Ski Season - Snow Chains

[natwsmith]

I know this is not an issue for all the lucky R36 owners out there but what brand snow chains do seasoned ski veterans with a passat wagon use?

the easier to install the better espeically with the limted room around the wheels and the arches.

[ur85q]

I don't have an answer to your question, but am interested in this also.

While not well experienced in these sorts of things, I did have chains on tyres of a car (non-VW) I was driving to the snow at Lake Tahoe in the USA last year - and they scratched the wheels to buggery. Is this a common experience? Incidentally, I didn't fit them myself - they have rangers that do it for you (for a fee), so the scratching wasn't on account of my wrongly fitting them.

Also, is my R36 good to go in the snow as-is, or does one need to fit snow tyres sometimes? Again, recalling my experience in the USA, the rangers enforced different requirements for different weather conditions ... Condition Level 1) Any vehicle with any tyres OK, 2) 4WD vehicles OK with any tyres but non-4WD need chains, 3) 4WD vehicles with snow tyres or chains OK, non-4WD need chains.

If there are conditions where snow tyres may be necessary, I might just fit them in advance to avoid the possibility of chains scratching up my wheels when I go up this winter!

[Cro]

The R36 is fine is the snow, but not on ice.
I found out first hand about that one...

You can't fit chains on the R36, but there was a thread last year about something called snow socks.

[peedman]

Re: Ski Season - Snow Chains

Hmmm I'm hoping to take my s3 02 to the snow so I'm interested to knowmore opinions. Goodyear have some f1 all season tyres which are rated in the snow but I'm not sure about ice. Anybody heard about all seasons?

[Rocket36]

Carry chains (because it's the law) but use these: http://www.autosock.com/

They're FAR better for grip in snow/ice than chains, as wells as safer and FAR EASIER and cleaner to fit.

More info/prices here: http://www.villageski.com.au/autosock.html

Demos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtBzXVbE3Rc

[natwsmith]

from what I can gather in the wesbites on the last post the autosock is only suitable for 4wd or awd cars that do not have snow tyres.

If you have a 2wd car then you must use snow chains (this appears the case in NSW anyhow - not sure about the other states)

Anyone with a recommendation on a good set of snow chains that are easy to install in the snow??

[Rocket36]

from what I can gather in the wesbites on the last post the autosock is only suitable for 4wd or awd cars that do not have snow tyres.

If you have a 2wd car then you must use snow chains (this appears the case in NSW anyhow - not sure about the other states)

Anyone with a recommendation on a good set of snow chains that are easy to install in the snow??

No - you can use Snow Socks on 2WD cars also... They have proven to be FAR BETTER than chains in ALL scenarios they've been tested in. I would personally run them on all four wheels even in a 2WD car. Snow chains are inferior and I will ALWAYS go for safety first. It's not my fault Australian regulators take too long to get with the times.

[natwsmith]

I would definitely prefer to use the snow snocks as they do look like a better product. Has anyone used them on a 2wd car - do you need to install them on only 2 or all 4 wheels - what was your experience like and did the park rangers question their installation?

[natwsmith]

Rocket,

The website you supplied gives the following conclusion:

CONCLUSIONS

Essentially chain laws for both NSW and Victoria would appear to have been drafted 20 or more years ago. Technology in motor vehicles has changed and continues to change at a very high rate and old laws need to be modified, as has been done in northern hemisphere countries, to accommodate new motor vehicle technology.

My own thoughts on the issue are;

For constant use owners or hirers should use metal chains or modify their vehicles to accommodate metal chains. There are advantages in diamond pattern chains as opposed to ladder chains however from my experience the ease of fitting ladder chains, particularly for the inexperienced, outweighs the difficulties in fitting diamond pattern and consequent damage to vehicle. In 36 years I have yet to have a problem with ladder chains in rental when installed correctly. I do acknowledge that a properly fitted diamond pattern change is superior.
Snow tires are not an economic alternate given the cost of probable rim replacement and the very high wear rate on dry roads. They should however be legal and carry an inspection certificate prior to each season.
Autosocks or similar traction devices are by nature not satisfactory for heavy continued use and in these cases owners should modify tires and rims to accommodate metal chains. Autosocks or traction devices should be approved in cases where there is no safe chain alternate and in cases where metal chains could damage transmissions.
All metal chains, traction devices and tires should meet with appropriate ONORM Austrian standards and be TUV (German) tested and approved.

Is a passat wagon 125tdi able to take snow chains or will this damage the gearbox or esd?? Anyone know??

[peedman]

Re: Ski Season - Snow Chains

No - you can use Snow Socks on 2WD cars also... They have proven to be FAR BETTER than chains in ALL scenarios they've been tested in. I would personally run them on all four wheels even in a 2WD car. Snow chains are inferior and I will ALWAYS go for safety first. It's not my fault Australian regulators take too long to get with the times.

I think it's debatable that autosocks are better than snow chains. From what I've read ppl recommend snow chains over these socks but for those cars that can't use them I.e wide tyres, ESP cars then the autosock is an alternative.

And if u look at the Rta website they are approved for use in nsw.

[Rocket36]

I'm not arguing about what is and isn't legal here. I'm arguing about what is the better product. And I have reached my own conclusion from information and demonstrations available to ANYONE who wants to access it - and that conclusion is that the snow socks are superior to chains in every way.

Hence why when I go to the snow this year, I'll be carrying chains (to keep the out of date law makers and enforcers happy) but fitting snow socks if conditions require more grip than the standard road tyre provides. Like I said, I will use what is safest and works best, and imo that's the snow socks.

When a semi-trailer can do a hill start in snow and ice from being stopped while wearing snow socks but can't when wearing chains, it's pretty clear really.

[natwsmith]

Rocket,

Just checking that you agree with my interpretation - snow chains are required to be carried at all times - the authorities (whoever they may be) do NOT accept the socks as an approved driving aid in snow at this point in time?

[Rocket36]

Correct! And I will carry chains.

Doesn't mean I won't use Snow Socks instead of chains though...

Whenever I've stopped to fit chains, they don't inspect your efforts. They're usually too busy helping the people without a clue.

[peedman]

Rocket,

Just checking that you agree with my interpretation - snow chains are required to be carried at all times - the authorities (whoever they may be) do NOT accept the socks as an approved driving aid in snow at this point in time?

It is different for vic but in nsw snow socks are legal.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/snowdriving.html

4WD vehicles

* As an alternative to snow chains, 4WD vehicles not fitted with winter tyres may be fitted with snow traction devices, such as items made from textiles, that comply with the Austrian Standard ONORM V5121.1.

[Rocket36]

That only applies to 4WD vehicles though Peedman.