My wife is about to take delivery of a new company car - a Skoda Superb with 18" wheels. The users handbook says that snow chains cannot be used with this wheel. How do other owners cope? Is the problem clearance behind the wheel or on the wheel arch? Do we have to buy those expensive devices that clip on over the outside of the wheel only using the wheel nuts or do we have to buy another set of wheels.

I cannot beleive that Skoda have not thought this through and sell a car that you cannot fit snow chains on. After all they are a legal requirement in many places.

My wife is about to take delivery of a new company car - a Skoda Superb with 18" wheels. The users handbook says that snow chains cannot be used with this wheel. How do other owners cope? Is the problem clearance behind the wheel or on the wheel arch? Do we have to buy those expensive devices that clip on over the outside of the wheel only using the wheel nuts or do we have to buy another set of wheels.

I cannot beleive that Skoda have not thought this through and sell a car that you cannot fit snow chains on. After all they are a legal requirement in many places.

Slightly off topic but save yourself the hassle and let the air out of your tyres, not that i've tried it

It's nothing to do with Skoda not thinking it through. You should get a set of cheap, smaller wheels with winter tyres on. With decent winter tyres you should hardly ever, maybe never need chains on, and if you do the smaller wheel will let you fit them comfortably.

My wife is about to take delivery of a new company car - a Skoda Superb with 18" wheels. The users handbook says that snow chains cannot be used with this wheel. How do other owners cope? Is the problem clearance behind the wheel or on the wheel arch? Do we have to buy those expensive devices that clip on over the outside of the wheel only using the wheel nuts or do we have to buy another set of wheels.

I cannot beleive that Skoda have not thought this through and sell a car that you cannot fit snow chains on. After all they are a legal requirement in many places.

I have been driving 34 years and never used snow chains, you don't need chains in this country, the only time to use them is on deep compacted snow

Radiotwo

I have been driving 34 years and never used snow chains, you don't need chains in this country, the only time to use them is on deep compacted snow

Radiotwo

I have had to put the chains on a couple of times over the last 2 years and they really do work.

The French police will turn you back if the road is snow covered and you do not have chains on. It is, I beleive, a legal requirement to carry them in many places.

John

Instead of chains, you could try using autosocks, which are easy to fit, and can be carried in the boot at not much extra added weight, and are capeable of speeds of up to 30mph , they have also been tested on dry tarmac at same speeds for a distance of 30 miles, before there is signs of damage. more details can be found on www.autosock.co.uk

Instead of chains, you could try using autosocks, which are easy to fit, and can be carried in the boot at not much extra added weight, and are capeable of speeds of up to 30mph , they have also been tested on dry tarmac at same speeds for a distance of 30 miles, before there is signs of damage. more details can be found on www.autosock.co.uk

I've got Autosocks for mine (18") wheels, and they worked a treat in the deep snow last winter. However, putting them on when wet was a somwhat dirty and cold affair, and the 30 mph limit was tricky when the snow started to melt and I actually needed to drive some sections of clear road with them. Seriously considering getting some winter wheels and tyres this year, but overall really impressed with the Autosocks and surprised more people don't know about them.

I've got Autosocks for mine (18") wheels, and they worked a treat in the deep snow last winter. However, putting them on when wet was a somwhat dirty and cold affair, and the 30 mph limit was tricky when the snow started to melt and I actually needed to drive some sections of clear road with them. Seriously considering getting some winter wheels and tyres this year, but overall really impressed with the Autosocks and surprised more people don't know about them.

Thanks for this information. I was considering giving them a try and I hope the gendames accept them. They probably work better than chains on soft snow, but what are they like on the hardpack where chains really do well.

BTW putting on chains is also dirty and can be cold. That is why I always have rubber gloves with me and something to sit on.

John