So... I need snow chains (not daily use, I live in Geneva but in case I go to the mountains). I'm a southern Spain girl so I have no idea of how these work.
I went to the store and asked the guy what I should take into account, and after some blablabla, he told me that I need specific snow chains for my car model (2007 Fiat Grande Punto, 195 55 R16) and can't use standard chains should some car part be damaged. Those chains are about 120CHF.
After being Switzerlanded more than I'd like to admit, I have come home to do a bit of research. I see snow chains for my tire size in Amazon for half price. (Well, actually for 35 EUR).
Am I being Switzerlanded or is this guy right? I have checked the car's manual and there is no specific warning for special snow chains, it says: Use snow chains only in front wheels and reduced size 9mm chains.
Thanks for your opinions, I really appreciate any help
Check your car's manual, as with some the cheaper types of chains that fit round the inside of the wheel are specifically disallowed as they may indeed foul parts of the braking system.
I first came across this on my 1999 Volvo V70XC, and ended up buying some Rud Centrax ones that mount on the outside only using an adaptor to clamp ontp a wheel bolt http://web.rud.com/en-us/products/sn...s/centrax.html Other similar types are made by Thule and others, but I've used mine on a few occasions and been very pleased with their ease of use.
Most if not all chains have the little sticker on the side (the box they come in) if your size of tires which you mentioned in the post is on there they will fit .
Yes you are having your "chain" pulled
any cheapos will do since you will very rarely need them.
one tip is to put them on when its dry and warm out.(dont go driving with them) This way you will have a clue when you really need to put them on rapidly when its freezing, wet and shitty out.
Chains are basically for snow emergency use only. You may be required by local police to mount chains before a mountain pass during snowfall or get yourself up or down a steep hill again in fresh snow.
Otherwise chains are noisy, give a very uncomfortable ride, akin to,cross a cattle grid continuously and will limit you speed to about 40kph. Thus should not be used on autobahns.
I haven't used chains for 20 years and no longer have any (that fit).
Winter tyres, however, are essential if you intend any sort of year round motoring....
^^^ What he said. The "special chains" are likely to be those 9mm 'low profile' ones that are mentioned in the manual and I can easily imagine them selling for 120CHF. I think almost every regular car has to be able, at least with winter wheels, to have chains put on but I could be completely wrong.
Being on the French side you might be tempted to run summer or all-season tyres all year long with a set of chains just in case but most wouldn't recommended it.
I just did a quick google and it seems 9mm is the 'standard' size and 7mm is the low-profile ones. I see regular 9mm chains listed for your car and tyre size so yes it seems the guy is mis-informed. ...but you can easily spend equivalent of 120CHF in other countries for chains, just depends on the models etc.
Seems you're right. WARNING Tyres 195/55 R16 87H and 205/45 R17 88V cannot be fitted with snow chains. Even though I see chains listed for this car and tyre size. What's so special about the 120CHF ones?
If you want to go in the mountains and it's snowy, everyone will strongly recommend you have proper winter tyres, and if you don't have them already you can buy the smaller size winter tyres that you can fit chains to if you need to. That's what I have to do with mine. Driving in the mountains in snow on summer or all-seasons is not a good idea and if you make it to a chain changing spot you'll be wishing you had winter tyres as you fumble around putting the chains on or more likely call the car assistance or beg someone nearby to fit them for you.
So you're driving round on summer tyres at the moment and think chains would be in case you "go to the mountains". It is still unclear what problem you think chains will solve.
If you can't afford winter tyres, how can you afford to go to the mountains??
Those tyres are winter certified. And by "the mountains", I mean going to St-Cergues, 40 km from here, to go for a hike on snowshoes, which is pretty cheap actually. I'm sorry but there's no need to be harsh.
Normal snow chains are thick, other snow-grip solutions like socks add little to no thickness relatively to the dimensions of the tire, so there is no contact with suspension components or the wheel arch.
Don't put any chains, and if the road needs chains, don't go. Since it's for fun, you can skip a day of bad road conditions.
The fact that the sign is there, means that the road MIGHT need enforcement of chains, it doesn't mean that it always needs chains. If it does need them, there will be a police car or something stopping people without them anyway.
Legally the tyres need to have a decent amount of tread for use in snow, 4mm min?
These intermediate tyres are not as good in snow so you need to be more careful. If your tyres are not too old, and have a lot of tread left you should be OK. Old tyres won't grip as well.
Those are summer tyres with a snow-flake/mountain symbol! So they're summer and winter tyres! :-)
Coming from the UK where almost no-one has winter tyres I was amazed the difference winter tyres make. I have chains in the car and have never used them. Not to say that I won't but chains are really the last resort. I guess if you get those listed you'll be fine.
PRACTICALLY for SNOW performance you'd like to have more than 4mm, BUT my Nokians just this season went under 4mm and I had no problem with ice or snow at Val Thorens and elsewhere, handling more than 400Nm of torque and 280BHP. So it's all relative when it comes to PRACTICAL information.
Also, good all seasons are not as good as good winters, BUT good all season like the afformentioned ones, are MUCH better than chinese no-name winters that I see increasingly being fitted to many cars running around ZH...