Has anyone got experience of fitting snow chains to a roomster ? ( or, indeed, any other FWD car )

I'm considering getting a set to keep in the boot with the rest of the emergency crap.

... or, after the briefest of googles, snow socks ?

Edited 6 December, 201213 yr by slump

I have a set of snow socks and would recommend them heavily, i got stuck in snow put the socks on and i was fine

Used them once in Germany one year.

It had come down very heavy the first day we arrived and needed to get up a very steep road to get to the relatives house. Tried just driving up... no chance. Tried reversing up... no chance.

Quickly stuck the snow chains on (took about 5 mins) and then we drove up the hill as if it was dry as a bone.

Definitely good to keep in the boot for that time when you are stuck. I have read good things about the socks too. Not quite as much grip as the chains but easier to fit and quieter ride.

Phil

Agree, and for everyday rides with temps lower than 7-8°C winter tyres are absolutely the best and safest thing

Agree, and for everyday rides with temps lower than 7-8°C winter tyres are absolutely the best and safest thing

Yep definitely.

My first experience of winter tyres was a 2010 Tauereg 3.0 TDI. The grip was incredible and like you were driving on a dry road.

Also having been in a Mercedes taxi (RWD) driving up a 30% hill in thick snow and ice with no problems I can definitely back up you with that one.

Phil

Well, I will be saving for winter tyres, but as I don't have that kind of money in the run up to christmas, I figure I'll invest in a pair of snow-socks that I can keep in the boot for those 'trapped on the backstreets' moments.

PS: And completley unrelated; how do you find your Cordoba ? I think they look way classier than the ibiza hatchback, and the mk1 fabia saloon too ( which, IIRC, only came with SDI diesel engines, meh )

PS: And completley unrelated; how do you find your Cordoba ? I think they look way classier than the ibiza hatchback, and the mk1 fabia saloon too ( which, IIRC, only came with SDI diesel engines, meh )

Well putting aside the gearbox and A/C issues we had/are having it's a cracking car.

And agreed I think the saloon rear looks nicer and more grown up than the normal hatchback Ibiza.

The boot space is really handy (485 litres) and and swallowed up luggage for 4 etc with ease.

Also nice that it comes with the PD130 and climate control etc.

Phil

It's snowing ... I have 180 miles to drive ... might get to find out how good those snow socks are. *gulp* But will try and remember to take photos if I do

^^^ that would be great. Have winter tyres on so would like to think I'd be okay, but also wondered about the socks as well - like you say, for 'trapped on a backstreet' moments.

Edited 18 January, 201313 yr by Yearofthegoat

Definitely handy to have in the boot should you ever find yourself really stuck.

The extra grip with the chains is emmense and pretty sure would get you out of even really deep snow.

Going to get some for the Octy as the ones I have in the shed won't fit round the bigger wheels/tyres.

Phil

Chains are good, but socks are easier and faster to put on/off. Plus some wheel sizes will not take chains due to clearance issues, but they will take socks quite happily.

I have 2 chains and 4 socks in the boot of my Mk1 superb, but this car goes abroad often. I only put a couple of snow socks into the Roomster, and when factory tyres wear out, I will replace them with all-weather Vredesteins.

Best to practise putting chains on / taking them off, a couple times before each winter is enough if you really plan to use them.

Edited 18 January, 201313 yr by dieselV6

Winter tyres. Every time. Have them on our Superb and Roomy. It took four and a half hours to do a one hour drive this afternnon because most people were sliding everywhere and struggling on the slightest incline. Meanwhile our Skodas just pootled and kept out of everyone elses way. Not a single slip or slide.

I do have winter tyres, socks/chains are for when it really gets tough.

My new (old - last year of life left in them) winter tyres provided incredible traction on the drive home. Only on a 20% hill did i start sliding and had to turn back as other cars had slid across and blocked the road, and I did not care to join them. still, very impressed. But I did wish I had socks or chains. When googling I came across a site that said chains are not good for the roomster, something with the sensors in the wheel area - is this true? the correct answer would influence which one I buy.

My car came fitted 195/55/15 on steels. But the owner's manual says that no chain should be applied in that dimension. But chains can be fitted in 185/55/15 or 185/65/14.

I tried snow chains on my 195/55/15 wheels just to test them and I found no clearence problem, then I asked my tire fitter and he told me that there is no problem at all. Then I asked some dealers but unfortunatelly they had no clue and advised me that in case of emergency it will be ok to fit them for small distances. But still I'm afraid of using them in real conditions of what the problem will be of using them.

The whole what size of wheel and tyre issue is complex and odd. For example 195/55/15s are approved by Skoda for use on everything except the Scout version, whereas 185/55/15s are OK on all versions. Typically I already had a set of 195/55/15 winter tyres, and only found this out after having paid to have them fitted to our Scout.

Just fyi Lid are selling snow chain atm for 20 squid.

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_38051.htm

Regards, Mike

(using Tapatalk on Android)

I'm not sure I'd trust £20 snow chains :/

In practice I found that the Roomster was very well composed on the snow and ice, much better than I was expecting. I don't know whether that's true across the range, or if its the extra weight of the diesel engine over the front wheels. So I didn't need my snowsocks. Yet.

Snow chains are much cheaper in Europe, 3-4 years back £10 could get you in Germany a set good enough for occassional use.

Lidl is still making a tidy profit. And yes, that 1.9 lump over the driven/steered axle helps quite a bit.

Though half decent winter tyres cover winter use for most people. It's some budget summer tyres that are really a problem as they're made of plastic not rubber.

I'm not sure I'd trust £20 snow chains :/

The snow chains I bought were about £20 from ebay. No problems at all.

They were also a requirement to be carried in the mountain regions we were driving in

Phil

missus set off for work this morning after getting home no problem and usual thing oon our rd hit ice under snow got stuck,tried digging a bit and nothing so back in house for snow scks and off she went think they were off groupon 40 instead of 80 but clamp to most tyre sizes,she took them off on the roads and then got stuck where council hadn't done anything as usual,then a 4x4 driver started on her oh she shouldve just got out in uniform to see their face

she swears by them,socks that is lol