It's that time of the year again where we all panic over heavy snow fall again! I live in an area that realy suffers in the snow. My boss has told me all staff are expected to turn up for work regardless of the amount of snow fall! So I thought maybe it's a good idea to get some snow chains for my Vrs. I had a look around on the web for them and found some realy good once designed for all cars with minimum ground clearance.

They are suitable for all cars with ABS & Anti lock brakes but are quite expensive at a cost of £120! I did put in the tyre size details and according to the web it will fit. Has anyone ever put any chains on a Vrs? When I look at my wheels the gap between the wheel and arch is very tight! or would good old snow socks be a better option? Please let me know and sorry this subject is so long! thanks

It's that time of the year again where we all panic over heavy snow fall again! I live in an area that realy suffers in the snow. My boss has told me all staff are expected to turn up for work regardless of the amount of snow fall! So I thought maybe it's a good idea to get some snow chains for my Vrs. I had a look around on the web for them and found some realy good once designed for all cars with minimum ground clearance.

They are suitable for all cars with ABS & Anti lock brakes but are quite expensive at a cost of £120! I did put in the tyre size details and according to the web it will fit. Has anyone ever put any chains on a Vrs? When I look at my wheels the gap between the wheel and arch is very tight! or would good old snow socks be a better option? Please let me know and sorry this subject is so long! thanks

Hi VRS-R

Have you seen these:

http://www.snowchainshop.co.uk/products-list.aspx?category=autosock

I have heard they are ok, I am trying some this year

Radiotwo

I think Skoda recommend 205/55/16 tyres on a 6Jx16 (or it could be 6.5Jx16) wheel for use with snow chains. I didn't think that you could get snow chains that would fit on a 225/40/18 tyre. If you want to buy them I would put the car on full lock and see if there's much clearance between the inside of the tyre and the suspension spring/damper. Personally I'd rather go for a set of winter tyres.

Hi all, After doing some more reading up about those snow chains and not being sure if I should take the plunge and buy them I just went to Halfords and bought some £50 snow socks that do fit my car. A lot of websites claim it's ilegal to have chains in the UK due to them damaging the roads! As if our roads are not already damaged anyway due to lorries driving on them! and poor road works!

I couldn't get a straight answer from anyone on any website I looked at so I went with the socks. Everyone on Briskoda seems to claim the socks are great so I bought them I just hope we get some snow now!

I would go for winter tyres. Didn't get stuck once last year and overtook a couple of stuck 4x4's on one hill.

I would go for winter tyres. Didn't get stuck once last year and overtook a couple of stuck 4x4's on one hill.

Hi jrw, I agree with going for the winter tyres That was what I was going to do originaly. I was going to get the steel rims + winter tyres from "Mytyres" but the 4 rims would have come to £200 + £500 for the Michelin Artic tyres + fitting and balancing it would have cost me near enough £900!!! :( I simply can't afford that kind of price. Maybe if I buy 1 wheel every month for 4 months next year then it's not so bad

Hi jrw, I agree with going for the winter tyres That was what I was going to do originaly. I was going to get the steel rims + winter tyres from "Mytyres" but the 4 rims would have come to £200 + £500 for the Michelin Artic tyres + fitting and balancing it would have cost me near enough £900!!! :( I simply can't afford that kind of price. Maybe if I buy 1 wheel every month for 4 months next year then it's not so bad

What?! How much!

16inch rims with those Michelin tyres come to £730

or cheaper tyres such as Avon Ice Touring ST which i have would be £527 delivered to your door. Both at Mytyres.

I managed to pick up a set of Alloys with the Avons second hand (only 2k miles on the tyres) for £300. The way i look at it is i have spent the cost of 2 summer 18inch tyres on a set of wheels and tyres which get me through the winter whilst saving 6-10k of wear on my 18s! As well as being able to get to places in bad weather! Then when you sell car or decide not to use them you will get a big chunk of that investment back

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Hi jrw, I agree with going for the winter tyres That was what I was going to do originaly. I was going to get the steel rims + winter tyres from "Mytyres" but the 4 rims would have come to £200 + £500 for the Michelin Artic tyres + fitting and balancing it would have cost me near enough £900!!! :( I simply can't afford that kind of price. Maybe if I buy 1 wheel every month for 4 months next year then it's not so bad

You can do this for much less - I've just bought a set of Audi alloys and tyres for £600 (including fitting & centre caps). £150 for 5x 16" alloys from eBay, £400 for a set of Vredestein Snowtrac 3 tyres, £40 for fitting and about £4 for some centre caps.

Second hand alloys can be had for similar price to new steelies and it is worth shopping around for tyres. Beware of mytyres.co.uk - they tend to ramp up their prices around this time of year, especially if there is snow forecast.

Winter tire first and always. Autosock is ok for getting out of snow, but once on dry tarmac you have to take them off as they will shred. Chains too are not suitable for dry tarmac and much more harder to fit.

Skoda OEM chains says on its label that it can do 205/55/16 or 205/50/17.

Get some cheap steel rims and whatever winter tires you can afford. It will beat a summer timer anytime and no chains or socks.

If you put chains on the 18" tyres you risk damage to the suspension and brake pipes.

YOu can get maggi-trax or similar that don't need that clearance mind if you want a piece of mind.

I've looked at getting these.... http://www.easygrip.fr/ I've seen them on the shelf at Cost Co. Look OK, but not sure on how they run on tarmac.

I was thinking about getting some socks for the days when there is heavy snow, since I live at the top of a hill, getting home is a problem when the road becomes covered in deepish snow. I need something to get me out of trouble from getting stuck. Don't have a problem with summer tyres on tarmac in the winter, just drive more slowly.

Remind your boss that he or his boss has a personal responsibility for the safety of his staff, so making them come in if the weather is dangerous and people are advised not to travel, would potentially make them liable for any injuries.

I'm fairly certain this change happened a couple of years back now, but it's amazing how it focuses peoples minds.

Obviously if you're going to present that one, do get some sources other than just "some guy on the net".

Edited 14 November, 201114 yr by cheezemonkhai

My own post from elsewhere

Chains: I've used them on my old Passat and you need to have snow deep enough for the links not to touch tarmac. If they do touch, both steering and braking becomes an issue, (even doing the max permitted speed of just 30mph), and the vibration coming up through the steering wheel will be enough to loosen any fillings in your teeth.

In saying that, in the stuff deep enough for the links to remain off the tarmac you felt as though you could drive up walls they were so grippy.

Another down side is trying to get the things off. They're ok going on, but once the cable and links are packed up with snow and ice it can be tricky locating the break in the cable, on the inner side of the wheel that you're blind to, in order to uncouple the cable and get them off. Especially in the dark and with freezing fingers. (I'm surprised my language at the time didn't melt all the snow within a 10 foot radius).

I'll be on the 15" 'Avantgarda' steel wheels, (as opposed to the 15" 'Pyxis' alloys), with Nokian WR G2 winter tyres again this season so hopefully won't have to bother with the chains; although they're in the boot just in case.

Edited 14 November, 201114 yr by Rab-k