On Sun, 26 Sep 2004 10:43:56 -0700, "Generic" >
wrote:

>
>"Paul Rooney" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Sun, 26 Sep 2004 09:51:44 -0700, "Generic" >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >"Paul Rooney" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>> >> On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 23:36:29 GMT, Lon > wrote:
>> >> > Snow tires tend to be of two varieties. The mud and snow will
>> >> > typically have rather large tread voids in order to deal with
>> >> > deep packed or loose snow. Deep as in several inches. A more
>> >> > typical "snow" tire is really an ice tire...with tread compound
>> >> > that stays soft at very low temperature, tends to be hydrophilic,
>> >> > and will typically have a lot of small cuts or sipes to give more
>> >> > gripping edges on ice. The best of these may be almost as good
>> >> > as studded tires.
>> >> >
>> >> > Chains are for severe conditions. Even the cable style will cause
>> >> > a lot of vibration. Should be used at very low speeds only.
>> >
>> >> Thanks.
>> >> Can you keep snow tyres on all winter and drive on snow-free roads OK,
>> >> or do you have to keep changing them over when you get onto clear
>> >> roads?
>> >
>> >Tires are generally safe on clear roads but the wear, noise and handling
>can
>> >be worse than a regular street tire. The mud & snow type can be
>incredibly
>> >loud vs. a street tire. It depends on the particular tire.
>
>> Thanks. What kind of conditions would chains be able to cope with, do
>> you know?
>
>The major use for tire chains is on 2wd vehicles in ice and not too deep
>snow on paved roads. They give a 2wd the ability to move when it would
>otherwise spin its wheels or slide off the road. They'd probably help
>somewhat off road, in mud for example, but in practice the people who go far
>off road get a specialized 4wd vehicle.]
>
>[Tire chains are thoroughly miserable to use. Traditionally you must lay
>them out then drive on top, and attach clips from behind dirty and wet
>wheels. In the middle of bad weather on the side of a road. Then you have
>to drive a few feet and tighten them or they'll fall off. Then you must go
>25mph or less to avoid tire damage, and they can scratch wheels or slap
>against the bodywork. When you finish the wet and dirty chains must be
>stored somewhere. Some systems have improved on this routine a bit, but
>professional chain installation is big business during ski season in places
>like Lake Tahoe.]
>
>-John
>

Thanks. I'm thinking of situations when, for example, you park up at
the top of a mountain pass (I'm in England, by the way) and go on a
day's walk, only to find the weather turns bad and there's fairly deep
snow by the time you get back to the car. I wonder whether chains
would get me out of such a situation.
There are some easy-fit chains available on the internet, though I
don't know how easy they really are to fit in a blizzard!

--

Paul


(Watch this space)