Hi,

I've had chains in the car for the past few years, never used them. Did use the shovel a lot, to clear away snow when leaving a parking area. 

the conditions in on the French side (Alps) are very good, with shovels passing by regularly. 

A by now classic video on snow in Geneva:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKxy5Vst7Mo

Normally the only time you need to use chains is immediately after or during a heavy snow storm.  Otherwise winter tyres are OK if you are going to ski resorts. 

If you are thinking of ski touring where you will be trying to drive as far as possible up the valley chains could be required and will save you a long walk.  

Although not always.  Put my chains on in the Jura went 100 yards and round a corner to find  a barrier across the road

Hi All

i will be spending the period around new year's in Villars, switzerland.

what is the case with snowchains.

I have been told it is compulsory to have them in the car, even if you have snowtyres as the police wants to see them. is that so?

thanks for the advice

If required, is it snow chains for two wheels or all four?

Is it compulsory to have snow chains in the car? I do not have them, I only have snow tires and I always thought those are enough

Brett, your car is 4x4 SUV with a high clearance. It's no wonder it does well in snow ;)

My car is rear-wheel-drive sports car hugging the road, made for bending mountain roads - in summer.

But my question is: What does the police want to see? Chains for all four wheels or only for two? The price difference is in the hundreds.

Thanks for the info re. the Swiss practice on snow tires and snow chains.

Naturally, I have proper, high-quality winter tires with good threading - and have the car loaded with assorted gear for the eventuality of getting stuck overnight.

I have four chains already, just need stronger ones because of a car upgrade.

I believe the signage can be used as a guide for when a route requires chains.

FYI, there's no specific legal requirement for winter tires.  Only that the vehicle must be properly equipped for conditions, which is generally interpreted as a requirement for winter tires.

In terms of quality and number of chains, there are no regulations that I know of.

You should carry chains (and good grippy gloves to use with them), and you should practice putting them on at some point too - choose a nice sunny day to do it.

Hopefully you'll never need them (they are a bit of a faff), but if you do find yourself in conditions where they are needed, think about what you'd actually want:

- I'd like to be practiced in getting them on correctly

- I'd also want them on all tyres, and good quality - I'm having to trust my life to them in horrible conditions, so they'd better be good!

100% with Fionnuala. This is a usual question thsi time of year. People wondering should I save a 100chf and bugger to the chains etc. 

I have a 4x4 with All season tyres. I also have 4x4 snow chains and a set of 4. It cost me approx 250chf to buy them on allopneu. But worth it. I live up a hill near the Jura and yes plough services can be amazing here, as often in GVA regular etc. But there were a few mornings in January where I had to strap on the chains to get out of the drive and head down to the train station. The ploughmen got caught out and then it was coming so hard and so heavy there was no point in their eyes in doing it until it stopped. Also had to once thsi year strap on the chains after a day skiing as a dump happened mid ski session. (I like to drive as far up as possible). And to end on a cross europe drive 2 xmas back, I got caught in  massive blizzard outside Munich that shutdown all major highways for 2 days, I slowly but surely made my way through with my faithful chains. 

Therefore, that 250chf has given me a peace of mind no matter the conditions. I would advise everyone to do the same. Who knows how this winter will go...

On the roads with the mandatory snow chains, if the conditions are very bad (more icy than snowy usually), I already saw the police controlling if you had them, and it was forbidden to drive further if you didn't have them, it was nearby some ski resorts.

About the winter tires, the law says that your car must be equipped regarding the weather conditions. Summer tires are sold as inefficient bellow 7°C. You are not obliged to use them, but if you have an accident on low temperature with summer tire, they (police and insurance) will consider you were not adequately equipped to drive.

Chains are required only on two wheels when used, front ones on traction and rear ones on propulsion cars.

Please don't take this as "gospel truth" as there are so many things in Switzerland where people say: 

"but it's the LAW!!!" especially if they're Swiss (or German), when it's not "the law" at all.

I believe snow chains fall into this category.  

It's not "the law" to have snow chains, but it IS a requirement of your insurance company (generally speaking) to have winter tyres and to carry snow chains in the car (ditto a hi-vis vest, also a requirement).

So if you don't have winter tyres and/or snow chains and you have an accident because of the snow or ice, your insurance company will probably not pay out.

As far as the police "enforcing" snow chains?  Well, once driving up to Morgins, the Police were stopping people and turning them back if they had no chains, but other than a major inconvenience, no other action was taken.

With regard to chains themselves - like ski bindings there is no such thing as a "cheap set of chains" (unless you buy them in Lidl, proably, haha!).  They have strict safety regulations they must all apply to - the cost will determine how long they'll last, how easily they'll rust and how easy they are to put on.

2 chains or 4?  

The chains are put on the driving wheels, so if you have a rear-wheel drive, then you put them on the back tyres.  If you have a front wheel drive (more normal) then you put them on the front tyres.  If you have a 4 wheel drive then they're generally not necessary unless you're on ice - when nothing will save you.

Tips for putting them on/using them (tried and tested!):

As someone else suggested, practise putting them on somewhere dry and warm before winter as the instructions are often confusing.  A few practises really helps.

If it starts snowing heavily, put them on earlier up the hill rather than later. There are special layby's on mountain roads for this purpose (often where you see the sign that Richard posted).  If you leave it too late, you'll grind to a halt, block the road and everyone behind will hate you.

Carry old ski gloves and 2 black binliners and use them as additional "gloves" as it's usually a wet, cold, grubby and filthy job.

Carry a brush & scraper to scrape off already cruddy snow from the wheel rim.  (And the aforementioned shovel - you can get good fold up ones)

Once you've tightened them as much as you think you can (this is more of a tip for the girls!), drive the car 1 metre forward, stop and tighten them again. 

Always keep a head-torch in the car - you CANNOT use the light from your mobile and fit chains at the same time!  (Didn't I say "tried and tested"  )

Carry 2 large, black, rubber floor mats in the boot - they can help enormously to get you out of a "hole" if you're car's surrounded by snow - they give some traction - and a flat/dry surface to put the chains on. 

Yes, chains ARE a faff, but once they're on, it's like peeing in a wetsuit in a freezing lake.  You wouldn't want to do it every day, but it gives you a nice, warm and fuzzy feeling whilst you're doing it. 

A little note based on personal experience: guys- practice to put the chains on before winter/using them.

It's not that easy!

I have seen adverts for "snow socks" as an alternative to chains. Has anyone tried them? 

I recommend you watch this with comparison of winter-tyres alternatives quoting also "snow socks"

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/62369/winter-tyre-alternatives-reviewed