Bongo in the Alps - Winter Checklist?

[eppiblue]

Im gonna take my 2.5diesel 4WD to the alps over xmas and NYE. It will be the first time I will have a chance to drive a bongo in snow/ice.

Just wondering what peoples tips are for winter driving? (aside from topping up the antifreeze!)
Is there anything specific I want to have done or checked?
How do the AWD/4WD bongos go in the snow? (on general purpose tyres)

[maxheadroom]

We have been twice now in the Bongo, where are you going too.

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ps&start=0

[eppiblue]

Looking at London to Reims to Strasbourg to Basel and then on to Cervino in Italy and then back again, over about 10 days.

[scanner]

In certain areas use of winter tyres and/or snowchains is compulsory if snow is about. Having driven a Bongo on so called "summer" tyres and then on all season/winter tyres I wouldn't even think about going near snow and ice with general purpose tyres on.
Ordinary tyres lose something like 70-80% of their grip in temperatures below 7degreesC the superior rubber compound of winter tyres retains most of that grip as they don't harden up in the cold.

I've even gone as far as to order a set of winter tyres for my other car as well, far more useful in ALL conditions than summer tyres and not much more expensive.

[scanner]

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/t ... nter-tyres

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=45217

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=56676

[T9sus4]

Another vote for winter tyres here. Best money you can spend on your car in the cold season. Mine go back on my Golf+ next week. I was the only one who didn't have any problems getting to work last winter - and I live on the moors!

And don't forget: winter tyres go on all 4 wheels.

[M 80NGO]

The road over the alps will be clear cos in europe they know how to deal with snow it'll be cleared by a snow blower, if it can't be cleared then you'll be sent through the Gotthard tunnel so you'll be fine on normal tyres, all this talk of snow chains is all a bit " ice road truckers" i have 2 friends living in southern france one even has his own ski school and they run on normal road tyres and no snow chains

[M 80NGO]

Oh and call in to luxembourg, its worth it just to fuel up 0.99 euros a litre make all other fuel stops at supermarkets as the fuel is generally 10 cents a litre cheaper

Earlier in the summer dan and i took my bongo through France, Belgium, down through germany including a lap of the Nurbergring down the rhine valley / black forest into switzerland ( you only pay swiss roadtax if you use the motorways ) over the alps into italy then across to Monacco before coming back through france via the millau bridge into Luxembourg before heading back to good ole blighty.

[Flint]

We live in the Massif Central and agree with the vote for winter tyres. We also have a set of snow chains as well! The French are very good at keeping the roads open but at times will limit access to some of the resorts to suitably equipped vehicles only.
It has been snowing today so this bodes well for a good season

[helen&tony]

Hi
Funnily enough, I was looking for winter regs regarding tyres a few days ago...and Switzerland has no law requiring winter tyres....BUT, should you have an accident, blame will be settled on you if you don't have winter tyres....and you are required to carry snow chains anyway, and fit them as indicated by road signs. Many European countries require you to have a set on board between certain dates...here it's 1st Nov to 31st March
One thing with winter tyres, is the road grip increases almost logarithmically from 0 C. to minus 30C, after which...not much joy.
Normal tyres just don't work so well below 7C, and the distance for stopping tails off the colder it gets, but this is not as noticeable on a large 4x4 as it is with a car.
However, the most noticeable difference is on ice at 0 C when ice is covered by water....winter tyres grip very well in these conditions, as they are designed with a silica compound in the construction, and the sipes in the tyre pattern open up in the tyres at low speed, and when you drive faster, they close, plus , they have blocks and channels to clear water
Basically, in snowy / icy conditions, even in the UK, armed with that knowledge, take your choice!....Sorry, I can't find the website where I got the info. but there are plenty showing EU regulations
Cheers
Helen

[eppiblue]

Some great info guys. Im only going over for about 10 days and wont be driving much in the UK over winter so I cant really justify the expense of snow tyres, although they do sounds excellent.

Guess I will have to keep an eye on the weather and potentially carry chains.

[M 80NGO]

It makes me laff with all these european laws stating that you must carry this that and the other, its a ploy to get you to spend money needlessly, anyone who's travelled through europe will know that each individual has to have there own hi viz and you must have a warning triangle etc etc etc, I lost count of broken down locals we saw on the hardshoulder with none of the stuff that your "suposed" to have most didn't have a hi viz between them.

[T9sus4]

In Germany, your car won't pass its MOT without first aid kit (with all items in date) and warning triangle. The rules are not (just) for fleecing foreigners...

[M 80NGO]

found these for ya



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MICHELIN-EASY-GRI ... 3356cb4458

[Doone]

I've just had a look in the members area and can't see a 'Winter checklist' factsheet. (If someone finds one, please link to it, I have overlooked things before. ) If someone fancies gathering the info together and passing it to Ian for a factsheet, it may be handy for future use.