Author Topic: English guy needs snow driving advice (Read 11413 times)

tpl · « **Reply #20 on:** October 18, 2017, 06:11:17 pm »

OK JoshD here is an idea that might work. Check on what snow tires are available in Switzerland. Buy your new rims in the UK and get the tires over there if there is a better variety.

As for wider tires/rims touching the body or suspension, I'd say as long as they don't touch in normal, aka street driving I wouldn't worry.

We have a tremendous selection of winter tires over here of course. My Q5 which probably weight the same as your Defender at about 2 tonnes runs Michelin X-ICE 235/65-18 in the winter...but then I live in a flat bit of Canada

JoshD · « **Reply #21 on:** October 19, 2017, 08:28:24 am »

All ordered! Hakka LT2, bog standard white steel rims, Pewag Brenta C 4x4 chains (2 pairs). Reason for doing it early was to get good pricing, and that went pretty well I think ... Many thanks to all who helped me get to this point!

As for Europe v Rockies, well having only ever skied Europe I couldn't possibly comment. Personally I love Argentiere (Grands Montets area) just outside Chamonix, and we're staying just up the hill from there. Having been there many times (but never for a season before) I know it well enough to find great skiing even without a guide, and there's a fantastic run down from the very top of Grands Montets. But it does get busy, and a fresh dump gets skied out very quickly. Of course the Rockies are on my list to do another year, Canadian friends tell me to got to Fernie or Big White ....

Fobroader · « **Reply #22 on:** October 19, 2017, 11:27:43 am »

Do you have any pics of your rig??

JoshD · « **Reply #23 on:** October 19, 2017, 12:37:42 pm »

Freshly taken on a rather grey day here ....

Fobroader · « **Reply #24 on:** October 19, 2017, 12:38:12 pm »

She's a thing of beauty!!!

mrthompson · « **Reply #25 on:** October 19, 2017, 12:51:03 pm »

Sir Osis of Liver · « **Reply #26 on:** October 19, 2017, 12:57:42 pm »

Nice Defender!!

JoshD · « **Reply #27 on:** October 19, 2017, 01:57:52 pm »

Thanks for kind words guys!

Gurgie · « **Reply #28 on:** October 19, 2017, 02:10:48 pm »

Nice ride!!

And I'm jealous of your winter in the alps!! Fack me, need to retire, or become a ski bum

Weels · « **Reply #29 on:** October 19, 2017, 02:19:34 pm »

Have you thought about a Tesla?

Love the Defender. All business, no bull$hit.

JoshD · « **Reply #30 on:** January 20, 2018, 02:42:34 pm »

Just to let you guys know there's a ton of snow here in the Alps and Hakka LT2s are doing really well. Thanks again for all the advice!

HeliDriver · « **Reply #31 on:** January 20, 2018, 04:05:01 pm »

That looks fantastic! Thanks for the update.

Incidentally, I've also been looking at replacements for our LT2s for next winter. Pretty sure I'm going to go with them again, but in that same 235/85R16 size you've got. Or I might just keep them another winter - they're six years old, so the rubber is getting a little tired, but they still have 10/32" of tread and decent grip. I've been really happy with them.

Sir Osis of Liver · « **Reply #32 on:** January 22, 2018, 04:22:54 pm »

Noto · « **Reply #33 on:** January 22, 2018, 04:33:08 pm »

WTF am I doing here in an office with freezing rain outside?!?! I need to retire to the Alps ASAP.

so much

ktm525 · « **Reply #34 on:** January 24, 2018, 10:21:28 am »

Quote from: No-san on January 22, 2018, 04:33:08 pm

WTF am I doing here in an office with freezing rain outside?!?! I need to retire to the Alps ASAP.

so much

If it makes you fell any better there is plenty of freezing rain in the Alps too.

Noto · « **Reply #35 on:** January 24, 2018, 12:37:50 pm »

Fine, but then you're in the Alps...not in beautiful, scenic...Guelph.

ktm525 · « **Reply #36 on:** February 11, 2018, 12:50:13 pm »

I was under the assumption Guelph was quite nice

It was in the early 80's when I attended Can Am hockey schools there. Perhaps my youthful eyes deceived me?

pi314 · « **Reply #37 on:** February 11, 2018, 12:55:33 pm »

Guelph downtown is great. The rest of Guelph looks like the rest of the GTHA... very meh IMO.

But clearly lots of people like it otherwise the GTA wouldn't look the way it does..

JoshD · « **Reply #38 on:** February 01, 2019, 02:17:01 am »

One year follow up: can absolutely confirm that Hakka LT2's have been great, absolutely rock solid. We're a month in to our second season out here in Chamonix and have had a couple of good snowfalls (2ft down here at 1200m, more higher up). The guy who's paid to clear the drive doesn't usually pitch up until well after we want to get out but the strategy of opening the garage door and charging straight into the deep stuff in the driveway seems to work so far (up to 2ft+).

Disappointingly it's my wife who gets to have all the fun doing this: I have Parkinsons and am no longer allowed to drive as medication makes me fall asleep at the wheel. But I am allowed to cycle and I thought you guys might be interested to see my electric mountain bike complete with spiked tyres for ice/snow---pretty damn good traction, but gets very cold with wind chill ...

HeliDriver · « **Reply #39 on:** February 01, 2019, 08:27:58 pm »

^^ Glad to hear! I just bought a replacement set of LT2s last fall. Studded again for me, and they've been great (again).

Love the bike, too. Got a Specialized Enduro myself. Alas, I have to do all the pedaling - no electric motor on mine. $:-\$ Looks like a great way to get around a ski town in winter!