Snow chains or socks

[GARYSJ]

Plan to tow a caravan from Santander to South Spain. Probable snow conditions north of Madrid. Our E220 estate rear drive has 275/35 R19 with limited space to get your hands through the wheel arch to back of wheel. Anyone used the socks or must it be chains.

 

[whitenemesis]

Chains only useful on deep snow and socks will be destroyed on tarmac.
Winter tyres an option?

 

[GARYSJ]

Mercedes dealer just told me they supply chains only up to 18 inch. They don't sell socks. How good are winter tyres in snow which might be my only option.

 

[whitenemesis]

How good are winter tyres in snow which might be my only option.

Very good. I drove my C class estate shod with winter tyres (with the snow/mountain symbol) in deep snow and hard packed snow without any issue.
They also cope well with clear tarmac and mild temperatures. Might feel a bit 'squidgy' but perfectly safe

 

[MercedesDriver]

Forget socks. Utter rubbish and most likely it will fall of the wheel/s. Snow chains are an option only if planning to drive through deep snow and in some countries are mandatory on some roads and under certain weather conditions. Having said that I haven't seen any snow chains for wheels above 18".
As previously mentioned Winter tyres (not all season ones) are the best option if planning to drive on the continent during snowy months. Get the thinnest ones your wheel can have and you'll be good.

 

[fifermerc]

Mercedes dealer just told me they supply chains only up to 18 inch. They don't sell socks. How good are winter tyres in snow which might be my only option.

Have a look at YouTube and search for something like "winter tyres vs summer tyres" and you'll see the difference. I bought an additional set of alloys with winter tyres for my E350. The car had 18 inch wheels, so I bought 17 inch with higher profile tyres for the winters, so the overall circumference is pretty much the same.
Another thing to be aware of are whatever regulations apply in Spain. I've not driven there in winter, but I have been in Alpine regions of France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland in winter and in some parts of these countries winter tyres are compulsory over winter, as well as carrying chains in some areas. Not sure about Spain, but worth checking.
Wouldn't even think about socks, even if you can get them for your tyre size. Only any good as an emergency, and as soon as they touch tarmac they will be ruined.

 

[MercedesDriver]

Here is my dashcam video shot in the Alps with Winter tyres on. The hill was really steep and covered with packed snow. No chaines were used.

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[Stratman]

Chains or winter tyres will get you up the mountain. Socks will get you from a side road to a cleared main road.

 

[BPD07]

Be carefully, 49 of Frances regions now mandate winter tyres between November and March, mainly eastern ones but worth noting. We’ve used socks on a FWD drive car and they are faffy and wear out - plus risk damage to brake lines if they break up. Winter tyres are the way forward.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

In case it’s not already clear, you need Winter tyres. Once you’ve driven in snow or very cold conditions you’ll know what all the fuss is about. They perform better than summer tyres in cool conditions not just snow, but the difference is less noticeable in normal driving - but clear when you need the tyre to perform.

 

[Bellow]

Is towing a caravan in snow viable with 2WD irrespective of tyre choice?

 

[GARYSJ]

It's common practice for thousands of caravanners to go to Spain in winter months. For us it's our first time going directly by ferry to Santander. They do it each year so I will try and join a caravan forum to discuss. We need to comply with whatever the Spanish authorities require. I understand winter tyres OR chains are mandotory when road signs indicate.
Towing I think will be best using chains and hope they are not needed. Once on the coast its warm so four winter tyres for a day's journey is expensive. We return in March so snow less possible.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Be carefully, 49 of Frances regions now mandate winter tyres between November and March, mainly eastern ones but worth noting. We’ve used socks on a FWD drive car and they are faffy and wear out - plus risk damage to brake lines if they break up. Winter tyres are the way forward.

They are not going to France . Agree with the winter tyres

 

[BPD07]

They are not going to France . Agree with the winter tyres

Fair point, I missed Santander

 

[zipdip]

Well it is a expensive hobby towing a van to spain using the ferry,as I am sure you have found that out, once at Santander the route A-1 and A31 will take you just above Madrid and will be mostly motorway,as I remember the tolls were not that much,but you do face a over 500 mile run to say Alicante so about 9 hours with a van,I am sure if you go on a caravan site there will be plenty of people able to guide you better than me.

 

[Bellow]

I used to use chains - but haven't since viable winter tyres became available. Chains are an absolute faff, need practice to fit (dallying can see the links freeze making them impossible to fit) and speed is limited to circa 30 mph. Fitting them at the roadside with traffic passing is as scary as it gets.

Do you intend using chains on only the driven wheels or all four on the car? What will the caravan be wearing?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

It's common practice for thousands of caravanners to go to Spain in winter months. For us it's our first time going directly by ferry to Santander. They do it each year so I will try and join a caravan forum to discuss. We need to comply with whatever the Spanish authorities require. I understand winter tyres OR chains are mandotory when road signs indicate.
Towing I think will be best using chains and hope they are not needed. Once on the coast its warm so four winter tyres for a day's journey is expensive. We return in March so snow less possible.

Unless the snow is relatively deep and the road is untreated then you won’t be able to safely use chains. In my humble opinion if the conditions are so bad that you need to use chains then you shouldn’t really be towing.

 

[Bellow]

Unless the snow is relatively deep and the road is untreated then you won’t be able to safely use chains. In my humble opinion if the conditions are so bad that you need to use chains then you shouldn’t really be towing.

I've been waiting to see the views of others as it seemed to me that it was only me that the word 'caravan' was visible to.

When I look at a vehicle/trailer combo designed for conditions of poor traction the trailer wheels are always well to the rear with at east half the trailer weight on the 'nose' to bear down on the vehicles driven wheels to add traction. Basic tractor trailer stuff.
When conditions are bad enough to demand winter tyres or chains, getting and keeping the vehicle moving is the first priority and I really wonder if attempting to tow an inevitably heavy caravan is viable.

Then there's the lateral and braking stability of the caravan in snow. If it starts sliding the whole plot will be in the ditch in an instant.

Asking about the pros and cons of winter tyres and chains is one thing. To lack the knowledge and experience of them with the intention of towing seems to me to be misjudged.

I may well be totally wrong and that what is being proposed is perfectly reasonable. Please then, people with that view and experience come forward and say so - for my peace of mind if nothing else.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I've been waiting to see the views of others as it seemed to me that it was only me that the word 'caravan' was visible to.

When I look at a vehicle/trailer combo designed for conditions of poor traction the trailer wheels are always well to the rear with at east half the trailer weight on the 'nose' to bear down on the vehicles driven wheels to add traction. Basic tractor trailer stuff.
When conditions are bad enough to demand winter tyres or chains, getting and keeping the vehicle moving is the first priority and I really wonder if attempting to tow an inevitably heavy caravan is viable.

Then there's the lateral and braking stability of the caravan in snow. If it starts sliding the whole plot will be in the ditch in an instant.

Asking about the pros and cons of winter tyres and chains is one thing. To lack the knowledge and experience of them with the intention of towing seems to me to be misjudged.

I may well be totally wrong and that what is being proposed is perfectly reasonable. Please then, people with that view and experience come forward and say so - for my peace of mind if nothing else.

I’ve towed a fair bit, and would tow in difficult conditions, but there’s now way I would tow if I the conditions were such that I needed to use chains.

Whether towing or not - even with snow chains I wouldn’t drive a car on modern performance-orientated summer tyres if conditions demanded the use of chains.

PS I use all season Tyres on my caravan. I cannot expect them to perform miracles but the extra margin they offer in cold/wet conditions may one day be required.

 

[Bellow]

I’ve towed a fair bit, and would tow in difficult conditions, but there’s now way I would tow if I the co dictions were such that I needed to use chains.

I've driven extensively in snow and by the time the conditions require winter tyres or chains I wouldn't want to be towing anything. Getting going would be compromised and slowing and turning also. Without the same level of grip on the towed vehicle, I can't imagine slowing and turning to be anything other than hazardous.

Whether towing or not - even with snow chains I wouldn’t drive a car on modern performance-orientated summer tyres if conditions demanded the use of chains.

In truth - you wouldn't be driving because those tyres wouldn't let you! Again, even heading to where there will be snow is a tricky proposition. Fitting chains when the tarmac is bare is too early, waiting until the road is covered in snow is very possibly too late on summer tyres.

PS I use all season Tyres on my caravan. I cannot expect them to perform miracles but the extra margin they offer in cold/wet conditions may one day be required.

I see the logic in that.
A caravan on snow on summer tyres - the thought scares the shit out of me.