Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Steve B on 18 January 2013, 20:16:31
-
just got stuck in snow.....are snow chains any good...and is it best avoid the cheap stuff :y
-
Just bought 2 sets of snow chains from Lidl for £20 a set. Not had to use them yet, so time will tell. :y
-
They're a bit of a pain to fit, especially when you haven't practised it ::)
But they'll get you out of trouble :y Only suitable for completely covered surfaces though ;) Better preparation would be easier... Weight in boot, shovel, grit/salt (can also double as weight) and some Hessian sacks or blankets (just something to go under the wheels TBH) just in case :y
Of course, winter tyres are an option but any decent tyre with good tread is essential :y
Mind you, even with barely legal autogrips on the back axle I didn't get stuck anywhere today :y
-
what do you think of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-2012-SUPERIOR-QUALITY-POLAR-EASY-FIT-CAR-SNOW-CHAINS-HELPLINE-01424-830727-/200830927772?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Touring_Travel&hash=item2ec274c39c
-
what do you think of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-2012-SUPERIOR-QUALITY-POLAR-EASY-FIT-CAR-SNOW-CHAINS-HELPLINE-01424-830727-/200830927772?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Touring_Travel&hash=item2ec274c39c
I'd nip into the local Lidl and see if they have any of the £20 sets yet... They're identical to those but in a plastic case ;)
-
Whats the general opinion of fitting winter tyres against snow chains... :y
-
Whats the general opinion of fitting winter tyres against snow chains... :y
I always use winter tyres from nov 15 to march 15 regardless of snow.. chains are not easy to install in freezing cold ,slushy , mudy and snowy conditions.. you need to tighten them.. and if roads are not completely covered with snow you need to install them several times because I hate them destroying the drivetrain especially on a fwd car.. besides you are more protected for surprise frosty roads..
-
How exactly do you fit these snow chains :-\
-
Stuck in Leicester, there was not much snow there
-
:D :D :D you want to see the mess they make when they break :y :y
-
:D :D :D you want to see the mess they make when they break :y :y
disaster..
-
Simply stay home - simples
-
Stuck in Leicester, there was not much snow there
I'll be interested to see if we get as much over the next 48 hours as predicted... It may change my opinion on the need for chains but, so far, I've never, ever needed them in/on any vehicle including recovery trucks ;)
-
Anyone ever tried the rope method as a get me home fix. :-\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4u4SX9M1tQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
-
These are MUCH BETTER..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZYqwlgUUE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZYqwlgUUE)
-
Anyone ever tried the rope method as a get me home fix. :-\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4u4SX9M1tQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4u4SX9M1tQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player)
will work but you will be frozen to death long before the job finishes ;D :y
-
1 or 2 days a year you may stay at home or install chains or try half a ton in boot method but if you get snow more than a week or 2 weeks
you will give up for those "desperate" (sorry) methods ;D :y
-
:D :D :D you still in the doghouse i see then LD ;D ;D
-
:D :D :D you still in the doghouse i see then LD ;D ;D
I'm always in the poo... Just the depth that varies :-X ::) :D :D :D
-
:D :D :D you still in the doghouse i see then LD ;D ;D
I'm always in the poo... Just the depth that varies :-X ::) :D :D :D
:y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y :y
-
These are MUCH BETTER..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZYqwlgUUE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeZYqwlgUUE)
Sorry mate, did you post the wrong video, I didn't see any snow chains at all ::)
-
I got stuck in a carpark in Daventry earlier today. So I put it in Park, put on handbrake, and started to formulate a plan... ...until the car started to slide backwards, even in park, and with handbrake on.
-
When i was at the garage yesterday (having the rear door handle repaired, plastic pin holding it in place had snapped) i suggested they might light to rip a bonnet of an old skoda superb they have lying about and weld it onto the front of my trafic at an angle, for use as an snow plough.
They mentioned they did that to a transist a few years ago ;D
Heres the vid of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4xTpF8YfA0
The 'plough' is actually a bench seat from inside the transit ;D
-
I contemplated fitting my chains in Daventry earlier... ...before remembering that the bullet had the "wrong" wheels on ;D
-
I tried out my Lidl chains this afternoon. :)
At the moment I'm staying in South Wales and there's a lot of snow! My road which is on a hill, hasn't been gritted and is now hard compacted snow turning to ice... ::)
They are fairly easy to fit and I got them on reasonably quickly first time following the instructions. I had plenty of grip with them and didn't spin or slide at all! :y One thing to remember though is where they link together behind the wheel, as when I got to the clear tarmac and stopped to take them off, it was a bit of a faff finding the connection, especially with people watching!! :-[
Also a pair of gloves and an old jacket is essential as you have to reach round behind the wheels and it's messy especially when you are removing them! ::) I wouldn't recommend wearing your best suit!! ;D
For £19.99 they are a good buy and with a bit of practice will be a doddle to get on and off. :y
-
Stuck in Leicester, there was not much snow there
Had about 4 inch here.
Came back from shop, drove up onto drive car couldnt make it..so i thought ::) ::) ::) I will drop back and take a run up....so i dropped back and ended up with both rear wheels in the gutter ;D ;D ;D...took two people to help get car and push it onto drive :y idiot :-[ :-[
-
Mines lowered. Couldn't get snow chains on. Even with standard wheels fitted.
Sport stars are not recommended for use with snow chains.
-
I tried out my Lidl chains this afternoon. :)
At the moment I'm staying in South Wales and there's a lot of snow! My road which is on a hill, hasn't been gritted and is now hard compacted snow turning to ice... ::)
They are fairly easy to fit and I got them on reasonably quickly first time following the instructions. I had plenty of grip with them and didn't spin or slide at all! :y One thing to remember though is where they link together behind the wheel, as when I got to the clear tarmac and stopped to take them off, it was a bit of a faff finding the connection, especially with people watching!! :-[
Also a pair of gloves and an old jacket is essential as you have to reach round behind the wheels and it's messy especially when you are removing them! ::) I wouldn't recommend wearing your best suit!! ;D
For £19.99 they are a good buy and with a bit of practice will be a doddle to get on and off. :y
this one I forgot to recommend yesterday ;D ;D :y
-
Mines lowered. Couldn't get snow chains on. Even with standard wheels fitted.
Sport stars are not recommended for use with snow chains.
I wouldnt take any risk with expensive wheels also..
-
So far managed not to use them, even got the 245/55/17s up a hill that these piddly little fwds couldn't do :y
-
I got stuck in a carpark in Daventry earlier today. So I put it in Park, put on handbrake, and started to formulate a plan... ...until the car started to slide backwards, even in park, and with handbrake on.
??? phew.. horror film..
-
Mines lowered. Couldn't get snow chains on. Even with standard wheels fitted.
Sport stars are not recommended for use with snow chains.
According to the handbook, Vx don't recommend them on 17" wheels either ;)
I'm back on 225/55/16 now with the Enduro's so I might buy another set of the Lidl chains for emergency use, although the aggressive tread on those tyres have managed well when I was on the compacted snow/ice (and a little loose on top) over the road walking the dog earlier :y
-
I'm using The Merc at the mo and meant to throw a few bags of sand in the back a few days ago but forgot.. :-[ The back end is very light... :(
-
I'm using The Merc at the mo and meant to throw a few bags of sand in the back a few days ago but forgot.. :-[ The back end is very light... :(
I've fixed that with two big bins of sand in the back. It feels a lot more sure footed now!! :y
-
I've just picked up a set of Lidl's '100' size chains, but am surprised to find that they say the chains ".... may only be mounted on the following tyres", and neither the 225/55/16's on the TD Estate, or the 235/45/17's on the Elite saloon are on the list. I guess that there is probably enough adjustment to fit.
I wonder why VX don't recommend them on 17's. :-\ :-\ :-\
-
Yes, I had a good look through all of the different sizes in Lidl because I was going to buy a second set for The Mig, but none had 225/55/16 even though the '100' size chains had lots of different varients with 225, 55 and 16... :-\
I didn't bother in the end as I'm using The Merc and they had the right size for that. They work as well!! :y
-
I had the same problem - they did not seem to have a size for the Omega :-(
Anyone have a set that do fit?
-
I got some last year for my 235/45/17.
I have only test fitted, not used in anger.
-
I got stuck in a carpark in Daventry earlier today. So I put it in Park, put on handbrake, and started to formulate a plan... ...until the car started to slide backwards, even in park, and with handbrake on.
Had the same when I went round to see if my 90yo mother was ok. She lives on a steep hill with a bend half way up - not gritted and very icy - got up ok in the Jag (a bit tail happy round the bend) and turned 90 deg right into her drive (also on a slope), put in park, turned off and handbrake came on when key removed. Car just slid backwards off her drive and then had to reverse down the hill, park and walk up. PITA ;)
-
The leaflet doesnt list all the sizes, if you look at other sets leaflets, often available on ebay, you get the full range of tyres they will fit.
-
Yes, I had a good look through all of the different sizes in Lidl because I was going to buy a second set for The Mig, but none had 225/55/16 even though the '100' size chains had lots of different varients with 225, 55 and 16... :-\
I didn't bother in the end as I'm using The Merc and they had the right size for that. They work as well!! :y
im sure but il check but i definalty have these size tyres and a set of aldi chains but cant remameber whether they are 90or 100ill check tomorrow for you and report back :y
-
they're brilliant, they are!