Snow Chains for 18" 3.2 Quattro

Skittler

Skittler

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Just been thinking about next year's skiing. Well, why not, there's no Summer happening in the UK this year...

I was considering driving to the Alps from the UK and spending a couple of days in several different resorts over a couple of weeks, instead of a week or two in one place. Almost certainly France.

The point is, I don't think you can put chains on 18" wheels due to clearance, can you? I won't be getting winter tyres as that's too much to shell out for what may be a once-only trip.
I could risk it with just the 4wd I suppose, but I've seen some horrendous problems with people struggling after a big overnight dump and I'm not sure if just the 4wd is really enough on its own.

Anyone got any experience of the Quattro on snow with standard tyres?
Any recommendations for chains, or if that is even possible?
 
Hey mate,

I was in the alps in March this year. Arrived late at the resort, in the middle of a huge storm. I had no chains!
Anyway, the drive up was quite frankly one of the scariet drives of my life. Not to do with getting up, the 4wd gave great traction even on summer tyres, but it was the number of 2wd cars caught short in the conditions. Cars spinning everywhere, buses sliding back down the mountain road.....
I was so worried that I'd have to turn back round and go back down the hill.... without chains trying to stop for the tight corners was a pretty crappy prospect.

In the end, myself, an RS4 and a quattro sportback were in convoy negotiating the other vehicles.... my girlfriend was crying at this point!!!

Anyway, first thing I did the next day was source some of these and get them sent to the resort I was staying in:
http://www.autosock.co.uk/
They are easy to fit, not to expensive and aren't likely to scratch the wheels.
A very worth addition if your driving there!

Hope that helps.

J
 
Driven to the alps many times in winter, winter tyres are a must to stay safe as the traction they give compared to summer tyres is tremendous.
I have carried snow chains but never had to fit them with the combination of quattro and winter tyres.
Chains certainly make downhill hairpins much safer but I have found that winter tyres and a lot of care have always carried me through.
Winter tyres and in certain cases chains are mandatory when you get into the mountains, you are likely to be in serious trouble with the law if you are involved in an accident and found to be driving on summer tyres.
Just not worth the risk to life and car.
 
Jamie, did you buy two pairs? If not, did you just put them on the front wheels?
Presumably they worked OK for you - you didn't say :)
 
Skittler said:
Jamie, did you buy two pairs? If not, did you just put them on the front wheels?
Presumably they worked OK for you - you didn't say :)
Click to expand...

Just the one pair mate - front wheels only to make sure you can steer and stop :yum:
Really effective actually, and far cheaper than a set of spare wheels with winter tyres.
 
Skittler said:
Jamie, did you buy two pairs? If not, did you just put them on the front wheels?
Presumably they worked OK for you - you didn't say :)
Click to expand...
Be it on your head, I say again winter tyres and snow chains are mandatory.:think:
 
Trev - you've lost me mate!
Snowsocks are exaclty like a snow chains - therefore perfectly legal!!!
Infact, most of the hire car places in Geneva now use them with their rentals...
 
jamiekip said:
Trev - you've lost me mate!
Snowsocks are exaclty like a snow chains - therefore perfectly legal!!!
Infact, most of the hire car places in Geneva now use them with their rentals...
Click to expand...
Refer to question 6 on their website.

Please remember my comments are based on lot's of experience in some very poor conditions. The weather can change very quickly at altitude in winter and whilst a pair of autosocks may be reasonably good for the front wheels an awful lot can happen at the backend without the appropriate rubber.
At the end of the day it's up to everyone to make their own decisions, just giving the benefit of my experience.
I will never drive over there in winter without the right kit, as I think the cost of the tyres to be small when considering the value of the car and the safety benefits they bring.
Have seen a few nice cars on their roofs on the way down the valley over the years.
 
Regarding question 6 - that maybe out of date - as mentioned, when I was there last year, loads of the hire cars now come supplied with the sock rather than chains!

I'll bet a lot of those crashed cars is down to the inexperience of the driver too!
I hear what you're saying, completely, but spending £600-800 on wheels and winter tyres seems a lot unless you're doing lots of miles or spending lot's of time there!
The Autosocks used sensibly will be safe to get you to and from resort if driven on sensibly - just don't expect to swing the car around like Sebastian Loeb!!
All personal opinion of course!
 
jamiekip said:
Regarding question 6 - that maybe out of date - as mentioned, when I was there last year, loads of the hire cars now come supplied with the sock rather than chains!

I'll bet a lot of those crashed cars is down to the inexperience of the driver too!
I hear what you're saying, completely, but spending £600-800 on wheels and winter tyres seems a lot unless you're doing lots of miles or spending lot's of time there!
The Autosocks used sensibly will be safe to get you to and from resort if driven on sensibly - just don't expect to swing the car around like Sebastian Loeb!!
All personal opinion of course!
Click to expand...
Jamie Could debate issue forever but as a final point I do remember two trips when there had been reasonably heavy snow right down through europe, that's when we really did appreciate the benefit of winter tyres on the 1,000 mile slog.

Well Skittler put us out of our misery what's it to be ?
 
TrevS3 said:
Jamie Could debate issue forever but as a final point I do remember two trips when there had been reasonably heavy snow right down through europe, that's when we really did appreciate the benefit of winter tyres on the 1,000 mile slog.

Well Skittler put us out of our misery what's it to be ?
Click to expand...

I hear you - and it that situation if the forecasts we're telling me before I left that france is going to become an icerink, i'd probably go the winter tyres route too (or book a flight!!!).
For an emergency solution thouigh, can we agree the socks are ok :friends:
 
jamiekip said:
I hear you - and it that situation if the forecasts we're telling me before I left that france is going to become an icerink, i'd probably go the winter tyres route too (or book a flight!!!).
For an emergency solution thouigh, can we agree the socks are ok :friends:
Click to expand...
Why not ;)
 
Shameless plug........

I have a set of 4 Audi Steel wheels fitted with Continental winter tyres sitting in my shed, I used them for about 3,000 miles when I was posted to Germany.

I went to Austria one winter on a ski holiday and they were excellent, winter tyres are the way ahead!

I might be open to offers as they are just sitting there collecting dust.

They were fitted to my 2.0 TDI Sportback so they should fit a 3.2 I`d have thought.
 
Wolfsburger said:
As said in the first sentence of my post......................
Click to expand...
Yeah I know, it made me laugh that's all.... this forum always has someone on it that has the solution to somones problem. It's great for that!
The number of posts that start "It just so happens I have XXXXX if you're interested!"
Wasn't taking the pee mate
:thumbsup:
 
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