Jump to content

Snow Chains and 225/50/17 tyres


Ryeman

Recommended Posts

For those in the antipodes, in particular, if you want to cross/enter our alpine regions and you are required to carry chains,

They can't be fitted to the above front tyres!.

They can be fitted to the rears only which makes me wonder if ADRs are being infringed and, more particularly, what it would be like driving this way.

Then there's, for me at least, Parks Victoria and VicRoads attitudes to consider.

Europe?.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For better adherence, Skoda Switzerland and the local equivalent of the AA here suggests 16" winter tires for the Skoda Yeti, so fitting snow chains is not an issue.

Edited by dizurik
Link to comment
Share on other sites

From my Manual.

Snow chains
When driving in wintry road conditions, snow chains improve not only traction,but also the braking performance.
The use of snow chains on vehicles with front-wheel drive and on vehicles with four-wheel drive differs.
Only fit snow chains with links and locks not larger than 12 mm.

 

Front-wheel drive
Snow chains must only be mounted on the front wheels.
For technical reasons, it is only permissible to fit snow chains with the following wheel/tyre combinations.
Wheel size - Depth D - Tyre size
6J x 16          50 mm     205 / 55 R16
7J x 16          45 mm     205/55 R16
6J x 17          45 mm     205 / 50 R17

 

All-wheel drive
Snow chains can be mounted on the wheels on the front and rear axles. To increase the traction (start-up properties), the use of snow chains is also
technically permissible on the rear axle (this means on the front and rear axle at the same time) for the following wheel / tyre combinations

Wheel size - Impression depth D - Tyre size
6J x 16           50 mm                    205/55 R16
7J x 16           45 mm                    205/55 R16
6J x 17           45 mm                    205/50 R17

 

For technical reasons, it is only permissible to fit snow chains on rear axles with the following wheel / tyre combinations:
Wheel size - Impression depth D - Tyre size
7J x 16            45 mm                    215/60 R16
7J x 17            45 mm                    225/50 R17
Remove the full wheel trims before installing the snow chains
WARNING
Observe the national legal regulations relating to the use of snow chains.
CAUTION
The chains must be removed when driving on snow-free paths. They would otherwise cause loss of performance and damage the tyres.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I read that (for 4x4's) in that you either fit them to front and rear, or just front, but never rear only.

 

Bro-in-law lives in Switzerland and has never bothered with chains, just has winter tyres. he says the only people who use chains are those going up top the high pistes, like farmers and the Post.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a bit of a trap for the unwary out here at least because I don't think anyone would have given a thought to chains NOT being able to be fitted on one axle ......particularly the front .

They sold a heap of 4x4 s two,years ago and many of them were destined to be used to access the ski fields legally.

Either the distributors (Skoda Au) didn't know or they've been negligent in not pointing out there product was not suitable for such a common purpose without modification.

Very disturbing.......devious or incompetent, seeing the manual is plastered with warnings to distraction relating to relatively trivial and common sense issues but failing to warn of such a potentially serious restriction.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Before moving down south to Gosport in 2012, I lived in Aberdeenshire for 8 years.  I found Snowsocks useful for the early start mornings - when I was on the roads before the Gritter lorry had been out.  Used them on both my Octavia and the current Yeti.  Easy to fit, compact and no 'clatter' that you get from chains.  The 30mph speed restriction still applies, but it beats ending up in the ditch!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Out here (Victoria, at least) snowsocks are not legal and I certainly wouldn't want to try driving with chains only on the rear axle requiring the front to 'spin' to activate the Haldex.

Skoda sell their 'off-road' car with sports car tyres.......doesn't make sense to me.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Out here (Victoria, at least) snowsocks are not legal and I certainly wouldn't want to try driving with chains only on the rear axle requiring the front to 'spin' to activate the Haldex.

Skoda sell their 'off-road' car with sports car tyres.......doesn't make sense to me.

 the 4th gen haldex doesn't need the spin of front axle for being active, it's always in action!

In many EU countries the socks are not legal

I usually go to sking and drive in many snowy roads, never had issues with winter tyres plus 4x4 traction on Yeti.

For those who look at the chains can buy the spider, easy to mount and less thick!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 the 4th gen haldex doesn't need the spin of front axle for being active, it's always in action!

In many EU countries the socks are not legal

I usually go to sking and drive in many snowy roads, never had issues with winter tyres plus 4x4 traction on Yeti.

For those who look at the chains can buy the spider, easy to mount and less thick!

 

Not quite.

The Haldex4 is always "active" but it does need to sense a small amount of slip before it comes into action. 

 

Ryeman,

Your cars are (basically) NO different to the European ones.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not quite.

The Haldex4 is always "active" but it does need to sense a small amount of slip before it comes into action. 

 

Ryeman,

Your cars are (basically) NO different to the European ones.

When you start the vehicle the rear axle push the car, stay straight on the seat and try to fell this push, in that situation the front wheels don't slip.....try different grade of power on the starting line, you'll feel always the rear kick..... there's a video on youtube that explain the Haldex work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSP87ET596M  and more there is this, look: http://www.scribd.com/doc/35217806/Highlights-2

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When you start the vehicle the rear axle push the car, stay straight on the seat and try to fell this push, in that situation the front wheels don't slip.....try different grade of power on the starting line, you'll feel always the rear kick..... there's a video on youtube that explain the Haldex work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSP87ET596M  and more there is this, look: http://www.scribd.com/doc/35217806/Highlights-2

 

Sorry but you are wrong.

When you start the car is NOT rear wheel drive. It is front wheel drive. I have driven on enough loose surfaces (ice, snow, sand and gravel) to know that if I drop the clutch quickly with lots of revs then the front wheels will initially spin a very small amount and then all 4 wheels will spin slightly as they scrabble for grip. At no time do the rear wheels grip first. 

The video does not show it as rear wheel first, and your second link doesn't translate into understandable English, but appears to be similar to the early UK publicity which also does not say that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 I'm right instead :dull:

 

from the second link:

 

Partenza e accelerazione

In fase di partenza e accelerazione è più efficace utilizzare la trazione posteriore. In fase di accelerazione, la valvola di regolazione è pertanto completamente chiusa, affinché sui dischi della frizione vi sia la massima pressione operativa e alle ruote posteriori venga fornita la massima coppia disponibile

 

translation:

 

Starting and acceleration
When starting the car is more efficient using rear axle power. During the acceleration phase, the regulating valve is fully closed, in order to release the biggest operating pressure on the clutch plates and to provide the best available torque on the rear wheels.

 

This they write and this I experience on my day use of the Yeti, it's strange you don't feel this on yours, probably faulty? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Haldex gen 4 splits it to the rear when moving off from a stationary situation. Also, the car isn't just fwd when on the move under ideal grip situations. Haldex 4 is always active on the rear axel - sending around 10% to the rear in any 'ideal' situation. It can then send more to the rear axel when required. Gen 4 is pro active so doesn't require slip to activate. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

and that's exactly what you get from it splitting it front and rear.

The 'sports' tyres full of packed snow at the front and having to be 'pushed' contribute to too much drag when trying to change direction.

A RWD with chains on the back would be similar ........spinning fronts is not much use either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The 'sports' tyres full of packed snow at the front and having to be 'pushed' contribute to too much drag when trying to change direction.

A RWD with chains on the back would be similar ........spinning fronts is not much use either.

don't run sports tyres for snow use then?!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Haldex gen 4 splits it to the rear when moving off from a stationary situation. Also, the car isn't just fwd when on the move under ideal grip situations. Haldex 4 is always active on the rear axel - sending around 10% to the rear in any 'ideal' situation. It can then send more to the rear axel when required. Gen 4 is pro active so doesn't require slip to activate. :)

 

Quite, but it isn't rear wheel drive when you start either.

 

And no, it isn't faulty!! My car has now done 96k miles, 93 of them by me. I have driven on lots of surfaces, and probably off-road more than most of the other UK owners here. I have NEVER noticed the rear wheels pushing me from a start, but I have noted the front wheels initially scrabbling a little, and yes it is only a little, but very quickly the Haldex picks it up, all 4 start to grip and you are away (generally). Mind you I have had all 4 wheels spinning at once in very soft mud, but I was still moving, and especially when the Anti-slip started working out which wheel was best to slow down. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

don't run sports tyres for snow use then?!

I think you've missed the point.

The 4WD version can't go to the snow without modification!

The 'Urban' version FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAN!

What sort of a dumb situation is that, when in Australia at least, nobody would expect that to be the case and nobody would know until they owned the owners manual!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think you've missed the point.

The 4WD version can't go to the snow without modification!

The 'Urban' version FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAN!

What sort of a dumb situation is that, when in Australia at least, nobody would expect that to be the case and nobody would know until they owned the owners manual!!

 

Really?

 

I regularly drove to work (48 miles) at 4 o'clock in the morning and returned at similar times, so before the gritters or ploughs were out, in all weathers, including up to 6" of snow on normal Kumho tyres with no problems, other than driving a bit more slowly and carefully. And on one occasion I ended up pulling a 4x4 BMW out the hedge for the Police. Even that wasn't that difficult. This journey was not in an urban area, but was across country, including over one very hilly section.

 

Snow21313_zps56fda053.jpg

 

Snow12104.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Graham, my point is that the Urban meet ALL legislative requirements but I seriously doubt (nor would I want to find out in practice in deep snow) whether the supposedly more capable 4WD does.

Going to the mountains for a skiing weekend or longer and then having to extract the vehicle after significant snowfalls is a realistic and common situation during our high country snow season.

Australians buying a Yeti wouldn't think twice about which one to buy but would subsequently get a shock when they finally got round to reading the manual.........after they'd bought effectively the wrong model.

The city car for the snow and the macho 4WD for city use which is the predominant choice here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I give up!

 

You carry on with what you think, but I know exactly which car I would (wil) be using in inclement weather in the winter, and it wouldn't be a Yeti "Urban". 

Your comment suggests to me that buyers should do a bit more research before they buy. It is all out there if they looked. I know I did.

 

I'm going to bed.

Good night

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ski field management indicate that your snow chains should be fitted on arrival at the 'village' parking place to ensure you don't have to fit them after fresh snowfall.

I would suggest that few owner would know, until it's too late, that the chains they are required to fit won't go on where they are most needed.

Out standard issue Dunlop Sport 01s are hopelessly inadequate for snow conditions without chains on the front.

It's not an opinion it's a legislated requirement which can't be met with the 4WD version

But can

With the Urban.

You aren't going to know until you've bought it and the find you have to modify it for $A thousands more.....a replacement wheel is $750 before a tyre is chosen.

How is the buyer expected to know of this anomaly?.

Once established on the ploughed road chain are not really needed BUT getting to the road from the very large carparks without hitting another vehicle is where max grip and steering is imperative is something I wouldn't want to face.

Edited by Ryeman
Link to comment
Share on other sites

To those folk that don't understand what Ryeman is on about, he is referring to a very specific set of rules put together by the bureaucrats that run the ski fields in the Victorian section of Australian  Alps (area 4761 square miles) of Australia.

 

They don't recognise Snow tyres or Mud & Snows or "All Season" as being any different to summer tyres.  The only form of snow chain they recognise is a diamond pattern chain.  Anything else is illegal and they won't let you past the checkpoint.  It's a typical Australian "nanny-state" regulation in a country that has more rules & regulation than Switzerland.

 

Personally, If I was Ryeman, I'd buy a cheap set of 15" or 16" rims (depending on what size disc rotors he has) & fit proper winter tyres to them for the ski season.  You can get a set of 16" x7 ET40 alloys at Tire Rack for USD156.  Proper snow tyres start at USD95 (All Seasons are cheaper) so for AUD1200 he'd be set.  Alternatively buy a set of 2nd hand alloys ($200) and I'm sure there are snow tyres available locally.

 

The other possible alternative is to fit some hub-centric spacers on the front to allow clearance between the strut and the tyre.  Unfortunately they are illegal in Nanny-State Australia so some people are reluctant to use them (but I would).

 

Alterantive 3 is to fit 205/50r17 tyres - then you should be able to fit snow chains on the front - even with 17x7 rims

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Community Partner

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to BRISKODA. Please note the following important links Terms of Use. We have a comprehensive Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.