No going to the snow in a 162TSI :(

[dptiggie]

OP here. Summarising what I've learned so far:

1. 0mm clearance chains such as the Thule K Summit and Weissenfels Clack and Go Quattro are acceptable everywhere except Hotham.

2. In 2017, 4WD/AWD vehicles don't need to carry chains for going to the snow in NSW. It's possible this will change in future (apparently the regs in NSW are from the 70s, predating SUVs/AWDs).

3. Winter tyres do not negate the need to carry diamond-pattern chains at Hotham.

4. Fitting wheels/tyres to increase clearance and then using diamond-pattern chains is an option. See this post for specifics.
Alternatively, fit wheels with winter tyres (and more clearance) for the 3 months of winter (and still carry chains).

5. Hire a car? Nope. Apparently car rental companies don't allow their cars above the snowline

6. After-market spacers? Nope. Illegal. Invalidates new car warranty. Invalidates insurance.

7. Other suggestions - Get the bus. Borrow a car. Avoid Hotham.

Just copy pasting the best summary/overview from earlier up in the chain, pardon the pun.

I have a bit of an update - I took my R Line up to Buller last weekend.

To elaborate on the Weissenfels and Thule/Konig - both are very expensive, are not available for hire, and are still not accepted at Hotham. These fit because they only sit on the outside of the wheels. But they don’t satisfy Hotham requirements because they’re not “diamond” chains.

Option 1: QUATTRO | Weissenfels (Weissenfels Clack&Go Quattro). Option 2: Thule K-Summit XL K55 & K56 - Thule Australia (Thule/Konig K-55 Summit XL).

There’s a 3rd option discussed in this topic: Norwegian Autosocks HP 697. However, I’ve discovered that Autosocks are not legal in Victoria, because they’re not counted as “chains” (though they’re OK in NSW). (When I say legal, I mean whether having these satisfies the requirement to have chains)

The rules at Buller are that all overnight vehicles must carry chains.

I called ahead to one of the hire places in Mansfield (Ski Chute 4) and they looked up the R Line tyres, which showed the following chains as applicable:

Thule XG-12 Pro Snow Chains for SUV, 4x4, Van

This is a 12mm chain.

The front R Line tyres are described by Volkswagen as having only 9mm clearance. And Volkswagen say we need to fit chains for the Tiguan to the front tyres.

So I thought these chains probably wouldn’t fit on the front tyres. My backup plan was to convince the attendant to test these chains on the rear wheels. However he first tested them on the front, and was happy that they fit the front wheels OK. I was surprised but happy with that.

I was staying overnight for a couple of days when there was no snowfall in the forecast, so I was happy to go ahead with these, knowing I wouldn’t have to use them. The best news is that these are diamond chains.

I defer to others in this forum if they think despite the fact that these chains seem to fit easily enough, that they’d damage the car?

But at the very least, this seems to be an easy solution for situations when you need to carry chains but don’t expect to need to use them.


MY18.5 Tiguan 162TSI - R-Line/DAP/Sunroof in Indium Grey

[LJ1981]

Did anyway try these or heard of them, 7mm so they should fit?? Apparently these go for under $300 a set



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[mh44]

Just copy pasting the best summary/overview from earlier up in the chain, pardon the pun.

I have a bit of an update - I took my R Line up to Buller last weekend.

To elaborate on the Weissenfels and Thule/Konig - both are very expensive, are not available for hire, and are still not accepted at Hotham. These fit because they only sit on the outside of the wheels. But they don’t satisfy Hotham requirements because they’re not “diamond” chains.

Option 1: QUATTRO | Weissenfels (Weissenfels Clack&Go Quattro). Option 2: Thule K-Summit XL K55 & K56 - Thule Australia (Thule/Konig K-55 Summit XL).

There’s a 3rd option discussed in this topic: Norwegian Autosocks HP 697. However, I’ve discovered that Autosocks are not legal in Victoria, because they’re not counted as “chains” (though they’re OK in NSW). (When I say legal, I mean whether having these satisfies the requirement to have chains)

The rules at Buller are that all overnight vehicles must carry chains.

I called ahead to one of the hire places in Mansfield (Ski Chute 4) and they looked up the R Line tyres, which showed the following chains as applicable:

Thule XG-12 Pro Snow Chains for SUV, 4x4, Van

This is a 12mm chain.

The front R Line tyres are described by Volkswagen as having only 9mm clearance. And Volkswagen say we need to fit chains for the Tiguan to the front tyres.

So I thought these chains probably wouldn’t fit on the front tyres. My backup plan was to convince the attendant to test these chains on the rear wheels. However he first tested them on the front, and was happy that they fit the front wheels OK. I was surprised but happy with that.

I was staying overnight for a couple of days when there was no snowfall in the forecast, so I was happy to go ahead with these, knowing I wouldn’t have to use them. The best news is that these are diamond chains.

I defer to others in this forum if they think despite the fact that these chains seem to fit easily enough, that they’d damage the car?

But at the very least, this seems to be an easy solution for situations when you need to carry chains but don’t expect to need to use them.


MY18.5 Tiguan 162TSI - R-Line/DAP/Sunroof in Indium Grey

Super interested in the same thing here - Falls Creek is my usual and I’ve got the 162 R Line - Not interested in changing my wheels, and given I live close enough to falls I only go up when weather is looking ok so I really just want something I can carry that fits in an emergency and to avoid a fine! I’d drop on the Konigs/Thule K55 but given the price and they still aren’t accepted at Hotham, it’s hard to justify! If these would do the job and fitting to the rear is an option I’d jump on them..

[mh44]

Did anyway try these or heard of them, 7mm so they should fit?? Apparently these go for under $300 a set



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Again, if someone says these will do the job on an R Line, I’m in! Please keep us posted anyone who tries them?

[mh44]

Again, if someone says these will do the job on an R Line, I’m in! Please keep us posted anyone who tries them?

Just saw it looks like they definitely have a set that fits the 255/40/20 tyres. Have sent and enquiry and will update..

[LJ1981]

Ok, I got told that 7mm is not strong enough for the weight of Tiguan, apparently it’s only meant to be used on smaller lighter cars or lightweight exotics in Europe, I think that’s why they got 255/40/20 size, anyway I ended up getting 12mm to put on rear if needed.

[mh44]

Ok, I got told that 7mm is not strong enough for the weight of Tiguan, apparently it’s only meant to be used on smaller lighter cars or lightweight exotics in Europe, I think that’s why they got 255/40/20 size, anyway I ended up getting 12mm to put on rear if needed.

Just regarding this, can I ask where that advice came from? Spoke to Pewag today and they're suggesting it should be fine?

And in terms of fitting to the rear, are there any legal or manufacturer issues with that? Which chains did you go with?

[LJ1981]

I got Pewag 12mm, advice was from guy thats sells Pewag in Mel, I got directed to him from Pewag office in NSW, we test fitted them on rear wheels, no problems, my local VW dealership told me to put them at rear wheels as well. I did read about 7mm on Pewag site and it’s got mainly all the small cars listed there.

[mh44]

Think I found the same guy - really knew his stuff so they’re on the way soon! Thanks again

[dptiggie]

Just regarding this, can I ask where that advice came from? Spoke to Pewag today and they're suggesting it should be fine?

And in terms of fitting to the rear, are there any legal or manufacturer issues with that? Which chains did you go with?

Hi there. Just wondering how you got comfortable about these being fitted to the rear? There was discussion about this above, in chat #45-50 or so. Several people here confirmed that chains really need to be fitted to the front wheels for this generation of Tiguan.