Snow Chain Advice

[eds]

Does anyone know anything about snow chains

I am being bombarded by so many different chains I am sinking

I have been told Rud, Maggi, pewag, Weissenfels, Thule, are all the best!

One must do better than the others............

Can anyone advise on which chain to buy?

It is only for use in Uk, last winter I wiped out so want to avoid it happening again. But if I am going to invest I want to buy something really useful.

Thanks

Ed

[Disty]

Can one even buy snow chains big enough for a defender? I'm running 285/75R16 and I had thought it wouldn't be possible? I'm keen too if it's possible- M+S rating seems to mean very little in the real world..

[CwazyWabbit]

Can one even buy snow chains big enough for a defender? I'm running 285/75R16 and I had thought it wouldn't be possible? I'm keen too if it's possible- M+S rating seems to mean very little in the real world..

The official part number is STC7664 although at £480 I'm thinking you'll look for an alternative! The pictures of them I've seen look no different to the cheapo ones you get for normal cars tbh

Apparently they are for 235/85 R16 & 7.5 R16 Tyres

Actually appears there are loads of different part numbers, but most seem to be about the same price

Edited September 15, 2011 by CwazyWabbit

[nickwilliams]

I've got a (complete) set of Rudd ex-military ones which came from Craddocks via e-bay. They are the main reason I run my vehicle on Michelin XS 750-16's since these are the tyres these chains were designed to fit. They are perfectly adequate but they are not quite as sophisticated (i.e. they are a bit more difficult to fit and a not quite as smooth to drive on) as the Pewag ones I had when I used to run an Escort van.

Unless you are going to carry them around with you all the time then I'd advise going for a type which has a rigid ring for the inside of the wheel - it makes them far easier to fit. However, it also makes them bulky and awkward to store so if you want to keep them in the vehicle all the time then you need chains which will wrap up into a small bundle.

Ladder chains are completely unsuitable for anything other than moving short distances to get you out of trouble. If you think you will end up driving more than maybe half a mile with them on, you need diamond pattern chains which maintain a (reasonably) constant mesh with the road.

Nick.

[tychoS]

Can one even buy snow chains big enough for a defender? I'm running 285/75R16 and I had thought it wouldn't be possible? I'm keen too if it's possible- M+S rating seems to mean very little in the real world..

If you don't mind ordering from across the North Sea, try one of these companies:

http://www.snekaeder.dk/personvogn_4x4.htm

http://www.flom.no/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=46

http://www.trygg.no/en/chains

[LiamC]

I bought some cheap diamond patterned ones on eBay for a winter trip to Europe (some of the mountain regions require you to carry them in the vehicle by law). Other than a trial fitment on the driveway I have never actually needed to use them.

[Guest wunntenn]

I'll second what Nick says - use diamond pattern, as the ladder ones can leave you with bits of tyre with no chain and no grip. And if you want to be really safe buy two sets, for front and rear, then the back end wont overtake you. If its so bad you need one set, you'll need two!

[miketomcat]

You can get chains for 285/75x16 as I got some for the tomcat about £60 a pair of the net go any bigger though and the price rockets. In my experience you won't use them we did 1000 miles in Norway on frozen roads at 45 mph so couldn't use chains as there only rated to 30 mph.

Mike

[eds]

My reasearch so far has led me to these chains

http://www.snowchains.co.uk/main/rex_tr.htm

They are Weissenfels Rex TR for 235/85/16 and made by 16mm chain. @£190

Other ones I have been pointed at are 12mm chain.

Does this even make a difference?

Everybody says their chains are best but how do you know.

Supposedly the army use Rud as do Landrover.......

But Rud chains seem to be more feeble, again I may be wrong.

I am getting them as driving around slowly at night in the snow is great fun, empty roads, beautiful landscapes. I was over confident last winter and ended up stuck and then the snow plough slid into me. I don't think I would trust snow tyres unless they were studded which I believe are legal but a pain in the neck storing for the rest of the year.

[nickwilliams]

I think if I were looking for another set and did not have the option of second hand (I paid a bit over £50 for two pairs from Craddocks) I'd look at these ones from Pewag.

The diamond pattern is actually carefully designed to ensure that the chain is in almost constant mesh with the road so they don't feel like you are driving with square wheels. The Weissenfels ones you linked to have a more 'regular' shape and driving on them will be fairly lumpy.

As for the difference between 12 and 16mm, I bet that you won't notice much difference in grip or wear life, but you will notice a lot of difference in weight. With my Rudd chains picking up both sets together is about as much as you'd want to without thinking about it (and I'm a fairly large bloke).

Nick.

[eds]

Those Pewag ones are breaking away from the normal pattern, is this a risk?

They certainly sell them well with their blurb but they could say anything.

Based on nearly £400 a set that would be £800 on snow chains! Maybe they are worth it?

[nickwilliams]

I take the point about cost, but I think you largely get what you pay for. I can confirm from personal experience that the Pewag products are good, although I can't claim to have tried all of the alternatives.

Nick.

[lacrits68]

hello!

I have Volvo TGB 11 snowchains for my 110. Tyre siz 255.85.16. works VERY WELL and those chains are made to last! Easy to use, just put then on the grond, drive car onthen and fix them! And i promice....used wrong you vill blow you diffs!

cheers

Jan

[lacrits68]

hello again!

those volvo chains ar from a LOT heavier vehicle and they take a lots of abuse!

cheers

Jan

[brighouse shed]

i would look at the rudd and pewag. both make excellent quality european chain for all sorts of uses, we buy it in for our crane hoists and have tried out most of the other chain suppliers and always come back to the same suppliers.

has anyone had a go with Autosocks on a defender? I've had them on my last mondeo and my new C5 and found them excellent and seen several truck in germany running them but never defender.

[eds]

I read someone say that it you put snow chains on both axles you can ruin your diff as there is too much stress, does that mean you should not use diff lock?

The Rud ones I am looking at are

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-accessories/rud_grip_v_4_x_4_chains_pair_no_02757/Qx%40w%2C6M42VAwp3%40o9%60tNcz.mOVPUBa%7BN0

£140.

They all look very similar to me

Only the chain pattern, fitting method and tension systems change.

These Rud ones are not sold as heavy duty though

Snow chains seem remarkably unpopular

People have no need for them it seems

I have heard autosocks wear out too quickly and are rubbish but I only heard that so not sure

[CwazyWabbit]

.....

Snow chains seem remarkably unpopular

People have no need for them it seems

.....

I found last winter that the Defender was fine in the snow, but once it got icy there were a few brown trouser moments. Chains would have been nice in that situation. Also chains are supposed to be removed once you get to normal road surface again or they wear out really quickly (at least the ones I looked at said that). So with some roads cleared and some not you could end up putting them on and taking them off a lot.

I might get some to leave in the Landy just in case I'm really stuck.....

[CwazyWabbit]

hello!

I have Volvo TGB 11 snowchains for my 110. Tyre siz 255.85.16. works VERY WELL and those chains are made to last! Easy to use, just put then on the grond, drive car onthen and fix them! And i promice....used wrong you vill blow you diffs!

cheers

Jan

Now they look like nice chains Where would you find them for sale?

[tacr2man]

I run 285/75r16 BFG MT (old syle) on my 110 CSW last winter it was about the only thing moving ,(it has got twin maxi drives) (pulled a snow plow out 1 time) I was pulling artics as well. Chains are only really needed if you are driving on hard packed frozen snow(ice) . I have a set of ladder chains but did not need to use them!

Diamond pattern are a must on front axle , 12mm should be plenty heavy enough for wear and handling. Pewag/Rudd/weisenfells are the big names which i would stick with . Auto socks are for light use only , like running "snow" tyres , as opposed to studded. JMHO

[eds]

On the other hand I could buy some unknown chains from ebay for £50

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-SUPERIOR-QUALITY-POLAR-EASYFIT-4X4-VAN-SNOW-CHAINS-/190575899504?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Touring_Travel&hash=item2c5f357370#ht_7548wt_1396

They look the same to an untrained eye

Any opinions

I could get 2 sets for £100

Has anyone got info on differential damage yet?

[Anderzander]

More cheap ones here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-Snow-Chains-Husky-4WD-16mm-Type-255-265-75-x-15-/380369756609?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Touring_Travel&hash=item588fcde1c1#ht_2905wt_1141

[CwazyWabbit]

I read someone say that it you put snow chains on both axles you can ruin your diff as there is too much stress, does that mean you should not use diff lock?

.....

That sounds like an old wives tale to me. The only scenario I can see that happening is if you had diff lock on and got 'transmission wind up' .... now managing to get transmission wind up on snow/ice even with chains on would be quite impressive.....

I've heard it is far more dangerous to your centre diff to travel on snow/ice without diff lock engaged, the centre diff can be damaged by spinning a wheel for too long as it is only designed to even out the small differences in speed caused by turning corners etc. (I'm just repeating what I read elsewhere on here, can't find the original post atm)

EDIT: One of the posts about centre diff damage http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=22094&view=findpost&p=223592

Edited September 16, 2011 by CwazyWabbit

[Guest wunntenn]

If you're planning major expeditionary snow travel including off-road in remote areas it might be worth it to spend the £800. If all you want to do is have some chains in case you get well and truly stranded on the M25 or have a bimble about when its all white and pretty around our country lanes then the cheap ones will probably suffice. Whether you get expensive or cheap - you need to get good and putting them on and off - because on tarmac they're a pain and can self-destruct eventually and likely destroy something useful when they fail.

[tacr2man]

Re chains got a quick reply

Hi.

Diamond pattern 7 mm chain is the same that we are selling to the Norwegian Army.

Price 462,50 EUR pr pair.

Plus freight cost will be 132 EUR.

A total of 594,50 EUR.

Thank You

Stale Giverhaug

Nøsted Kjetting, Norway.

thats for 285/75r16 size if thats any help .

Re diff being damaged by running with chains , would be lesser risk than running with difflock on hard surface as you are more likely to get slippage in those conditions , i think you would need to run extensively to do damage I am still on original diffs (all three) and cvs and shafts and have double diff locks . Its been pushed to tractive limits quite often climbing and towing with all three locked.

In snow its a good idea to lock centre diff as they have a tendency to pivot round front wheel that hits snow in windrow HTSH .

[mike4444244]

Any thoughts about the synthetic chains? Are they any good, particularly thinking about emergency only use on a 3 series with extremely vulnerable alloys. If the snow comes again I really need to be able to get to/from work (particularly from... Some of staff ended up staying in the hospital last year lol)

Mike