[iamjim]

Apologies in advance - probably been done to death in one way or another but has anybody tried successfully to get snow chains on the rears with the M Sport suspension?

I have been told by snowchains.co.uk that I may not get them on as I need both hands/arms towards the top back of the tyre to connect the cables together.

In earnest I went outside and tried to place both hands and arms over the top and I only get about 2/3 of the way to the back.



Has forum members got any suggestions / tips / techniques?

going to the French Alpes in March and don't want to be the guy going back down the mountain as request by the Gendarmerie

thks thks

[doughboy]

Do you mean 255/35/18?

Nylon Snowsocks are your best bet, but some Alpine regions don't accepts them as chains.

You could try these quattor chains, pricey but meant for large wheel / low clearance applications, brilliant one sided fixing:

http://www.snowchains.co.uk/main/quattro.htm

Personally I'd go for those.

[iamjim]

Hi, yes you’re quite right re: tyre size - changed post title. Thanks.

In the end I went for these:

http://www.rud.com/en/produkte/schne...softspike.html

They have metal components weaved in the fabric so let’s hoping that in my broken French I can fob of the Gendarmerie if challenged.

[chris330D]

Your problem is going to be clearing the wheel arch. As said already snowoscks are your best bet. I have fitted those to mine. I have the standard M sport set up ie 18".

[rjsuk]

I took my 335i (msport suspension and 255 30 19 rears) to the alps in January.
Did quite a lot of research on snow chains etc.
Those people who have used snow socks rate them very highly.
I think they will fit 18" wheels with grazed knuckles and some foul language as they are a bit tight getting them round the back of the wheel.

Noone seems to make socks for 19" wheels (though surely the circumference is the same and I can't see why they shouldn't fit!)

Socks are however not legal for the purposes of driving in the alps.

Winter tyres are a costly investment for a short trip and low chance of actually needing them on well cleared alpine roads. Many do go down this line, and with smaller alloys can get affordable chains to fit.

Ultimately I went for the Weissenfel Quattros.

1. Very easy on and off with no attachments behind the wheel.
2. Probably not as good as "proper" chains in my opinion as the camber on the rear wheels and lack of bite on the inside of the rears (where the chain doesn't cover) can still give traction problems.

The only time I had to use them was in the UK (daily for 1 week period) and getting to the eurotunnel in Kent (after booking an overnight stop in a hotel in the middle of nowhere with a 2 mile track to the main road!) French roads were clear and the alpine roads cleared daily.

When using them in the UK they allowed me to get to work when I wouldn't have even got off the drive without.
The car certainly performed better than non-chained front wheel drive cars stuck on some hills.
Even in 1 foot of snow and then on packed ice they gave good traction and control and prevented me from stacking it in a ditch.
They did not damage my alloys at all, but I was very careful when fitting and took bumps and potholes carefully as they could still foul the inside edge of the rear wings/arch as there isn't much clearance.

I might even consider selling my chains as the house my wife wants us to buy means I'll never afford a skiing trip again.

Hope those rambled thoughts help.

[ctgazer]

http://www.autosock.us/

i did a GB earlier and the prices were pretty good

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...light=autosock

[iamjim]

The RUD matic Soft Spike turned up today.

Took 5 mins to get on.

They come in sizes for 19" rims too.

Very happy.