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Snowchains in early june in Austria ?

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 11:07 pm
by Dan_Veluwe
I am planning to do a trip along the Alps from the Sölkpass [Austria] up to the west part of the Picos de Europa [ N. Spain],
from early june onwards.

Now I am studying the traffic rules and I realise I might be confronted with snow. Does anybody has any experience with driving on snow

and with snowchains ? Its not an inviting prospect. So I consider to invert the routing and start in the Picos and go towards Austria instead.

Re: Snowchains in early june in Austria ?

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 11:25 am
by cj10jeeper
I've driven on snow chains a lot in the Alps and lesse so in the Pyrenees and towards the artic circle but in 4x4's so the experience is somewhat different. Actually competed in the Crossiere Blanche a couple of times which is largely above the snowline and off road/tracks

There are so many types of chains and for different purposes, so look for the requirements by country and altitude. Many places require them fitting mandatory at certain roads and altitudes so be ready and practiced in fitting

The big things for me are fitting them correctly and ensuring they are checked after 500m and then regularly. Drive slowly depending on the type of chain and road conditions. Be amazed at the grip, but you cannot defy the laws of physics and finally know when to remove them. You will wreck everything if you razz off on a tarmac road

Again my experience is on serious chains in serious conditions..

Re: Snowchains in early june in Austria ?

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:00 pm
by Dan_Veluwe
@cj10jeeper . Thanks for the reply. But I also have a LR3 for about ten years. Did some marginally off-roading but nothing serious.
I will go with that car to Portugal the end of February, and it has Vredenstein Quatrac 5 all-weather [ with the mountian sign], so also
allowed on snowy roads. But the F-Type is a complete different story, also not 4WD to start with, at least mine isn't.

I guess I better plan the trip in reverse : start in june in the Picos and work ouw way eastward towards Austria to avoid surprises.