Member Since: 14 Feb 2010
Location: Herts
Posts: 76
Cheap snow chains
I'm off to the Alpes in December and need to have some snow chains in the car.
I already have a set of winter tyres and I won't be off-road so I really only need them because the law says so and once every 10yrs there is sufficiently bad weather / busy roads that there is a Gendarme on the side of the road enforcing the law.
So I want to spend as little as possible, don't care too much about 'ease of fit' and I fully expect to never use them. I do care about them being small though (as space is at a premium with the family's ski kit in the car) and they do need to fit just in case.
Cheapest I'm finding on the regular sites is GBP200. Any ideas of where they may be cheaper.
Many thanks
- M
18th Nov 2010 10:35 am
hensoni
Member Since: 01 Oct 2007
Location: Sleepy Somerset
Posts: 576
Yep, here:
Click image to enlarge
As discussed on one of the other threads somewhere. J27 of the N90 at Albertville. I'll be there at 9am on Saturday 11th Dec to buy yet another set of chains... (Note to self: stop buying vehicles with increasingly large wheels...). Of course, if you aren't going near the Tarantaise valley, then you'll have to find another place similar but there are plenty around. Even the autoroute service stations from about Troyes down sell them
I wouldn't get "cheap" chains in the hope that you'll never use them 'cos if you do need them, you can do a lot of damage if they come flailing off.Club missing my D3
18th Nov 2010 2:56 pm
Ted Newman
Member Since: 09 Oct 2010
Location: SE London
Posts: 840
Most of the retail parks have a DIY centre such as Mr Bricage and they normally have the sets at bargain prices and the nearer you get to the mountains then the more likely you will be able to get them in a Hypermarket.LR Discovery 4 XS pulling an Airstream 532 Caravan also own (since new) a 1996 MGF
18th Nov 2010 3:17 pm
mwhwsmith
Member Since: 14 Feb 2010
Location: Herts
Posts: 76
Thanks for these . . .
Unfortunately I'm not going near Albertville and since I'm arriving in resort late at night (likely midnight +/- an hour) the supermarkets / Mr Bricolage aren't going to be any use.
I think I need them before I leave.
- M
18th Nov 2010 4:15 pm
hensoni
Member Since: 01 Oct 2007
Location: Sleepy Somerset
Posts: 576
Most of these places stay open until 8 or 9 at night and you are quite likely to pass close to somewhere suitable anywhere south of Dijon and that's 5 or 6 hours away from the final destination. Google Earth and Streetview are wonderful research tools.
It's a risk and you might only save 50 quid over UK prices but I wouldn't dream of doing anything else now that I've tested the method a few times. Every time that I've stopped for fuel over the years, I've always checked for availability of snowchains. They're readily available for run of the mill Euroboxes, but less so for commercials and 4wds. Considering they're for sale to a captive market, I've been impressed by the reasonable prices charged at the Aires but they are dearer than going to an Accessories place.
Then again, if it really dumps hard enough for you to need snowchains on the way up to the resort (caveat for anyone reading this without a D3: IN A PROPER 4WD WITH DECENT TYRES), then you may be spending the night in the car anyway or you'll be stuck drinking terrible tea all night at a half closed Aire watching the kids wreck the joint whilst being served by a sullen minimum wager 'cos they'll shut the road. Their roadworkers and Police enjoy the same employer protection as work as ours and we're only on holiday - after all, we're driving overnight to avoid the rush of Parisiens, Belgians and lunatic taxi drivers, not through necessity.Club missing my D3
18th Nov 2010 5:03 pm
Simondm
Member Since: 18 Nov 2010
Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 5
This post has been edited by the site administration team - commercial content removed
19th Nov 2010 11:10 am
harrim51
Member Since: 29 Aug 2009
Location: Malvern
Posts: 275
Love the gloves he is using, cant find them anywhere, any ideas?
I have some "pond gloves" but would love some of those sleeved work gloves.
19th Nov 2010 12:25 pm
Simondm
Member Since: 18 Nov 2010
Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 5
Gloves
Pretty sure they come in the kit bag that the snow cables come in.
19th Nov 2010 12:34 pm
harrim51
Member Since: 29 Aug 2009
Location: Malvern
Posts: 275
Ah, thats a shame, I guess I will just have to roll my sleeves up! Brrr
19th Nov 2010 12:36 pm
diskelly
Member Since: 23 Sep 2010
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 79
Do you really need chains? In another thread I've been told not if your car has winter tyres on all four wheels.
19th Nov 2010 12:55 pm
mwhwsmith
Member Since: 14 Feb 2010
Location: Herts
Posts: 76
Will be in France, definitely need them. I have seen the Gendarmes stopping cars at the side of the road to put chains on (albeit a once in 10yr observation).
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