Fitting Snow Chains to B7 V6 4Motion.

[EricTheViking]

Hi everyone.

I would like to take my new wagon to the Victorian Alps in the coming weeks, and am a little confused by the conflicting information around snow chains and the 18" wheels. VW suggest that they cannot be fitted to the 18" wheels (only to 17" and smaller), but places that sell the chains say that they can be fitted, but need to be placed on the rear wheels, as there is insufficient clearance for the chains at the front.

Does anyone out there have any advice or experience with fitting chains to the 18" wheels? I'm looking at getting the Konig P1 low-profile chains, but am not yet sure what to do.

Unfortunately the rules regarding chains are completely different in VIC to NSW.

Thanks in advance.

[Ryan_R]

I've never driven in snow or with chains so feel free to ignore me

If I had to guess the conflicting info might arise from Golf GTI owners with 18" wheels perhaps. I'm assuming it's no good having chains on just the rear wheels for a FWD car. Your's is AWD, but doesn't most of the power go to the front anyway? Not sure how you'd go with steering and/or going up a steep mountain with reduced traction on the front wheels (winter tyres might help).


Hopefully someone else can teach us both something

[Shepp]

I have V6 B7 4Motion with 18inch wheels and looked into it and gave up. The gap between the wheel arch and the tyre is quite tight and it could end up dodgy and I wasnt prepared to risk it. I am going to Falls Creek in a weeks time for a week and have decided to leave my car at the Falls Creek Coach depot undercover for the week at $10 per night and get the coach up. It ended up being cheaper than chains and a pass into the Park... In UK you can use geotextile tyre snow sock that suits this purpose - but as Australia has so much more experience with snow than the UK (LOL) they know better and dont allow the use of tyre snow socks in Australia yet. Audi let you rent snow tyres and wheels if you have an Audi to enable use of snow chains. I would really get some advice from the snow chain company first.

[EricTheViking]

Thanks for the reply.

I spoke to Roof Carrier Systems in Camberwell, and they seem to think that there shouldn't be a problem. The chap there said that they try fitting various chains there to ensure a correct fitting, and he stated that many manufacturers were like VW when it comes to snow chain fitting (basically state that it is not recommended). I just need to make my way there in the next few weeks to get it sorted. Otherwise, it looks like a short bus trip up the mountain with all the family and gear!

[Shepp]

Hi EricTheViking

How didyou go with the snow chains?

Regards

Shepp

[EricTheViking]

Hi Shepp.

I ended up getting the Thule K-Summit chains. They don't go behind the wheel, so there is no clearance problem, and they are relatively easy to fit and work really well. They also don't touch the wheel (only the tyre), except where you lock onto a wheel nut. Expensive though. As it happened, I needed to fit them on the way up the mountain as there was 6 inches of snow on the road, and cars were sliding off all over the place - and most 4wd's were fitting chains anyway.

So I have what I need now, and no longer need to worry about the issue. Hope this helps others out there.

Regards,

EricTheViking.

[gareth_oau]

the K-Summits look great, glad you got sorted.



I hope you managed to get some pics of your car in the snow!!

[EricTheViking]

Sure did.

Here she is just 2 hours after I parked:



BTW, the chains are still attached.

[gareth_oau]

great stuff!!

I plan to get my RS4 to the snow one day, but its an expensive exercise, when living in Perth