Snow chains France

Hi all I am looking for some advice for our trip to crest voland next year. We have a landrover discovery do we still need chains.any thanks

Pezwit wrote:Hi all I am looking for some advice for our trip to crest voland next year. We have a landrover discovery do we still need chains.any thanks

Hi Pezwit. The only accurate answer to the question, is it depends on what the weather does when you are going there. If signs or gendarmes dictate that chains must be fitted, then you will have to use them.

FYI, my brother has taken a discovery to Val Thorens before and been required to fit chains, and actually did need to have them fitted. He also had decent m&s tyres fitted, so it was not a case of needing the chains due to incorrect tyres.

If you need them, it is going to be much cheaper to have them with you for the trip than to have to try and find some out there. You can rent easily enough in the UK, but frankly, if you are likely to make more than one trip, you may as well buy a set. You never know when they will be usefull, even in the UK. Especially if the Jet Stream decides to stay south for the winter.

FQ are you sure they were Marks & Spencers tyres. :)

Many thanks. Fingers have been crossed for some time for the jet stream to stay south. Roll on winter

Oh, yes I want that Jet Stream to stick down south permanently :twisted:

Back to the question, France is a strange one. You have to carry a breathalyser and reflective jackets and all the other stuff, but chains are not compulsory to carry. But the law then states that if the local signs or gendarmes decide so, then it is compulsory to have them fitted :shock:

So, I guess they should really be carried as a matter of course if heading to the mountains.

@Brooksy, yep from the Per Luigi range. A nice tyre with plenty of lace grip :wink:

If it was me ...... take chains 8)

Chains are only really advantageous over winter tyres when there is large amounts of snow on road. This rarely happens,with normal hazard being ice. Cannot think of the last time I saw a car with chains on which I guess is the real problem. They are pain so nobody bothers until after you have had an incident(normally you get snow within few KM of ski resort, think nearly there what is point). :-) well assume is not only me who has found himself in that situation.

My advise winter tyres (not studs), lived for 3 years in Norway and amazing the difference they make. Many a happy weekend navigating Voss to Myrkdalen in hunt of more snow. With 4WD and those tyres you can get any where.

More convinving with work we had to do a yearly winter driving course at skid pan. Stopping distance is reduced by approx 50% at 30mph and above 50mph is >100% reduction.

We took snow chains with us when we went to France last December. It is just as well we did. On the way up to La Plagne we saw people stopping in laybys to put on their chains, there were signs out directing everyone to do so. We were able to go quite a way up before stopping (because we have a 4x4) but still others with "ordinary" cars were coming past without them. We came across these enthusiastic people a few bends later where they had been stopped or got stuck! The Gendarmes were stopping everyone who didn't have chains on and and insisting they put some on. Those that had no chains with them had to wait in a layby until some kind person came back down to rescue them with a spare set. This is the first time I have witnessed this comeraderie with the sharing of snow chains and it was refreshing. However the moral of this tale has to be; get some snow chains if you are skiing in France, as there may not always be a happy skier who is prepared to come back down the mountain to help you out by lending you theirs. The Gendarmes just will not let you up the mountain without them if the conditions are bad. Is it worth the risk?