains only for rwd cars don’t think Quattro needs it at all, good winter tires can do a job

[10biscuits]

Tadass right,went into all this about 7 years ago,chains just won't work,impossible to get on.Winters every time, they are fantastic,as for the Gendarmes been to the Alps multiple times in what here would be unbelievable conditions,the signs you see about chains etc are years old and as far as I am aware you don't need chains when you have winters on.
Oh and is this some sort of record ?? have C7 Perf 31000 miles run winters here all year round,put them on from when car was new and only had the 2 front replaced last year,the rears have 1/2 tread left and the new fronts 3/4 tread left,so ignore what people say about you shouldn't run them when the temp goes 7 degrees and above,at least for me that's nonsense and they are superb in heavy rain,you can't see the car behind,so much spray !!

[sasha320]

From experience the gendarmes will often allow an AWD to proceed up the mountain without chains if there are full winters on if it is snowing (even heavily).

BUT this is by no means guaranteed as chains or socks are the law irrespective of whether you have winter tyres on.

I carry a set of thin externally mounted chains in case a cop gets bloody minded about it.

https://snowchains.co.uk/snowchains/Thule+K-Summit/

These chains I can mount and drive off with if asked to by the cops but the clearance on the outside edge of the tyre and the lip of the wheel arch is minimal. Going around a corner at anything beyond a crawl or with a decent camber would cause the chains to scrub against the wing.

I believe I won’t ever need them with full winter tyres but if the cops got difficult then I would...

Mount the chains in front of the cops, drive (crawl) out of their sight (hopefully in a straight line) and then stop and take them off.

[Covkiller]

I was driving up the mountain road to La Plagne for skiing in my 1st RS4 B7 saloon when I came across a Police stop checking cars for snow chains. I thought sh1t. The plod just waved me bye. I just drove straight up through the snow. I had new Vredstiens fitted at the time. I had to be careful but got up fine.

Coming down once it took me 30 mins in snow, my friend in his E46 M3 with snow socks took 2.5 hours.
A photo from my mates M3:


I've driven many times in snow whilst skiing and in a very heavy snow storm, just on normal but good tread tyres. Advise; the only problem I had was a misting up screen. I really shat myself as I couldn't see, I wound my window down to see and stopped safely got out and cleared the air vents of snow at the base of the windscreen. Problem solved.

Also once in Canada Montreal in January. I saw a C63 AMG driving in the snow down town, I couldn't believe my eyes, really this car is a killer. But my friend said no problem he's got snow tyres on. So they do work.

[Edmond]

There's a video somewhere of an M3 destroying a Range Rover up a snowy hill. M3 on winters - RR not. Point proved really.

[sasha320]

Without wanting to create arguments - the original question was about snowchain fitment as opposed to the capabilities of winter tyres.

[Covkiller]

As you say snow chains won't fit. So the only alternative is tyres. Everyone here says that's all you need and the plod won't mind. If you're really worried call the ski resort and ask about the plod.

[Tadass910]

Quattro + winter tires continental winter contact TS 860 S unbeatable in winter, using 21 inch rims with tires 285/30 so sweet

[stephen_m]

Did anyone try the snow socks? Can they be fitted, given the limited clearance?