Yeah.  I did wonder if the egalitarian French have ended up with a hideously two tiered road network.  The tolls are steep so the roads are empty apart from a privileged few.  I'd estimate that 60%+ of the vehicles we saw were premium brands (Audi, BMW, Merc etc).  I guess a lot of French people are relegated to the inferior roads due to cost.  When I plugged the same journey into Google Maps and choose to avoid tolls, the duration basically doubled   

At least in the UK we all suffer together! (apart from the M6 toll)

Until now, I've done all my traveling in France on a motorcycle. Yes, the A-routes are quicker. But, if time is not an issue, the N-routes – in fact, most D-routes, too – are more beautiful and they're well maintained for the most part. I always took the "inferior" routes, unless I had to get somewhere in a hurry.

I agree entirely Jerry, unless pressing down south towards Colmar, approx 400 miles or similar, when on the bike avoiding Paege is the way to go. When in the car its about getting there so best/fastest means.

 

On 26/01/2018 at 13:26, JamKart said:

Yes I mean "fitted easily without clearance issues, no damage to the wheels, travelled OK in snow with no clogging of the wheel wells, 

and then easy removal again?"

 

 

A bit late in the season, I know, but to meet all these criteria and since I’m planning to keep the car for many years I invested in these for when being in the French Alps for skiing:

 

https://snowchains.co.uk/product/?brand=Thule/Konig&model=K-Summit&pID=K34&p=K

 

A bit pricey but they’re exceptionally easy to put on and off (and tested out in last week’s snow ).

 

I had slim chains for my previous car (again, clearance issues meant standard chains wouldn’t fit) but the times I had to use them, I found they were a right faff to put on and it isn’t particularly pleasant reaching round the backside of an invariably filthy wheel. Maybe if they are something that you use a lot it becomes easier.

 

These new ones go on a dream - place the chains and arms onto the tyre as far as possible (lower ones obviously won’t go fully on as the wheel is on the ground), remove one of the plastic wheel bolt covers, place a special collet over the head of the wheel bolt, tighten up the collet so it grips the wheel bolt (spanner supplied!), then tighten up the ratchet strap which pulls the centre in towards the wheel hub. The rods are under tension and as you drive forward it all pulls onto the wheel, then do a little bit of fettling and further tightening of the ratchet strap if necessary.

 

Thought I'd post about these as, if you’re thinking about chains, you may be able to get some of these cheap(er) in an end of season clearance sale next month ready for next year. 

 

Cheers,

Ivan. 

Quote

It is not the speed limit that is the big difference with France but the lack of traffic on the autoroutes.  You can set cruise at 135 kph and (toll booths apart) not slow down for hours - where can you do 75 mph for an hour in the UK without having to lift off for a slower vehicle?

Yes I agree with this and if you get a Sanef Tag you don't even need to hardly slow down for the toll booths!

I have been  going to Stuttgart a couple of times a year for the last twenty years and it used to be, 'get to Germany as quickly as possible' to get on to the unlimited autobahns, but now it is quicker to travel through France  and only drive in Germany for a short a time as possible.

22 hours ago, Ivan8192 said:

 

 

A bit late in the season, I know, but to meet all these criteria and since I’m planning to keep the car for many years I invested in these for when being in the French Alps for skiing:

 

https://snowchains.co.uk/product/?brand=Thule/Konig&model=K-Summit&pID=K34&p=K

 

A bit pricey but they’re exceptionally easy to put on and off (and tested out in last week’s snow ).

 

I had slim chains for my previous car (again, clearance issues meant standard chains wouldn’t fit) but the times I had to use them, I found they were a right faff to put on and it isn’t particularly pleasant reaching round the backside of an invariably filthy wheel. Maybe if they are something that you use a lot it becomes easier.

 

These new ones go on a dream - place the chains and arms onto the tyre as far as possible (lower ones obviously won’t go fully on as the wheel is on the ground), remove one of the plastic wheel bolt covers, place a special collet over the head of the wheel bolt, tighten up the collet so it grips the wheel bolt (spanner supplied!), then tighten up the ratchet strap which pulls the centre in towards the wheel hub. The rods are under tension and as you drive forward it all pulls onto the wheel, then do a little bit of fettling and further tightening of the ratchet strap if necessary.

 

Thought I'd post about these as, if you’re thinking about chains, you may be able to get some of these cheap(er) in an end of season clearance sale next month ready for next year. 

 

Cheers,

Ivan. 

 

I have the Weissenfels (Good Italian company) equivalent.  Only problem is while they fitted the 2012 Passat and the 2015 Octavia but they don't fit the Superb. 

 

Bought second hand and hardly used, toying with what to do with them.