Driving in the snow. Best tyre question

[lardy1664]

Hello all I wonder if you can help.
I have an 04 plate Disco 3 with standard Goodyear tyres (as fitted from new) Next week I'm planning on driving over the Dura :?: from France into Switzerland. A collegue has warned me that there is plenty of snow.
Now do I:
1 buy chains
2 get some winter tyres fitted (if so which ones)
3 Go with what I've got and hope it will be ok
I will have the entire family (2 five year olds and a 6 month old) and it will be 3 am so the thought of getting stuck doesn't thrill me at all.
Any advice will be most gratefully received.
Thanks

[J90MUD]

check with the legal requirements of the countries you are going thru.snow chains andwinter ties and mandortory in many countries in addition to the bulb kit warning triangle gear etc.

if you do buy chains get decent ones and test fit them plenty of times before you go.as you cannot drive on tarmac with them even for a few hundred yards as the police will stop and fine you.driving instructionis always worth the money so you can understand the limits of your vehicle.there neednt be snow as most schools teach the basics of driving in slippery conditions these days.

also consider some survial blankets and a bit of food just in case there are delays.

the route is usually kept open and the roadfs clear in all but the worst weather

[stabinthedark]

Follow the advice given by J90MUD. The leagal requirements re chains are just taken for granted and if you do not comply you will not be allowed to move the car and you will pay a significant fine. Consult the AA or RAC.

[discoch1]

I Live here in CH and for the last two years have just needed to use winter tyres on my Discovery. Mich. Alpin 4X4 with the snowflake sign.
I would not recomend driving over here with AT's or MT's they can be very unpredictable in the snow or ice.
As far as I know you only have to fit snow chains when it is obligatory. In other words usually there is a sign.
But as the weather is forcast to be sunny and warmer chains shouldnt be needed.
If you do buy chains, buy quality chains fit them on the back for going down and on the front for going up. Re tension after about 500m.
Greetings from the Bernese Oberland,Rich

[discoch1]

I Live here in CH and for the last two years have just needed to use winter tyres on my Discovery. Mich. Alpin 4X4 with the snowflake sign.
I would not recomend driving over here with AT's or MT's they can be very unpredictable in the snow or ice.
As far as I know you only have to fit snow chains when it is obligatory. In other words usually there is a sign.
But as the weather is forcast to be sunny and warmer chains shouldnt be needed.
If you do buy chains, buy quality chains fit them on the back for going down and on the front for going up. Re tension after about 500m.
Greetings from the Bernese Oberland,Rich


Just thought I would add a bit more to what I have already said.
Having been here now in CH for many years I would not heasitate to buy winter tyres. I have been almost everywhere with winter tyres on between Nov. and April here. The big advantage with winter tyres is they grip well on ice and having had the experience with AT's I wont drive on anything other than winter tyres. Were I live at 900m on a north faceing slope ice is the biggest problem.
I think If I came back to UK I would fit them only for the worst of the weather there.
I have three sets of tyres as I am a driving instructor here and in europe, you know MT's AT's and winter and I use them all in one year.
If you are staying on the roads in CH there is normally no problem and you dont need chains, but in the high mountains ie. Davos, etc. take them they could help you just even to get back down safely!
Regarding other safety measures, most have been covered by the others.
I have driven over the Jura mountains with full set of chains, winter tyres and also cross grips but that was with 1m of snow and with packed ice under it! The Frence police got very unhappy when they met us, a convoy of six fully equiped landys ploughing over the French/Swiss boarder at six in the morning in a blizzered!

[lardy1664]

Thanks all for you replies. I ordered chains from an online site who never delivered in time!!!! thank god conditions were fine and we had no need for them. I will be putting a set of Scorpions on very soon.

Discoch1 sounds like a lot of fun

[discoch1]

@ Lardy1664 Glad that all went safe and well.:D
Hope you enjoyed it over here?
Greetings from CH, Rich