Snow Chains

forgotmyname

Notmyrealname wrote: »

If you're snowed in, snow chains are not going to help when the snow on the road is higher than the ground clearance of the car.

That brought back memories late 80's maybe early 90's. Couple of inches fell overnight, Then started again just as the rush hour started.
Went to work and spent half the day watching the cars out the window.

One nicely modified VW beetle, The original shape one, Not the Golf in a frock.

Problem was they had lowered the car and the bumper acted a bit like a snow plough. Had to stop every 30 or 40 feet to clear more snow from the front.

Probably would have got home faster in reverse.

Weird_Nev

Notmyrealname wrote: »

If you're snowed in, snow chains are not going to help when the snow on the road is higher than the ground clearance of the car.

And yet, with chains on, she managed to get to the end of the mile track that was previously too slippy to drive along. Remarkable, eh? In a polo of all things.

Don't assume. It makes an !!! of u and me. Well, you mostly.

Gloomendoom

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

No, they are not worth it in the UK and to think otherwise would be absolutely ridiculous.

You are entitled to your opinion but I'm sure those of us who have actually used snow chains in this country may disagree.

I've used them rarely, although I keep a set in the car for emergencies. If you live out in the sticks like we do, they are sometime they only way to get enough grip to get to the the top of a steep hill. However, as has been said, if the snow gets too deep then it tends to build up under the front of the car and you stop, chains or no chains.

They are very useful in mud or wet slippery grass too, not just snow.

rodenal

I have a set of "composite" chains - just a stretchy mesh with metallic studs, quick enough to put on and take off and do the job well. Be aware though that if you drive on anything other than snow and at anything other than a very low speed (as with chains) you'll ruin them in a matter of minutes. It would also be a horrible ride at anything over maybe 20mph

I have only used them when there is a thick covering of snow that isn't fresh (as I usually have no issue when the snow is still soft anyway) to get up larger hills etc and they work well. I live in central Scotland but sometimes travel further north, which is the only place i've had need for them. Unless you live somewhere particularly bad though I would say a set of winter tyres will see you through 90% of uk situations.

agrinnall

rodenal wrote: »

I have a set of "composite" chains - just a stretchy mesh with metallic studs, quick enough to put on and take off and do the job well. Be aware though that if you drive on anything other than snow and at anything other than a very low speed (as with chains) you'll ruin them in a matter of minutes. It would also be a horrible ride at anything over maybe 20mph

I have only used them when there is a thick covering of snow that isn't fresh (as I usually have no issue when the snow is still soft anyway) to get up larger hills etc and they work well. I live in central Scotland but sometimes travel further north, which is the only place i've had need for them. Unless you live somewhere particularly bad though I would say a set of winter tyres will see you through 90% of uk situations.

I do live in a bad place and my winter tyres saw me through 100% of last winter, although driving sensibly in the conditions is a big factor too. I wouldn't bother with chains even here, I haven't yet come across any conditions in which they would work where the winter tyres don't, if it's too bad for them then I'm probably stuck anyway.

SHIPSHAPE

Gloomendoom wrote: »

You are entitled to your opinion but I'm sure those of us who have actually used snow chains in this country may disagree.

And what happens when you travel merrily on your way with snow chains only to discover that 99.9% of other vehicles don't use snow chains and they have abondoned their vehicle thus blocking up the roads anyway?

And that is if we have snow in the first place.

Then you would need to remove them to use on main roads which are most probably clear, then put them back on again to use B roads etc etc.

Ridiculous.


Complete waste of money and an overreaction to adverse weather the like of which is rare for most of the UK.

You're better off investing in tyres that perform well in the wet, we are more likely to get rain in the winter than snow.

SHIPSHAPE

Weird_Nev wrote: »

My sister has been snowed in for 3 weeks a year the last 2 years in scotland: Is it ridiculous for her to be prepared?

There are occasions when they're entirely suitable in the UK, it's just that they're few and far between.

I bet the OP lives in Essex or somewhere like that.

It may be appropriate for a tiny percentage of people like your sis who lives up a snowy mountain in Scotland but that's ignoring the fact that all others in her community would need to use them too as otherwise their vehicles will just block up the road when they get stuck.

And if the snow is so thick they would be useless anyway.

Snow chains are designed for roads that have been cleared to a degree where they are useful and that only happens in places like the north of Finland.

We live in the UK and this procedure is not utilised or, mostly, even required.

This is not Lapland.

Gloomendoom

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

And what happens when you travel merrily on your way with snow chains only to discover that 99.9% of other vehicles don't use snow chains and they have abondoned their vehicle thus blocking up the roads anyway?

And that is if we have snow in the first place.

Complete waste of money and an overreaction to adverse weather the like of which is rare for most of the UK.

You're better off investing in tyres that perform well in the wet, we are more likely to get rain in the winter than snow.

Like most cars, the car has already has tyres that perform well in the wet. With chains they perform well in the snow too. The fact that 99.9 of other vehicles don't use chains (or so you claim) is irrelevant because I've never yet found the road blocked by abondoned (or even abandoned) vehicles.

Like I said you are entitled to your own opinion, misguided as it is.

SHIPSHAPE

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Like most cars, the car has already has tyres that perform well in the wet. With chains they perform well in the snow too. The fact that 99.9 of other vehicles don't use chains (or so you claim) is irrelevant because I've never yet found the road blocked by abondoned (or even abandoned) vehicles.

Like I said you are entitled to your own opinion, misguided as it is.

No it isn't misguided, even emergency vehicles in the UK don't carry snow chains as a matter of course. If they were such a good idea one would have thought they would.

And I live in the sticks just like you and I have one road leading to the main road and last year that one road was blocked by a Royal Mail van, so even if I had snow chains the other chap didn't, I was still snookered.

Plus to use them in the first place I'd have to hope that it only snows just enough that I can use them anyway, too much and they are useless.

So adding everything up, I guess I may have had about 2 days use from snow chains in the last 20 years, whilst ignoring the fact that I'd have to constantly remove/replace them so I can drive on snowy roads then clear roads.

What a waste of time, effort and money.

flossy_splodge

Gosh, there's a lot of testosterone on here!
Personally I was pleased to see this question as I had been wondering the same about chains and winter tyres so I am really pleased the question was asked but what on earth is all the aggression about?

It's just a question and surely we are all entitled to an opinion?

People like me will, hopefully, read all and make our own minds up. End of.
Chill people.
And thanks to all those that have posted, whatever their view, as it has helped me a LOT to make my mind up.:beer: