Snow chains work :)

[Richard!]

I bought some Michelin Easy Grip snow chains the other day. Used them yesterday.

My house is about 0.5 mile from the treated road and its a bit hilly. I made it back the other day without snow chains but it was very slippery. On that day someone had half ripped one wheel off from sliding into a curb on a downhill section.

Might very well have made it yesterday as well without the snow chains, but it made sense to use them. Took about 5 mins to them get them on. It does required a bit of strength and with the Z4 not having masses of arch gap makes it a little tricky.

Grip is really good, I was able to pull away uphill with no wheel spin. There is even enough traction to get going relatively swiftly. Of course if you give it too much throttle the wheels will still spin. Braking is a bit better than without but still need to give plenty of space for stopping ( no chains on the front wheels ). Definitely gives more confidence when slowing down. I had no issue with them falling off as many reviews seems to indicate, I suspect/guess that may happen if they are not put on properly.

Overall very happy I got them, ideal for me for the few times a year it snows and there is a problem. Anyway here's some pics





Pretty pattern

 

[ZermattV]

Are they a soft fabric or a real chain ?

 

[Richard!]

It's synthetic with a metal ring at each joining point.

 

[Maniac]

I bought snow socks for the car which are similar (cheaper). They live in the back of the car. I've yet to try them. I guess these will last longer?

 

[Liam-O]

Do you have to take them off as soon as you reach a treated road? I imagine so, and that would be a real PITA

 

[Richard!]

I hope they will last. I don't plan to use them for long distances. Mainly the short bits from treated roads to home/office/wherever. I'd hate to leave the car at the side of the road when it's icy.
I think they can be used on clear roads at a slow pace. But I won't do that to avoid damaging them.

 

[cj10jeeper]

These things grip really well as do snow socks to get you going in deep snow, ice, etc., but that's all

Whatever you do dont use them on clear roads for any distance, spin the wheels, or exceed 30mph. They won't last seconds and if they fail they'll flail your panels really well and if they wrap around the inside then goodbye to brake pipes as a minimum.

 

[Richard!]

Any damage on them would make them bin ready to avoid all of the above ^. :| Would be a pain if they show signs of wear too soon... time will tell.

I was careful putting them on to avoid damaging the paint on the inside of the wheel arches.

 

[The Moo]

To be honest I have found the Zed to be generally OK in this round of snow. I don't have and I don't intend to purchase winter tyres. The only problem I had was this morning. I reversed it off the drive onto compacted snow/ice and she would not pull away on the slight uphill incline. After 5 mins of rocking it forward and back in reverse/1st or second gear I gave up and retrieved the garden spade from the shed. Dug down to the road behind the rear wheels wheel. reversed into the space and then dug down to the road in front of the rear wheels for about a metre.

Chucked the spade in the boot and pulled away slowly in first and kept moving nicely until I got to an uncompacted level road surface and no further problems after that.

Reckon the spade is more useful than the plastic snow shovel and will keep it in the boot until the weather clears up.

I gather a bag of cat litter (fresh of course) in the boot is also good for such emergencies.

I have to say I am most impressed with my wife's Insignia Auto in snow. Just manually select 2nd gear and the forward creep with no throttle gets you out of almost anything

 

[stehanson]

I have to say I am most impressed with my wife's Insignia Auto in snow. Just manually select 2nd gear and the forward creep with no throttle gets you out of almost anything

I used to have the manual version 160bhp 2.0D SRI, and I have to say it was the worst car I have owned come the snow! - guess the Auto box is a godsend to the drivers who opted for them

 

[The Moo]

I used to have the manual version 160bhp 2.0D SRI, and I have to say it was the worst car I have owned come the snow! - guess the Auto box is a godsend to the drivers who opted for them

Yep.......a slush box for when it snows

 

[sam1832]

Reckon the spade is more useful than the plastic snow shovel and will keep it in the boot until the weather clears up.

I gather a bag of cat litter (fresh of course) in the boot is also good for such emergencies.

I've kept a fold up spade in my snow sock bag and a container with a 're sealable lid with grit in it in the boot every winter ever since getting stuck almost every where I stopped with a slight incline in my e46

Then I got winter rubber and never got stuck anywhere since


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