snow chains

tommmy1979

anyone know where you can buy snow chains ?

testicle

tommmy1979 wrote: »

anyone know where you can buy snow chains ?

In places where you'd need them.

Big Nasty

tommmy1979 wrote: »

anyone know where you can buy snow chains ?

What are they!?! :eek:

tommmy1979

well if you live on the east or south east coast, you might need them next week

Mena

testicle wrote: »

In places where you'd need them.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055474548

CianRyan

I'm addicited to the weather forum!

Tails142

I bought snow chains two years ago off ebay, some crowd in the UK, was about 50 quid for a set to cover two wheels, but I got two sets as my car is RWD, and want to be able to steer too!

However, biggest waste of money so far though, there was some heavy snow last year when I was up around belfast but nothing that you'd need to break out the snow chains for.

A) When you have them on you cant go over 30mph so you need the snow to have the roads in a fairly bad condition without any tarmac visible, otherwise you risk breaking the chains.

You have to get out in the cold on your hands and knees to put them on. I'd just rather just not go out and stay at home! =P

The closest I have ever come to putting them on was when I got stuck in grass about two weeks ago

schween

I really don't see the point unless your doing a lot of necessary travel all week...we might see snow for a day if we're lucky (or unlucky if you like) and that's it for another decade.

Anan1

tommmy1979 wrote: »

well if you live on the east or south east coast, you might need them next week

If you're really worried, get a spare set of rims with winter tyres on them.

Big Nasty

I remember well my Dad using snow chains years ago when we used to have heavy snow - i.e, a few feet deep, but I don't foresee any use for them these days unless you live on Caragtouhill maybe. Just wondering if they would damage your tyres?

tallaghtoutlaws

Why would anyone here need snow chains?? I have lived in Wisconsin in the US during the winter snowy months for the last 3 years and even in heavy snow they barely use snow chains there. They get a min of 2-3 foot of snow on any given day and thats only a min. Now unless you drive off road or on lakes is the only time they use them there. But on the main tarmaced roads they have no need even on roads that are not ploughed regularly. We dont get enough snow here even up north to justify them. They would surely wreck your wheels in the amounts of snow we get here.

testicle

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

Why would anyone here need snow chains?? I have lived in Wisconsin in the US during the winter snowy months for the last 3 years and even in heavy snow they barely use snow chains there. They get a min of 2-3 foot of snow on any given day and thats only a min. Now unless you drive off road or on lakes is the only time they use them there. But on the main tarmaced roads they have no need even on roads that are not ploughed regularly. We dont get enough snow here even up north to justify them. They would surely wreck your wheels in the amounts of snow we get here.

Well said. However, this is Ireland, where 1 snowflake falls and the whole country panics.

Mr Benevolent

As Anan1 says, it's winter tyres you need. These have 'grit' on the surface that grips far better than a normal tyre but can be driven in non-snowy conditions (for a little while).

Things won't be bad enough for chains, I can pretty much guarantee that!

peasant

any conditions that might (and that's a big might) necessitate snow chains will last all of an hour ...just have a cup of tea

Winter tyres on the other hand are not a bad idea.
No, they don't contain "grit", just a special winter tread pattern with little lamellas that grip on snow and frost. Also a slightly different compostion of the rubber that stays softer in colder temperatures.


Modern winter tyres are optimised for driving in cold conditions, including rain, snow and frost and wouldn't be out of place in our climate

As we rarely get boiling hot summers, you could probably drive on winter tyres all year round and wouldn't notice the difference (if you get a good one)

The only problem is availability (and not falling over laughing when you see the face of the tyre man when you ask for the price of a set)


EDIT:

If you're driving on set of baldies, even investing in a set of new summer tyres will make life easier and safer

towel401

testicle wrote: »

Well said. However, this is Ireland, where 1 snowflake falls and the whole country panics.

ya should see england a few snowflakes fell today and a huge line of traffic full of people with a confused look on their face as the wheels on their cars spin but they're not going anywhere. boy racers skidding around the place. most people seem pissed off and edgy that the weather is interrupting them from their busy oh-so-important lifestyle. and the government is telling everyone to STAY AT HOME

Take a look at this video.

If everyone fitted chains to their tyres on days like today then the country wouldn't grind to a halt

It took me two hours to drive through Letterkenny which should only take 20 mins.

People couldn't drive up hills, sliding down hills, general mayhem.

And more is forecasted tomorrow:mad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbwkhHrBc9A

testicle

salonfire wrote: »

Take a look at this video.

If everyone fitted chains to their tyres on days like today then the country wouldn't grind to a halt

It took me two hours to drive through Letterkenny which should only take 20 mins.

People couldn't drive up hills, sliding down hills, general mayhem.

And more is forecasted tomorrow:mad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbwkhHrBc9A

How deep was this alleged snow?

itarumaa

peasant wrote: »

Modern winter tyres are optimised for driving in cold conditions, including rain, snow and frost and wouldn't be out of place in our climate

As we rarely get boiling hot summers, you could probably drive on winter tyres all year round and wouldn't notice the difference (if you get a good one)

There is another problem with those tyres and that is, they are not very good at wet tarmac specially when they are worn.

The whole idea for those tyres is that the rubber is soft, sticky like and the pattern of course, but the downside is that they are not that good for summer use, because they are so soft and worn out fast. So when they are worn, any normal summer tyre will be much better on wet tarmac than those tyres.

But the positive side is that in ice they are quite good, not that good than studded tyres of course but on hard packed snow the grip is quite amazing.

mcwhirter

tommmy1979 wrote: »

anyone know where you can buy snow chains ?

Lets all panic aaahhhhhhh

Tabnabs

peasant wrote: »

Winter tyres on the other hand are not a bad idea.
No, they don't contain "grit", just a special winter tread pattern with little lamellas that grip on snow and frost. Also a slightly different compostion of the rubber that stays softer in colder temperatures.

Call them winter tyres?! Pff. Proper winter tyres should have metal studs in them. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 or Michelin X-Ice North are amongst the best and tyres like these:


Will let you drive safely like this;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEYVxo4gVDs