Snow chains and/or winter tyres are a legal requirement on all European mountain roads. France expanded the area covered by this law in 2021 to include much of the South and East of France, and introducing fines for non-compliance. More info... How fast can I drive whilst using snow chains? Polar Automotive supports the Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising of the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA), the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada (DAAC), and the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA).

If you want to treat yourself I can also recommend a pair of these snow-chain gloves, they help keep your hands warm when working in the snow/ice and the extended cuffs keep your arms clean and dry when reaching round behind the tyre to fasten the chains!

There are lots of different snow chain options on the market, but we have found the Goodyear 12mm to be a good balance of price and durability – cheap chains are usually made of very small/weak links, and they can easily break under the strenuous use of a heavy vehicle, especially on uneven surfaces. This is not only inconvenient (as you can be left stranded!) but can also be dangerous as they can flail around when they break – risking damage to your vehicle, or worse, injuring bystanders!. Most vehicles have the clearance to accommodate properly sized snow chains. The manufacturer's manual comes in handy if the vehicle does not have such clearance as it tells the motorist if the vehicle can be fitted with the chains.

This snow chain features a high-grade TPU material that lasts long, is temperature resistant, and has an anti-tear feature. The three-bar reverse non-slip design enhances friction and helps reduce the isopsophic index for improved performance of the chain. The chain is ideal for tire models 205/60R16, 205/65R16, 205/55R17, and 215/65R15, among others. Tires have the width, height, and diameter printed on the sidewalls or the driver's side door placard. Usually, the size of the tire is displayed in the form of P225/75R16. P denotes a passenger vehicle, 225 the tread width, 75 the aspect ratio of the side wall, R a radial tire, and 16'' is the rim size in inches. Heavy snowfall is becoming more common in the UK during the winter months. Driving in snow and ice is highly dangerous unless you’re got the right gear. Thankfully, you can get everything you need at Halfords. Regulations regarding the use of reflective vests vary from country to country, with some countries requiring any passenger that exits the vehicle to wear one. We recommend all passengers have a reflective vest. Are snow chains legal?If you don't want the expense of winter tyres, but are looking for more grip when snow strikes, then chains might be an option but bear in mind: Take it slowly (less than 30mph) and gently, slow down for bends and avoid harsh acceleration and braking. There is a link below for the chains we use for our 215/75R16 tyres – note that it is important you get the right size chains for your tyres so if you need a different size make sure that you look at the other options in the listing. In mainland Europe a driver is responsible for equipping his vehicle for all weather conditions. A driver can be fined if he fails to use snow chains when they are needed, thus impeding the normal flow of traffic or causing an accident. They come in a sturdy box, including some spare links for making repairs if they do get damaged and a pair of gloves (though a more sturdy pair of gloves is recommended, especially as it tends to be very cold and/or wet when you need to fit chains!)

On a lot of mountain roads in France it is a legal requirements to carry snow chains with you, and while proper Winter tyres make a lot of difference on snowy and icy roads, they will only get you so far (especially on big heavy two wheel drive vehicles like motorhomes!) These textile snow chains are extremely comfortable to drive and compatible with all electrical safety systems such as ABS and ESP. Due to the small space requirement and the low weight, they can be stowed practically and are thus ready to hand in the vehicle when needed. Textile snow chains are approved as snow chains in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and many other countries.

Are snow socks legal in France?

We would always recommend driving with caution in snowy conditions, even when using snow chains. The maximum recommended speed is 30mph.

Snow chains are classified into four categories; entry level (for snow and ice), premium, standard, and alternative traction snow chains. Standard chains are designed for areas with regular snowfall while premium ones are ideal for daily driving purposes on snowy regions as they offer superior performance and enhance the car's braking system on an icy surface. For low-profile tires, alternative traction devices are best.

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With this country’s policy of gritting and clearing major roads you’ll probably have to fit and remove chains several times during a journey.