Two things make all the difference: 1. Tyres - in the snow a two wheel drive car on winter tyres is likely to perform better than a 4wd on summer tyres. 2. The driver - sorry to say but most drivers in the UK haven't got a clue how to drive on snow (although I'm sure that doesn't apply to anyone on here )

Yesterday I was towing a laden horse trailer across a snow covered field without the slightest problem (TDV8HSE on 19" Wintrac4Extremes). 14.5MY SDV6 HSE Dynamic Indus silver/lunar/ebony 20" wheels, InControl, full-size spare, electric tow bar, adaptive xenons, adaptive cruise control, auto main beam assist. Gone: TDV8 HSE; Zermatt silver/ebony, 19" off road alloys, active diff, particle filter, tow pack (it was fun) BMW 730D SE (great car, sadly missed). Ford Focus RS mk2, Ultimate green, lux pack 2, bluetooth. The start of my mid-life crisis.
IN THE GARAGE: BMW i8 - the mid-life crisis continues and it's great fun.

It took 18 inches of snow yesterday to defeat the X5 for the first time this winter. Sorting that out with a set of proper winter tyres in the next couple of days though. So far its been pretty well 100% better than everyone predicted it would be and thats on summer tyres!!! It's slipped a couple of times but the electronics sort it out with no drama at all!! Current, M135i in Estoril Blue with more extras than the cast of Ben Hur.

535d m-sport Platinum grey and a few extras.... Gone

X5 3.0 sd in Space Grey, 20's, Dynamic Pack, Memory Pack, Media Pack, Tow Pack, Rear DVD, Panoramic Sunroof, Steps, 7 Seat Pack, Reversing Camera with moving lines, programmable park heat, etc etc etc - Gone

Range Rover Sport Santorini, privacy, dvd, towpack GONE!!!

Been investigating snow chains for my trip to German Alps (I don't think I'll need them in London, even with my 275 wide UK tyres!) and decided to go for Autosocks. They're like a pair of woolly socks for your front wheels and were apparently invented by old ladies in the mountains who put socks over their shoes for grip.

See http://www.autosock.co.uk/

Anyone used these on a 4x4 before? L405 P400e Autobiography (MY2020)... Silicon Silver / Espresso
RRS TDV6 HSE Lux (MY2011)... Nara Bronze / Arabica - now gone!

In some places in the Alps you have to carry snow chains and I'm not sure autosock's will qualify. Worth checking before you go... WINNER - 2009 ‘Just Doing What It’s Designed To Do’ Award

2010 TDV8 HSE Galway Green - Adaptive Cruise - Sunroof - Privacy Glass - 5 Spoke Alloys
2009 TDV6 3.0 HSE Buckingham Blue - GONE

Somebody on D3side tried the Autosox but they fell apart on first use. Buy cheap, buy twice!!

Oh dear, they don't mention them falling apart in the marketing material!! If all else fails I am planning to pack some old pillow cases so I can make my own Autosocks if they fall apart, or potentially sell them to other tourists for £65 a pair!

In terms of compliance, their site states "Since 2001, AutoSock is certified by TÜV Süd as a "winter emergency driving aid", creating a new product category in addition to metal snow chains". and goes on to say "AutoSock can be used where snowchains are required in Germany, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and since this year also in France." I am hoping they stay in the bag. And I also ordered a 3 tonne two rope so if I do get stuck someone in Fiat Panda 4x4 with winter tyres can pull me out. Oh the shame if it comes to that. L405 P400e Autobiography (MY2020)... Silicon Silver / Espresso
RRS TDV6 HSE Lux (MY2011)... Nara Bronze / Arabica - now gone!

ilard wrote:

Been investigating snow chains for my trip to German Alps (I don't think I'll need them in London, even with my 275 wide UK tyres!) and decided to go for Autosocks. They're like a pair of woolly socks for your front wheels and were apparently invented by old ladies in the mountains who put socks over their shoes for grip.

See http://www.autosock.co.uk/

Anyone used these on a 4x4 before?

Is that yellow snow on your bonnet their DSL Novel way of defrosting the windscreen  Now gone Orkney grey SDV6 HSE with body style kit contrast stitch ebony leather, privacy, black piano, 22" Lowenharts for summer, 20" with Leon LTZ for winter.
Here 110 black edition defender.

4wheeldriver wrote:

It took 18 inches of snow yesterday to defeat the X5 for the first time this winter. Sorting that out with a set of proper winter tyres in the next couple of days though. So far its been pretty well 100% better than everyone predicted it would be and thats on summer tyres!!! It's slipped a couple of times but the electronics sort it out with no drama at all!!

What happened next.............you woke up and had some weetabix  MY10 3.0 HSE Santorini Black, Ivory Premium & extended leather, privacy, paddles, diamond turned alloys, Ipod lead that charges, tasmods, rrsport.co.uk stickers

Jeep 4.0 High Output XJ 94 6" teraflex lift, c/w rear coils, 9500lb winch, 35" TSL super swamper boggers, safari snorkel, custom made bumpers, tom woods custom double cardon driveshaft, twin electric fans. Don't follow it..............you wont make it. The first 4 x 4 by far.

Rudskibaliblu wrote:

Is that yellow snow on your bonnet their DSL Novel way of defrosting the windscreen

Bright green Halfrauds screen wash, served neat!! Not neat enough though, worked fine at -10c but frozen at -14c today!

Not good on snow?

Need I say more...?

19" Pirelli Scorpions, 12" of snow on an un-driven farm track en route to a patient this afternoon.

Stunning.

Come on guys its not the tyres or size of wheels.................


you just need the right type of SNOW


Simples

No snow fallen in this part of the Highlands but promising -25c tonight!!

kam100 wrote:

ilard wrote:

Been investigating snow chains for my trip to German Alps (I don't think I'll need them in London, even with my 275 wide UK tyres!) and decided to go for Autosocks. They're like a pair of woolly socks for your front wheels and were apparently invented by old ladies in the mountains who put socks over their shoes for grip.

See http://www.autosock.co.uk/

Anyone used these on a 4x4 before?

I run a chauffeur company, and we have all RWD mercs/bmw's and this is something we have been considering, although on youtube they look great, someone told me if you go onto tarmac with them or minimal snow they get torn to s*it.. anyone got any experience with them? Desperate for some kind of measures, we're not going to go out and buy snow tyres for all the cars unfortunately..

Must admit you're all getting me a bit worried. One of the reasons I decided to switch from the Jag XF was because it is crap in the snow. When I test drove the Range Rover it was an HSE Luxury on standard tyres. The test drive was up steep side streets that were covered in snow and it managed it no bother - I was very impressed.

Is it really as bad as people are making out? 3.0 SDV6 HSE Dynamic, Corris Grey with contrast Santorini Black Panoramic Roof, lunar interior, privacy glass, upgraded Meridian system, cooled 18 way front seats, heated steering wheel, adaptive xenons, large screen wash bottle.

Gone: 3.0 TDV6 HSE, Santorini Black, Ivory/Lunar interior, grand black lacquer finish, HK Logic 7.1 Surround, Privacy Glass, Adaptive Xenons, heated steering wheel.

Gone: Jaguar XF Luxury, Pearl Grey, Dove Interior