Snow Chains

Hi folks, I'm doing a Switzerland trip in March and it's a legal requirement to have snow chains. Unfortunately these seem pretty expensive and there don't seem to be many options in the right size (I run standard 205/70/15 all terrains). I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this issue and can recommend anything?

Thanks!

Hi you don't have to get the exact size snow chains. It's only the overall diameter and width of the wheel and tyre that's important.
www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html this should help you compare sizes.

Like 205/75/15 and 215/65/15 there is only 7mm difference between them so both will fit the same snow chains.

Hope this helps

I got a set off fleebay brand new for a fiver but looking around the net about them I found a video of a 4x4 VW with them on the front wheels not the back as I would have thought and it seemed there was no stopping it, it just made me wonder whats best front or back

Because of how the drive is deployed on a vw being fwd with a clever differential sending power rearward only when needed then yes chains on the front. Jimny is rwd with power going forwards at the behest of the driver which suggests chains to the rear the however the major issue there is that you reduce the steering grip when you are needing it most. So chains front and 4wd engaged. Or if it's really nasty then chains both ends.

thanks for the explanation

Hi furo,
Ive had quite a bit of experience with snow chains, luckily for me the company I worked for spent all the money on cheap rubbish items until they bought Pewag items, diamond pattern, long lasting, small packaged and easy to fit, used them on the CROISIERE BLANCHE events so on ice, snow and deep snow, awesome grip and we were getting away with using just the rears and only resorting to all four in 40mm of snow and over or on ice, they are as you say expensive but in this case its worth it, I witnessed so many cheap items disintegrate which shows you that they are not up to standard but please bear in mind that the panel/component damage when the chain thrashes around multiplies the cost vastly rather than biting the bullet and paying for quality in the first place.
At the end of the day its your trip and your car and I have shared my experience and thoughts, so please think carefully about where you are going and what you may end up doing, we all get tempted to have a play in the snow and it is fun.
Enjoy your trip and take pictures for us all to drool over
Eeeee.

www.surreyoff-road.com/events/croisiere_blanche_2001.html