Snow Chains

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Campo Steve
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Snow Chains

Postby Campo Steve » Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:55 am

Between Christmas ans New Year we are planning on going up to the Sierra Nevadas for a couple of nights.

I believe it is the law that I should have snow chains with me. Maybe someone can confirm or correct me on that.

Assuming I do need snow chains, can anyone recommend a place to buy them in the Velez Malaga / Torre del Mar area?
I've got an inferiority complex, but it's not a very good one!

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Enrique
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Enrique » Wed Nov 17, 2010 11:38 am

Hi Campo Steve,
The snow signs start down in Granada and give the distance to where you will need to put them on.
I think if its 30km then that is at the ski village.
Pop into a "Motor factors" .....Recambios, a decent pair for 165/70 14 set me back 25€


see topic for places in your area.....................

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=24641&p=224407&hilit=recam%2A#p224407
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Colinm
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Colinm » Wed Nov 17, 2010 12:22 pm

They had them in Eroski El Ingenio last year.
ádh mór ort agus sláinte.....
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby ajtg1952 » Wed Nov 17, 2010 2:21 pm

They have got them in Eroski now!!

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Campo Steve
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Campo Steve » Wed Nov 17, 2010 2:26 pm

Thanks folks. I'll check them out.
I've got an inferiority complex, but it's not a very good one!

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country boy
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby country boy » Wed Nov 17, 2010 2:44 pm

I think 4X4's are exempt?

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Re: Snow Chains

Postby swerve » Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:19 pm

What dates do you have have the chains ie from 1 december till 31 march? Any one know
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Campo Steve
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Campo Steve » Wed Nov 17, 2010 4:03 pm

If anyone has a link to what the rules are it would be useful. Do 4x4's need them? When should chains be put on etc.

Enrique, you mention signs that say when you should have them on but are these signs updated daily? Driving with chains on non-snow roads is as dangerous as driving on snow without them.
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Enrique
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Enrique » Wed Nov 17, 2010 4:26 pm

Hi Campo Steve,
The signs I've seen are same as gantry signs ,so only light up when need of the message.
You only put the chains on when you're on the white stuff :thumbup:

Have a practice putting them on in your garage/yard so you can figure out how they fit.
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country boy
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby country boy » Wed Nov 17, 2010 5:55 pm

Regarding 4x4's: A friend was stopped a couple of years ago and was allowed to proceed 'up the hill', they inspected his tyres and as they were of the cross country type they ( Guardia) said he didn't need chains but if they had been road tyres he would...sort that one out. :lol:

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Re: Snow Chains

Postby julian » Wed Nov 17, 2010 6:07 pm

normal road tyres have little grip on snow, there are others tyres that do..what term did the guardia use for "cross-country" in spanish...."todo terreno" maybe? sounds logical enough.

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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Retro P » Sun Nov 21, 2010 4:33 pm

A couple of years ago I bought some "winter tyres" in Finland, they look like normal tyres but are embedded with steel studs which stand proud of the tread, I've only used them once in (Finland) and they were very effective (and the weather there can be much, much worse than Sierra Nevada) anyhow in the next few weeks, depending on my site manager, I'll be driving up to Andorra to establish the footings of my house, I will be trying the "winter tyres" then and will see what happens.
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby JAWG » Sun Nov 21, 2010 4:47 pm

Tires like that are illegal in most, if not all, of Canada. :crazy:
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Campo Steve
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Campo Steve » Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:32 am

I will probably take the 4x4 when we go. The tyres are marked M+S which I believe stands for Mud and Snow.

Does anyone know what the actual rules are with regard to these tyres? Do they need snow chains by law in the snow when the signs are on?

I have a feeling that, regardless of the M+S marking on the tyres, I will still get chains, just in case. Do they come in standard sizes or are they tyre size specific? Can they be adjusted to save buying new ones every time you change a car? I will practice putting them on but, is it a difficult job?

Any advice would be appreciated.
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Enrique
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Enrique » Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:53 am

Hi Campo Steve,
Snow chains come in a size range.................ie if I have a 165/70-14 size they will cover another 27 size combinations..............215/40-14..............155/65-13 etc

But Murphy's law states that they will not fit your next car :(

Unlike the M+S tyres of the 70's modern ones run quiet and give high mileages.

I run M+S Michelin Alpin A3 tyres all the year round.......live out in the campo on the side of a "hill" (UK definition...mountain ) :)

PS: There are some videos on the web showing women fitting them so its not difficult :lol:
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Campo Steve
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Campo Steve » Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:38 pm

Thanks Enrique. One other question, probably stupid, but when fitting chains does one fit them to all four wheels or just the front or back or drive wheels on a non-4x4? Do chains come in sets of 2 or 4?
I've got an inferiority complex, but it's not a very good one!

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Re: Snow Chains

Postby ajtg1952 » Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:51 pm

I had chains when I drove regularly in Scotland during the winter. Only two on the back wheels [driven]. I only used them only in emergencies and they were OK but I never liked driving with them on. The car never felt fully in control. They were expensive chains [standard company issue] and only took seconds to fit. They draped over the wheels, you ran the car forward six inches and fastened them.

They took longer to take off as they ended up caked in snow and ice. I used to drive about 100 yards on a cleared road to break the ice off them. This is not recommended in the instructions as it damaged the tyres. However, they were standard company issue as well!

It is generally recommended to have chains on all driven wheels.

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Re: Snow Chains

Postby gus-lopez » Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:05 pm

They come in sets of two. It was the law that in areas likely to have snow that you had to have chains in the vehicle at certain times of year. whether or not they've changed it , I have no idea. I always use a set on both axles.
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Campo Steve
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Campo Steve » Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:47 pm

Tried Eroski but they didn't have the size I needed so will be looking elsewhere.

However, does anyone know what the law says about chains? Are they still a legal requirement if you are driving a 4x4 with M+S tyres?
I've got an inferiority complex, but it's not a very good one!

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Enrique
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Re: Snow Chains

Postby Enrique » Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:06 pm

Hi Campo Steve,
Don't know about the law...........But if cant get traction ...........then snow chains will be required.

M + S tyres are good but can still require the chains in certain conditions............
All my best learning experiences start with a problem I need to solve.


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