Winter tyres/snow chains

[clam]

We're going to France (Southern Alps) over New Year. How vital/recommended are winter tyres in addition to snow chains. 4WD hire option unavailable.

Snow chains would be adequate ime. You must drive slowly with them on, though, or they tear up the tyres.

If you are hiring a car locally then chances are it will have winter tyres already on. You only need chains where the road surface hasn't been cleared but winter tyres can cope with a light covering anyway. We only had one situation in Switzerland where police stopped cars to insist on chains or 4wd to access a resort, snow was fallign faster than ploughs could clear, but there winter tyres or all weather are compulsory for most insurance policies. The likelihood of you encountering snow on the roads depends on the altitude of resort.

We're picking up the car in Nice, so I don't suppose they will automatically think "snow." After all, we could be planning a week in the sun. It is 8 Euros a day for winter tyres, and 30E for the week to have snow chains. Resort altitude is about 1800m, I think. Their website recommends chains, but then it would, to cover itself. Ot am I being unduly cynical. I'm thiinking that whilst we might be mildly niggled if we pay for them and don't use them, we'll be a darn sight more so if we need them but don't have them.

Also, whilst chains will dig us out of trouble if it's really snowy, would winter tyres mean we are less likely to have to put the chains on? Coz I'd really rather not have to if we can get away with it.......

pretty much the case yes. Winter tyres are better at lower temperatures and have a rougher finish to keep grip on icy roads where you can't use chains. Chains are only useful where there is lying snow.

Is 4WD actually any help on icy or snowy roads? Once it had snowed heavily & I rang neighbours for a lift for DS to school (they use a rangerover for school run) and they laughed at me for suggesting it... I had to push an ordinary double buggy to school thru the drifts.

just got back from Germany in our car and struggled without winter tyres in the hills. I would say winter tyres very important.

Thank you, all. This is very helpful. Think had better get back to Avis...... And lljkk, there's another thread re: 4WD drivers! I think your post is worthy of transplanting.

We had a 4wd with all weather tyres during 4 years in Switzerland and never used chains ! The 4th winter we did also put winter tyres on as we went to one resort around Christmas and found ourselves slithering in freezing conditions with a light covering of snow, even at 1200m ish.

Hmmmn! Avis at Nice airport don't offer winter tyres as an option! So let's just hope we're OK with normal ones and the chains.

I don't know anything about winter tyres but we've had to fit chains on at least 3 occasions in France, although I think we were en route to resorts above 2000m each time. On each occasion, there were gendarmes at the roadside directing everyone into a layby to stop and fit their chains. Anyone who didn't have them was sent back down the mountain. It would certainly be worth hiring them IMO, even if you don't use them. We always take a set with us, just in case, when we drive from the UK.

Before you leave the warmth of Nice airport, find somewhere to practice putting in the chains. Then you'll check they have given you the right ones and when you have to put them on in the snow it won't be such an ordeal. We practise every summer!!

Many thanks, all.

Definitely read teh instructions fist, and practise somewhere light and preferably warm. Expect to break all your fingernails, and end up on frosty terms with DP. Keep rollos in the glovebox to celebrate when thy are on

have to disagree -if you need snowchains the rolos would be too hard!!

Also have some old gloves that you don't mind getting oily as you scrabble around under the car.

Oh God! Really? Are they that much of a faff to put on? Love DH dearly but he is not one to have alongside you in the trenches when there's DIY to be done. Luckily we're going in convoy with 2 other families, the DHs of which are fairly handy.......

Can confirm they are a bit fiddly...i.e. not so bad when the trial run takes place in daylight & ambient temperature. Not so easy in the dark (take a torch) & minus ?? degrees C . That being said the chances of having to use them are fairly slim IYSWIM.

Hmmmn. Dilemma.... do we pray for no snow, therefore no chains, but no skiing either, or loads of snow, relationship breakup on mountain pass but good skiing - if we ever get there?

On most high mountain roads in France (ie to/from resorts) it's a legal requirement to carry chains in the car in the winter months (there's a road sign with a picture of a tyre with chains that indicates this). If there's snow on the road then they do make people pull over and put them on too. They are a bit of a fiddle, but with gloves and a torch (it's inevitably dark when you need to put them on) it's doable.

So you need chains, but probably won't use them, and you will get away without winter tyres imo.

Also - the French and Swiss are much better organised with snow than here, so thye are out with snowploughs & gritters so not ,ike her where a dusting of snow grinds everything to a halt.
I my car I mean) have been pulled out of ditches in France and Andorra by passing snowploughs.

I don't know about France but if going to Switzerland/Austria you must carry snow chains as when the roads get covered you are obliged to use them when the signs are up - else you meet a nice policeman waiting for all the foreigners with no snow chains....

Well, we're back! And we got away with it. That's to say, we hired the chains (rip-off or what?!) but didn't need to put them on. although I believe there was a heavy snowfall a few hours after we left. Oh, and the skiing bit was fabulous. Brilliant sunshine for 4 days, then a morning of blizzards to top up the pistes, then nice again. Hope everyone else is as lucky.