Jaguar X-Type (2001 - 2009) - Snow chains

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Sat 5 Jan 2008 17:54
Snow chains - Humperdink
Couple of points,

I am taking my xtype 3 litre awd to france for a ski trip, it has the 225/45 y r17 wheels, in the owners manual it says not to fit snow chains to them, only the 16 inch wheels can have chains, what should i do risk it and not have them?

Also as it is a awd do it need to put chains on all 4 wheels?

Thanks

Kush

Edited by kush on 05/01/2008 at 17:55

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Sun 6 Jan 2008 08:44
Snow chains - John F
In the Alps the roads are either closed or you could drive a Morris Minor [with town and country tyres] up them as they know how to build roads up hills over there. There are no steep gradients on the main resort access roads, no matter how high the Alp, they just use long zig-zags with 170deg hairpin bends.
However, check where you are going - some routes insist on carrying chains even if a car like yours will never need them. [just one pair should do!]
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 09:42
Snow chains - jc2
If you put them on your wheels they would tear the bodywork to pieces-that's why the manufacturers use smaller wheels with snowchains-it gives clearance in the wheelarches.
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 14:37
Snow chains - gsb
I believe it is a legal requirement in some countries to carry them, needed or not. If you are unable to solve your problem, a much larger problem will occur if you suddenly find the traffic being stopped by the gendarmes because of the conditions and then not being allowed to go any further if you only have summer tyres.
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 17:02
Snow chains - Hamsafar
What about snow socks? No experience of them, but worth a google - there are many designs of them!
e.g.
www.snowchains.co.uk/main/weisssock.htm
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 17:13
Snow chains - arnold2
Why not get a winter set of tyres? I know some places will insist on chains, but 95% won't, and you will find all the locals on winter tyres.
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 18:31
Snow chains - Humperdink
Hey guys thanks for this, i was going to get a set of winter tyres as i do have a spare set of alloys, but the only problem with that is I am not sure if i will keep car fo mor than a month.

I may try the socks as I have heard they are good, and it is a 4 wheel drive car, I will buy these in a french petrol station as they are much cheaper there than on the website, the resort i am going to is traffic free and the hotel has undergroung car parking so not planning to drive during the week.

Thanks

Kush
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 18:35
Snow chains - Humperdink
has anyone seen these?

www.snowchains.co.uk/main/quattro.htm
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Thu 23 Oct 2008 17:29
Snow chains - Dickie and Char
I have used Autosock tyre sock in the UK and they worked really well, I live up a hill and the 4wd before me was skidding around on the ice and snow but my Clio went straight up the hill with a pair of AutoSocks on, I got them at www.roofbox.co.uk.
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Fri 24 Oct 2008 09:26
Snow chains - jeremy99
In most cases winter tyres are also based on the smaller rim size. Hence you will still need to source a set of wheels.

However I would have thought with AWD and all the electronics any chains could stay in the boot. Its probably lack of concentration going down hill rather than traction up hill you will need to worry about! Thats where winter tyres really count.
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