Snow chains for Octavia Scout

[shayne]

Hi there,

Has anyone had any experience with snow chains and the Octavia Scout? We have 17 inch tyres on at the moment.

I have been told that Skoda only recommend snow chains to fit their winter tyres......this is, however, a very expensive option when only going to the Victorian snowfields 6/7 times a year.

The other option is apparently the RUD Centrax...and I have been quoted $795!!!!

Any other ideas or comments?

Thanks

[spaz74]

Buy a set of second hand tires and rims from ebay

[K1W1]

Go talk with the guys at Roof Carrier Systems in Burke Road (near Toorak Road) they are really good but on the $$ side.
For the limited use you have and the fact they may actually only go on the car once a year I'd be renting something. Our use in Australia is minimal chains are usually only fitted for a couple of km at most in Victoria so with slow driving I doubt that you will have any issues. The sort of use Skoda think about is where chains are on way more than here in Scandinavia or northern Europe. I would be more concerned with making sure I got chains that didn't damage the rims rather than one that caused tyre issues.
VW drivers must have the same issues so posting in the wheels section of the main forum might get some useful answers.

[monkeysrus]

Snow socks

Snow Socks NOT Chains -Most Sizes - Beat The Weather! E - eBay Other Touring Travel, Touring Travel, Car Accessories, Vehicle Parts Accessories. (end time 10-Aug-10 20:10:51 AEST)

[K1W1]

Snow socks

In Victoria all vehicles must carry chains in the alpine areas of the major ski resorts of Hotham, Falls Creek, Mt Buffalo and Mt Baw Baw. Mt Buller and Lake Mountain have special arrangements in place that require 4WD vehicles to carry chains only on certain days. 2WD vehicles and all overnight visitors must carry chains at all times.

I would not be wanting to rock up at the ticket gate at Hotham and try to convince the harassed, bored and cold attendant that my snow socks were in fact snow chains. Likewise I wouldn't like to get back to my car and have to fit the snow socks for the trip back down the hill in a snow storm.

[monkeysrus]

Socks are easier to put on than chains!! (Not sure if allowed here, i am getting some anyway)

[IBN]

Got some Konig K7 chains for the Scout last year ($270 maybe). With a 7mm link they're probably the best you're going to get to fit the front tyres. They have received a trial run with no problems, but who can tell. With the limited space, a change of tyre could throw things out.
Cheers,
Ivars

[brad]

I'll preface this by saying that i know nothing about snow chains or the snow.

If chains are causing a clearance issue then maybe the cheapest alternative is to buy some 16x5.5 rims with 205/55x16 tyres off either eBay or these forums.
Lots of people seem to take them off Jettas or the lower spec golfs. You can get them with almost new Contisport 2 (worth ~$150+ each new) for about $400-$500 for tyres & unmarked alloys. Factor in the cost of a small trolley jack to do the changeover (the weekend before going to the snow) or just leave them on for the 3 months of the snow season. When the Contisports wear out, buy some Mud & Snow pattern tyres. That's what my wifes rellos in Austria do - big tyres for warm weather, skinny tyres for winter.

edit: You still have to buy chains but they are easier to fit & less damage

[woofy]

I've always wondered about chains and alloys, never seems to be a good mix. I was wondering about taking up our 6 once, as its 16" 55 profile tyres and the clearance is ok, but chains and alloys put me off.

[shayne]

Got some Konig K7 chains for the Scout last year ($270 maybe). With a 7mm link they're probably the best you're going to get to fit the front tyres. They have received a trial run with no problems, but who can tell. With the limited space, a change of tyre could throw things out.
Cheers,
Ivars

Thanks for your response. Apparently no chains are approved by Skoda for the 17inch tyre, so what impact does using an "unapproved" chain have on your warranty?

[shayne]

Roof Carrier Systems were the ones who quoted me $795 (the Centrax retail for less than half of that in the US). There is very little clearance with the 17in tyres on the Scout hence the RUD Centrax (which doesn't go on the back of the wheel). Thanks for the suggestion Re wheels section of main forum.

[shayne]

Buy a set of second hand tires and rims from ebay

Wouldn't that cost more than the snow chains themselves?

[IBN]

Thanks for your response. Apparently no chains are approved by Skoda for the 17inch tyre, so what impact does using an "unapproved" chain have on your warranty?

We don't have may options really. Of the last 4 VAG cars, none of them were "apporoved" to run chains on the "summer" rim/tyre combinations. Somehow, I managed to find workable chain solutions for all cars. Warranty problems? Dunno. We only need to run chains on the front wheels unlike some of the more grand SUVs which require traction aids on all 4 wheels to avoid screwing up the all wheel drive systems that are used.
Options?
A second set of winter tyres and rims? Pricey. Awkward
Buy an Audi The dealers offer, or at least did offer a temporary exchange service to get people up to the snow on winter tyres. Don't see our Skoda dealers offering this service
Auto socks? Seems like an excellent option, except, they are not understood here in Victoria.
Other traction aids? Have hunted for them. More choice OS, but might be a bugger to get them here.
Chains? The problem that we have is clearance b/w the tyre and the suspension strut. You just have to get something that fits in there without fouling. For the Scout at least, fouling on the guard does not seem to be a risk as the car sits pretty high. Damage to alloys? This one you will have to check yourself. For me, I do not see it as a problem.
At the end of the day you have to carry something. The K7s were the only option available at the time. They fit. They work, but because of the small link size, they are horribly fiddly and probably would not work in deep snow. Hopefully you will never need whatever you get - you are driving an AWD after all. I made it up and down Hotham last winter in blizzard conditions with no problems. Impressive really, seeing as the Scout comes equipped only with road tyres.
Good luck in your quest,
Ivars

[monkeysrus]

What about these? K-Summit K12 - Thule - Thule RV Accessories - Tire Chains

[K1W1]

With this being Australia the land of ADR and unnecessary vehicle regulation there is probably a design standard or compliance requirement for snow chains. I'd think twice before I imported something that was not sold here by the local distributor. There could be insurance implications if you had an "issue" while they were fitted.
It may be worth contacting Thule Australia or their agent to see what the story is about them locally.