Lancia Motor Club

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SNOW-CHAINS-SEAT-RENAULT-SKODA-MAZDA-LANCIA-NISSAN-NEW-/330501233041?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4cf3689991

Have a look at the video, features a New Delta, Just what you need Stuart, not cheap but look sturdy, I had something similar about 10 years ago but only Plastic with no metal grips and pretty poor construction compared to these which soon wore out. These have 6 for each wheel so they should be able to keep you moving, my old ones were only 1 per wheel but it was enough to get me moving while many others were stuck.
Seriously thinking of getting a set as if the snow keeps up we'll need something.
Only problem will be is how long they take to arrive from Italy.
I have now found a couple of UK stockists but need to find out if they currently have stock.

Brian
8227 8)

Thanks for posting this Brian.  After watching the video, I am convinced and have ordered some from www.outdoorbits.com.  Once they arrive, I will let you know what they are like.

Good Lord - is that still the acceptable way to present gender relationships in Italy?  No wonder they still like Berlusconi...  Its like being back in the seventies...

Stuart,

Snap ;D at £101 including delivery they're £18 cheaper than buying them on ebay, which have to come from Italy, I've been looking for something like this for weeks, but it wasn't until I found the Jeko on ebay (and not where I expected to find it) I had a product name that I could chase down in the UK.
 Good thing is you know they will fit your Delta!
Did you have a look at some of the other offerings?
Another one for the short list was http://www.rud.com/en/produkte/schneeketten/schneeketten1/hightech_textil_stahl.html
It's a textile based one but has a mono filament with steel wire wrapped around it, certainly worth a look and by all accounts will survive up to about 120kms distance on a dry road surface, last a lot longer than the fabric versions, and is dead easy to fit, some of the other options shown in the youtube clips made me laugh as you could see the Dolly fitting them had got to a difficult bit where she was really tugging hard to fit them over the tyre, so they cut to where she was just finishing off, you could imagine once the camera was turned off, some burly fitter diving in and pulling them into place. And they only showed her fitting one!
Like yourself after seeing the video I was really convinced, they have really thought through the tightening and and the ease of removal, as well as keeping the ends of the straps secure and out of the way.
Pity they don't make these or chains compulsory for artics, yet again it was on the traffic news that more roads were blocked by Jack knifed artics, it would make more sense if all the lorries were pulled to one side before they blocked the roads, to allow the snow ploughs and gritters through before they got stuck.

Brian
8227 8)

Bit of good old fashioned MCP at work,  Italian young ladies don't seem to mind being the centre of attraction though.

Brian
8227 8)

When I was in transport none of my drivers left the yard in winter without snowchains.
Most of Europe insist on snow/winter tyres and/or chains. I remember in France winter
tyres were quite cheap because they were classed as a necessity.

Geoff,
It's been reported by the AA that some insurance companies here won't insure you, or up the premium due to it being a modification!

Brian
8227 8)

My everyday drive is a Transit (don't ask!!!) and last year it was horrendous in the snow and ice. This year I've had 4 winter tyres fitted, the transformation is astonishing. I expected an improvement but have been amazed at the change. They are better than 'normal' tyres in any conditions, snow, ice, wet or dry asphalt whenever the road surface is 7degrees C or lower, so I anticipate keeping them on until March (God forbid I still need them in May !!!!)

I thoroughly recommend them, they're not cheap, about £360 for the Transit, but I need to keep moving and I cannot afford to get stuck. Also, compare that initial outlay with cost of just a minor bump, whether dealt with through insurance or not. If you're intending to keep your vehicle, or replace with a model with the same tyre size, then I think they are worth that outlay.

Food for thought.

                            Andy

I have heard that Brian, but I don't think that applies to Trucks,
I've followed trucks using snow chains and it's some much easier
when they've broken the surface for you.

It does seem ridiculous that something that may help you avoid a
serious and costly accident is considered a modification or shall we
call it by it's real name " a profit generating meteorological event "

Sorry - way too sensible, I'm going back to the bar

Geoff,
I used to drive HGV's a long time ago with lots of experience with Artics including car transporters and 8 wheelers, and Artics have always been a pain in the backside when it comes to no traction in the snow and very prone to Jack Knifing. As for lorries with snow chains, I must admit I can't ever remembering seeing any fitted with snowchains.
But it would certainly help if they did.

Brian
8227 8)

Brian,

I don't think they had invented snowchains when your vehicle was current..... ;-})

Seriously though,  all the trucks I was involved with were international.

Mont Blanc was the best con, if you arrived at the tunnel entrance French side with
chains  they would ring through to the Italian side, who would fine you for not
having snow/winter tyres and if you arrived on snow/winter tyres they would fine
you for not having chains, returning through the tunnel the Italians would phone
the French side  etc etc.  Nice little earner although you could always hand over
2 packets of cigarettes instead.

Geoff

Last year in the Alps the inter resort shuttle bus got stuck despite having winter tyres. It took the driver about half an hour to fit big snow chains but it didn't get stuck again after that. The guy we were staying with had winter tyres on his Peugeot van which seemed pretty much un-stoppable. Anyone with a BMW had those fabric 'snow socks'. They seemed pretty good too.

Just ordered a set of Jekos (£104 incl delivery from LA Leisure in Northants) - they seem like the best solution to needing something in the snow and having different size vehicles. I doubt if they'll arrive before the New Year, but our weather forecasters at the farm are predicting significant snowfall early next year, so I'm sure they'll get used.

Hi Lee,
I ordered mine on Saturday from outdoorbits .com in Wood Green London, they notified me this morning they have been dispatched, and hopefully should be here tomorrow or Wednesday by Fed EX.
To be honest I couldn't be A---d  to worry about full chains,  I did consider the textile ones but I have reservations about how long they will last,  the Jeko's with 6 per wheel seem ideal for grip, especially now the latest version has metal cleats(plates) that contact the ice and snow, so they should dig into it quite nicely, and they say you can run on a tarmac surface without damage, I wouldn't want to do that for too long, but for use as shown in their video with a mix of snow & ice and hard road surface, they would seem to be a good compromise.

Brian

My snow belts have arrived today  ;D  I haven't had time to try them on the car yet, but they look incredibly easy to fit.  The belts are a hard wearing type of plastic for the strap and a more rubberised plastic for the part that contacts the ground.  Overall, initial impressions are that it is a good quality item.  Hopefully I will get time to fit them tomorrow and I will post a photo with them fitted to one of the cars!

That'll be good, hope mine turn up tomorrow as we're promised more snow for thursday, I had to go out today, being I'm retired something I don't do unless necessary, and was appalled at the state of the roads considing we haven't had any snow to speak of since saturday.
That's 3 of us ordered them so far, has anyone else?

Brian
8227 8)

Brian

I fitted two of the belts to the Delta this morning.  I have to say that they are incredibly easy and quick to fit.  Each belt took less than a minute to fit and remove.  I found that if you are fitting them to the front wheels, it is much easier to turn the wheels so better access is achieved.  Next thing will be to try driving with them one!

Look good Stuart, thanks for the fitting tips,mine turned up this afternoon so I'll try fitting them and trying them out tomorrow.
Six might be a bit of overkill on your wheels, looks like 5 will do for even spacing.
Brian
8227 8)

Well, after having my Jeko snow belts for two years, I have finally used them!  Conditions in West Cumbria tonight were incredibly slippery due to the amount of snow which came down.  I put two on each wheel and I have to say that I was impressed with the increase in grip.  You could tell that they were fitted as at slow speeds you could feel the wheels judder as they ran over the belts.  I definitely felt more confident driving in the conditions with the belts fitted  :)

I've fitted a set of Continental Winter tyres this year, Andrea has been suggesting it for few years now as they are obligatory in Germany and make a difference.

Seeing as I already had a spare set of rims for the Fiat Punto Sporting the outlay wasn't too bad - £628 for four tyres fitted/balanced - which sounds a lot but think about it this way, they are about the same price as a Summer tyre and you can only wear out one set of tyres at a time. The only downside is having to store four wheels/tyres.

Check out the link, it's what convinced me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elP_34ltdWI

Experience this last week on them has been great, definately a lot more grip than everyone else around me!

Guy

I have a set of winter tyres on the Transit and they have transformed it. Last year I was beaten by but one hill, an ice covered road up the cliff in Leigh-on-Sea instead of being a huge embarrassment on even a slight slope!! They are a lot cheaper than the extra cost of a 4 wheel drive vehicle and, as was pointed out by my Land Rover driving brother-in-law, 4 wheel drive does not improve your braking!!!!!!

They are better than 'summer' tyres at 7C or less. I consider the hierarchy for traction from rubbish to great is ...

1) 2 wheel drive summer tyres
2) 4 wheel drive summer tyres
3) 2 wheel drive winter tyres
4) 4 wheel drive winter tyres

You should always have 4 winter tyres, having just 2 is dangerous, although I have a summer tyre as spare in the winter and a winter tyre as spare in the summer. I informed my insurance company in case it was regarded as a modification, they simply said thank you, but is I feel, a worthwhile precaution.

                                 Andy

I too can vouch for winter tyres ...

I have used Winter tyres in Norway at -22, the Norweigans have banned chains I believe because they caused too much damage to the roads
They give amazing grip on frozen snow/ice roads

I have also used them in the Italian Alps ... and they were very impressive ... however the Italians do insist you carry chains by law irrespective of your vehicle being  2WD or 4WD ... and irrespective of having Winter tyres fitted or not

Many of the trucks/buses in Italy do fit chains mind

The big benefit though is that you can fit them and forget them for 5/6 months ... fitting chains or other similar devices at the side of the road in a blizzard is no joke ... and having to remove them when you hit clean roads again is a pain ... worth the extra money you pay for snow tyres in my opinion

The only thing I can say is that you will often find that they fit a smaller diameter, higher sidewall and narrower tyre than the standard one supplied with the car

And I dare say some tyres perform better than others ...

I suppose the time to buy them is the summer ... when demand is low!!!

Still haven't needed to use mine yet as being retired if it's bad I don't bother to go out, but I have had a trial fit and they're in the boot if required, must admit though I was impressed with the report on the winter tyres below, just a matter of the cost of the tyres, and if you don't have a spares set of wheels getting them changed back in the summer, plus the problem of where to store the set your not using!
Brian
8227 8)