After some advice on snow chains. My Superb iV has R18 wheels. In the manual it says chains are only suitable for 16 and 17 inch wheels, but not for 18 or 19 inch. However, limited clearance is very common on a lot of vehicles nowdays, and there are various chains designed for this. Many of the non-super-expensive options in this category seem to use chains with a 7mm or 9mm profile. Of course they all say 'check compatability' with your car to indemnify themselves, even though most cars with limited clearance just say not to use snow chains.

 

Am I right to figure that since the Superb can have 19 inch wheels which is 25mm greater diamaeter than my 18 inch wheels, then I should be completely fine with even 9mm chain profile, which would add 18mm total diameter? Are there any other considerations I'm missing? I am able to reach over the top of the wheel under the arch to fit them, so it's only about whether they would actually contact and damage any other parts of the car as far as I can tell.

Edited 15 January, 20251 yr by Zilon

Get Michelin EasyGrip snow chains. Rather than metal chains, these are tough nylon rope-based. They fit 18-inch wheels, and as they are a snug fit, clearance and wheel arch damage isn't a problem. I switched from metal chains to these 15 years ago and have bought them for every car since. I have a set of the correct 17-inch ones for my Superb in the boot at this very moment.

The issue isn't necessarily diameter, the overall wheel diameter will be unchanged since the lower profile of the tyres will offset the diameter increase.

A bigger concern is the width of the tyre, to ensure that the chains don't foul suspension or brake components on full lock.

Look here: https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel3.php?emulate=snowchains&query=8319&Sub_Model=&TID=325

I can't comment on the König Reflex Edge automatic snow chains, but I've experience of the other types listed on this page.

 

Autosocks are cheap and effective but get destroyed in quite a short distance.

 

Chains that fit from the outside of the wheel work well  and aren't affected by limited clearance between the inside of the tyre and the suspension, but are expensive, and tend to take up quite a lot of space in the boot.

 

I used Spikes Spiders on a later Seat Alhambra with larger, wider tyres, and now use chains similar to the Konig K-Summit type listed in the link.

 

My Superb is now 8 years old and I have yet to use the chains in anger, just occasional trial fits in my drive to remind me how they work!

20 hours ago, Zilon said:

After some advice on snow chains. My Superb iV has R18 wheels. In the manual it says chains are only suitable for 16 and 17 inch wheels, but not for 18 or 19 inch. However, limited clearance is very common on a lot of vehicles nowdays, and there are various chains designed for this. Many of the non-super-expensive options in this category seem to use chains with a 7mm or 9mm profile. Of course they all say 'check compatability' with your car to indemnify themselves, even though most cars with limited clearance just say not to use snow chains.

 

Am I right to figure that since the Superb can have 19 inch wheels which is 25mm greater diamaeter than my 18 inch wheels, then I should be completely fine with even 9mm chain profile, which would add 18mm total diameter? Are there any other considerations I'm missing? I am able to reach over the top of the wheel under the arch to fit them, so it's only about whether they would actually contact and damage any other parts of the car as far as I can tell.

 

Im just back from the Alps and I took some chains labelled with a "size" of 120 ... not entirely sure what that corresponds to but they were bigger than another set of chains labelled "100" which did not fit my 235/45/R18 tyres, whereas the 120 size did fit comfortably.

There is some slack and adjustment in chains but not too much to allow you to put smaller chains on bigger tyres-- every chain says what size tyres it will fit.

ANd if it comes to fitting in adverse conditions you really dont want chains that are a struggle to put on -- and take spare gloves and something to kneel on.

The 9mm number is the size of the links which is what you want for normal cars. Some bigger chains are available with 16mm links for super heavy SUVs and vans (I believe)

 

 

 

 

THanks all, good advice hadn't considered rope chains nor the inner wheel clearance.

Are they for carrying to be legal in some European region where they must be carried and fitted if required? 

On 16/01/2025 at 14:38, Ootohere said:

Are they for carrying to be legal in some European region where they must be carried and fitted if required? 

Yes it's for Val Thorens in France, which is a very high ski resort and I've read that snow chains are frequently needed to be used, let alone just required by the police. I have taken snow socks on previous trips and not needed to use, but after hearing about some friends shredding theirs and getting stuck I figure I'd rather invest in chains for the peace of mind.

Easy on and easy off yet good on snow or ice is the main things then. And clearance if not just snow / iced up chains but in the wheel wells.   Best without mud flaps. 

Just out of interest do you use winter or summer tires on the 18 inch rims?

Just summer tyres. I considered getting winter ones but I would have had to pay over £200 per tyre and then change then at either end of the trip every year.

If it helps anyone in future, after quite a lot of research and calling up roofbox.co.uk who have great staff, I went with Polair Steel Grip which are the type that sit on the outside of the wheel only. They explained that the risk of traditional chains in my situation isn't so much in the diameter, rather the clearance on the inside of the wheel to the suspension and various sensors, apparantly recent cars tend to have more and more sensors for safety but it leaves less clearance. Especially at full lock the chains could drag on these and cause major damage.

 

The Polair Steel Grip are very similar and similar price to the Konig K-Summit. There's not much info on Polair in English (French brand) as they're not so well known here, but I found a french article which directly compared the two models and concluded performance was very similar but Polair was much easier to fit, hence the choice.

 

Unfortunately this type of snow chain is at the more expensive end and cost £270 but for me the decision was more about peace of mind in that I expect there's a good chance I'll need to use them a few times over the next 10 years (I drive every year for skiing) rather than just for the sake of compliance with French laws and expecting I probably wouldn't have to use them (such as a one-off trip to a low-altitude ski area or merely passing through the alps in winter). If it was the latter I'd just have stuck with Snow Socks which I already had, but I read quite a few more accounts of how they can rapidly shred on tarmac, which isn't not going to be viable to fully avoid, and secondly in heavy snow which can happen rapidly and unexpectedly at high altitude, chains do a much better job.

 

There was an interesting alternative Polaire GRIP polyurethane which are a type of plastic with similar performance and the benefit they can be used for moderate stretches on tarmac, but while these are fully legal in France they're not in Austria so I didn't want to risk it in case I go Austria in future.

If you are travelling that frequently I would invest in wheels and winter tyres.  

Also bear in mind that whilst you may need chains to get up the mountain there might be much snow in the valley and the route into the bottom of the resort. So if safety is really your priority then consider spare wheels and winter tyres. Once you have used them you will be amazed at how good they are see blow only a short distance from the main road but parked safely

 

Habitually change summers for winters and have been for a few years now, since living in Munich, even when I don't go skiing.

 

A 215/55/17 is a direct change for 235/45/18 and will enable chain fitment as well although I don't have chains.

hello. maybe you can help with your response. i onw a superb iv MY2020 . i am interesting for  set of winter tyres. The 215/55R17 are suitable or can fit 205/60R16? Also did anyone find steel rims for this model? Which it the suitable spare wheel and where to find it?

 

Ended up using the 225/45r17 tyres from my old Passat including spare.

Drove to France and back with no issues and snow chains for these fit without an issue. I realise these aren’t approved but was let down badly by mytyres who I had placed an order with for new wheels and tyres. Will replace for next season and probably start looking early September.

Minimum I could use is 17 inch rims, as the car's a 280, fitted with 215/55/17 Goodyear Ultragrip, which saw us last year, past the Arctic Circle and up to Narvik without any issues whatsoever.  I took chains as well, but never had the need to use them, did a trial fit in the UK and all was good. I did bottle it on a particular steep hill near Lillehammer, which was near the end of the trip so didn't want to tempt fate.

 

Rims Audi A4 7J ET46 (8K0071497)

Chains Weissenfels 9mm M30 Clack and Go

20 hours ago, coppertop said:

Minimum I could use is 17 inch rims, as the car's a 280, fitted with 215/55/17 Goodyear Ultragrip, which saw us last year, past the Arctic Circle and up to Narvik without any issues whatsoever.  I took chains as well, but never had the need to use them, did a trial fit in the UK and all was good. I did bottle it on a particular steep hill near Lillehammer, which was near the end of the trip so didn't want to tempt fate.

 

Rims Audi A4 7J ET46 (8K0071497)

Chains Weissenfels 9mm M30 Clack and Go

Did you steel those from my garage?

 

I'm off outside to check🤔

 

In fact I am not sure that you've not stolen my car!

23 hours ago, jimskerle said:

hello. maybe you can help with your response. i onw a superb iv MY2020 . i am interesting for  set of winter tyres. The 215/55R17 are suitable or can fit 205/60R16? Also did anyone find steel rims for this model? Which it the suitable spare wheel and where to find it?

 

See here:

https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=235&aspect=45&diameter=18&wheelwidth=8&offset=44&width2=225&aspect2=55&wheel_size=17&wheel_width=7&offset2=46

 

22 hours ago, brovert said:

Ended up using the 225/45r17 tyres from my old Passat including spare.

Drove to France and back with no issues and snow chains for these fit without an issue. I realise these aren’t approved but was let down badly by mytyres who I had placed an order with for new wheels and tyres. Will replace for next season and probably start looking early September.

That appears to be quite a difference in speed ~5.4% 

 

I can confirm MYTRES are woeful, tyres seemed like a good price but despite getting an anticipated delivery date before my trip they were not delivered in time. I cancelled before travelling, sourcing an alternative tyre, and when I got back they had been left on my doorstep. They advised that they were delivered before I cancelled!

 

Muppets!

 

Never use them again.

 

On 06/02/2025 at 10:37, coppertop said:

Minimum I could use is 17 inch rims, as the car's a 280, fitted with 215/55/17 Goodyear Ultragrip, which saw us last year, past the Arctic Circle and up to Narvik without any issues whatsoever.  I took chains as well, but never had the need to use them, did a trial fit in the UK and all was good. I did bottle it on a particular steep hill near Lillehammer, which was near the end of the trip so didn't want to tempt fate.

 

Rims Audi A4 7J ET46 (8K0071497)

Chains Weissenfels 9mm M30 Clack and Go

215/55/17 winter wheels on my 280 as well. Picked up a set of nearly new Tiguan wheels for £160. 

The improvement in ride and noise is huge compared to the 19s I have as well.