Snow Chains

[Zebra]

So I have ended up with a car with 275/35R22 tyres.

The choice of snow chains is limited to:
1) Konig K-summit XXL 67 £390
2) Spikes-Spider SPORT SXXXL £405
3) Spikes-Spider Easy SPORT SPES4 £300
4) Polaire GRIP polyurethane front-fitting snow chains size 150 £260

Does anyone have any experience of these or recommendations?

(We are off to the Alps and will be high enough and isolated enough to require them)

Thanks in anticipation.

[Lexman8]

Will you be fitting winter tyres on the 22" wheels? This is assuming you can even find tyres that size as they'd be a poor combination in difficult conditions.

Starting this year (from Nov through to Mar) there's a legal requirement in some areas of the French Alps for winter tyres to be fitted. The exact areas covered are determined by the local authorities.

Personally, and regardless of the legal requirements, I wouldn't venture into the higher parts of the Alps without winter tyres on reasonable size wheels (I have a home there so I'm familiar with the conditions).

[MaDProFF]

I thought there has been laws in place in Germany and other EU countries for a while now, where ever there is snow on the road, you have to have winter tyres fitted or you can be prosecuted.

[Lexman8]

It varies from country to country. In Switzerland for example (surprisingly perhaps) there's no requirement to fit winter tyres. However, if you have an accident (or cause an accident) or do not have 'appropriate' tyres for the prevailing conditions then you are breaking the law.

[Lexman8]

Also, legal requirement or not, I've seen the police stop drivers going up mountain roads because they didn't have winter tyres and/or snow chains.

[AB-UK]

Have you seen the price of winter tyres in this size !!!!!!

I suppose one could buy some alloys a few inches smaller just for winter tyres.

[Zebra]

Thanks for all the advice. I have just relinquished my 10 year old XC90 with 216K miles on the clock. I had run it on Nokian Allweathers which were great winter / summer, UK / France.

If I go for the 19 inch wheels with 235/55 tyres my existing chains fit for the powdery stuff, so quids in! (well after the £1400 outlay)

Does anyone know if there is anything clever about changing the wheels with TPMS fitted?

[MaDProFF]

The Volvo Supplied rims and tyres on my car it was a straight swap and then re calibrate TMPS, which you would do after every swap.

Just be careful, that all season tyres may not meet EU requirements in snow etc.

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by MaDProFF

Just be careful, that all season tyres may not meet EU requirements in snow etc.

Afaik, the only all-season tyre with the snowflake symbol is the Michelin CrossClimate.

But then again, there are snowflake tyres and snowflake tyres...

[Zebra]

The Nokian all-weather tyres are called Weatherproof and have the 3PMSF rating / marking and are legit for Europe. (They are a Finnish company after all)

https://www.nokiantyres.com/all-weat...therproof-suv/

Thanks for all the advice.