Member Since: 09 Nov 2010
Location: Midlands
Posts: 16
Snow chains - front or rear?
Having looked at the clearance between track rod end and tyre on the front of the D4 I'm concerned about fitting chains to the front should the need arise when in the Alps in January. Some people (and some suppliers) suggest rear fitment whereas the handbook says front fitment. Is there any technical reason why they can't go on the back? Any advice gratefully received.
9th Nov 2010 8:56 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73134
Welcome to the madhouse buzz. Another option is get a 2nd set of alloys & fit winter tyres. no messing around with chains unless really bad.
Front. I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
9th Nov 2010 9:06 pm
buzz569
Member Since: 09 Nov 2010
Location: Midlands
Posts: 16
Yes, that will be the longer term plan but probably not before I go in January. I'm hoping not to have to use chains as I'm expecting it not to struggle but in a worst case situation I don't want to go and trash anything.
By the way, this is my first experience of Disco ownership and so far it's been fantastic!
9th Nov 2010 9:10 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73134
They are great in the snow with the right footware. Also (as I found after I took the MTRs off mine and ATRs of SWMBO's too early) they are far better than most 4x4s with normal road tyres on. Q D3 in snow pic!
according to my Land Rover 4WD manual - given on an off road course by them
in a snow covered road situation you should lose traction on the front before the back
I wondered what the traction control would do to correct the situation....you'd think you wouldn't need chains
Being realistic its the potential lack of traction (through reduced or zero tyre grip) with snow under all 4 wheels
it usually the fronts that let go
I was given the technical talk about the speed & action of all four wheels on a Land-rover & what happens when the vehicle negotiates a curve & the speed of rotation & action of each wheel...as Disco 2, 3 & 4 haven't got any variable distribution of power from front to back (as have Freelander s) - the front wheel would let go & spin first
I then wondered about diff locking & what the Disco 3 did in normal mode & then in snow mode & the technical explanation got far more complex...but the answer was still chains went onto the front...
I have a good set of winter tyres (Wintracs) & used these in the Alps last Christmas (really needed the on roads there we heavily snow laden..I also carried chains & had no need to use these at all. Real journeys on difficult roads (roads that I was unfamiliar with)
Using my Disco 3 in Yorkshire (January 2010) the roads around here were very challenging....my experience gained using the combination (Wintracs & Disco 3 in normal mode & using settings) is that I just went where I needed to go....the combination is just awesome.
In January I had the opportunity to try all sorts of things:
~ descending steep hills (reverted to hill descent on a couple of occasions) which is very confidence building...try it on roads you know (i.e. no hard stone walls & a run offs that are safe)
~ stopping & starting on steep snow covered ascents...here you can "show off" a bit as there is total control of the situation
~ braking & steering on the flat....to see just what happened...if you dont get too silly & try to go at unrealistic speeds (for the conditions) the possibilities are you will go where others just aint
~ one side of the Disco in snow & the other side on tarmac with slush.....again no problems just awesome forwards motion & control
Having seen & just bought a set of spike spyders (for my daughters VW Golf being used in New Zealand over the Southern Hemisphere winter) this is what I would get now ~ equal grip to chains - easy to fit & no need to adjust - no obstruction between wheel & suspension / brakes etc & are easily "fixable" (wear parts easily obtained)
Good Luck & Enjoy the alps...maybe this year there will be more snow.BREXIT - done properly.
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10th Nov 2010 6:05 am
evo8
Member Since: 29 Jan 2008
Location: Zalesie
Posts: 289
On 4x4 with 1 set of chains - they should go on front axle2013 D4 TDV6 S; Baltic Blue; IID Tool BT
2007 D3 TDV6 SE, Auto; club Faultmate MSV2
10th Nov 2010 6:16 am
Ken
Member Since: 20 Feb 2006
Location: Here
Posts: 10865
On a Discovery 3 All 4 watch the crois vids to see what chains can do
But then again Proper Winter Tyres win in snow
Click image to enlarge
My prefered method is this thou
Click image to enlarge
10th Nov 2010 7:14 am
AJS4X4
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 3224
Chains all round if you need to do any heavy recovery but have to agree that a good set of winter tyres are great.
Andy.
10th Nov 2010 8:18 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
personally i wouldnt get too worried about snowchains. get a set of good winter tyres.
when I did the croisiere we did a lot of the off road tracks without chains when other used chains and the D3 was great. You are unlikly to be driving on off road trails so snow covered roads wont cause a problem.
But if you do put them on, the front suspension parts have a very little clearence but can take chains if you get decent ones (pewag) and take it easy.
chains fit with plenty of clearence on the rear but you still need to steer as NoDo$h says.
if you do decide to get chains, get some good quality heavy duty ones or the D3/4 may end up ripping them to bits at the first opportunity. and you will need spacers if you want chains all round and drive more extreme routes.
as a com;arison -- last year in Aviemore we towed the caravan on 2 feet of fresh snow covered roads with offroad tyres and it was perfect Duncan
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10th Nov 2010 8:41 am
stick
Member Since: 13 Jan 2010
Location: hants
Posts: 604
Quote:
Yes, that will be the longer term plan but probably not before I go in January. I'm hoping not to have to use chains as I'm expecting it not to struggle but in a worst case situation I don't want to go and trash anything.
By the way, this is my first experience of Disco ownership and so far it's been fantastic!
Agree with discodunc and BLfarrar
I bought a set of used d3 hse alloys for £150 off ebay and Andy has put Wintracs on them (at a great price but not as great as he is now doing). Seems a no-brainer to me, the rubber is cheaper than the rubber you would otherwise be using, so net cost is £150. I have yet to find anyone who needed to put chains on with that combo on roads. Having said that, I have bought some spikes spiders off roofbox as well as the chalet we use is off a steep switchback track. They are for the front. I am actually more worried about coming down than going up!d4 HSE
10th Nov 2010 9:52 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
Hill descent is pure magic
just have the confidence to take you feet off everything and "accelerate" a little if you start to slide where you dont want to go Duncan
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If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
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D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
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10th Nov 2010 9:55 am
Renny
Member Since: 30 May 2006
Location: Fife, Scotland
Posts: 292
I got out of this with ahlf worn OE Goodyears last winter]
after a little bit of digging to get our stuff into the car.
Snow chains have been aquired for this winter, just to carry on our trip to the Alps.Renny Thomson
aka Scottish Scrutineer or MM0KOZ
MSA Scrutineer
13th Nov 2010 11:45 am
cold_n_wet
Member Since: 05 May 2009
Location: Bergen
Posts: 1509
I have just invested in a set of nokian Hakkapeltia 5 (studded) and a set of konig no problem chains.
I have used the chains once on a steep slope, due to polished ice, the D3 span on all four and even the rear diff locked up too, and I still didnt move.
Got out and put the chains on the front (took 2 minutes) and pulled myself out.
So even though my nokian's are much better then the old pirelli scorpions Ice, sometimes chains are needed.
I choose 17" for the winter tyres and have had no problems with clearance, but I understand this is not an option for D4.
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13th Nov 2010 8:23 pm
MartinR
Member Since: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Oxon
Posts: 708
Chains do fit a D4 on the front - this is with 19" wheels. Sorry for the appalling quality, but it was cold(!) and I only had my phone:
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no messing around with chains unless 
