Snow chains

[Airmech953]

I have 255/60R18 tyres on my 05 Disco 3. I'm going to the snow next month and have to have snow chains butthere are conflicting opinions on whether I can fit chains with these tyres. Has anyone fitted chains to these tyres, what brand and can they be hired either in Melbourne or the Northern Victoria area.
Thanks fo any advice.

[DieselLSE]

I have a set to suit the D4 with 255x55x19 and 265x60x18 wheels, so they should be right for you. You are welcome to borrow them if you like. We've just moved to Black Rock, so a bit out of your way. From memory, it is recommended to only fit them to the front wheels. But they do fit snugly, so should be fine. Note that most Victorian resorts only allow diamond pattern chains.

[DieselLSE]

Just found them. Konig xG-12 Pro 265

[Arapiles]

I've hired chains for my D4 at Bright - and they said to fit them to the rear wheels (which is not the usual practice, it's usually the front wheels) because there wasn't room for chains under the front mudguards and I'd rip things out if we fitted them there.

Modern chains with the two sets of rings are a lot easier to fit than the old style ones.

[bakerdavid]

Bumps has a size chart on their website: Snow Wheel Chain Size Chart Australia | Bumps (https://bumps.com.au/chain-size-chart)
It confirms 265 is the correct size for you.

I also have the Konig XG-Pro recommended by DieselLSE (in size 267 for 265/60R18). It's worth asking about them when you ring to arrange hire. They are self-tensioning, so it saves having to stop after driving a short distance to re-tension. I've overtaken plenty of slow moving convoys by being a chain ninja (after lots of practice).

I can't speak to the clearance if you have the hard-style factory mudguards, but you will be able to - and should - fit them to the front wheels if you don't have the hard guards. If you have rubber mudguards (as I do), it is worth taking the 5-mins to remove the front guards at home before you go (chains will still fit, but catch when you turn the wheel).

Some other tips (from experience):

1. Have a small bag near the chains with gloves, an old rain jacket and a small mat/tarp. You will get filthy fitting and removing chains - especially your hands and forearms, and your knees if you kneel down (which you will the first few times you fit chains). You don't want to dirty your fancy snow gear. If you have to fit them, it will likely be snowing or raining.

2. Take your time on your first few times. Even if you're using the self-tensioning models, drive a short distance and jump out to check you have fitted them correctly and they have self-tensioned. You will know because the chains will be sitting snugly next to the tyres.

3. Consider leaving them fitted even if only 2wds have to fit them and you're descending. Hoys say this on their website (about the Great Alpine Road to Hotham):

4X4 vehicles are usually exempt from fitting chains. However, Hoys firmly believe these vehicles when travelling down the mountain should wear chains (when 2WDs are required to). In the absence of offroad tyres a 4WD/AWD vehicle has little advantage over 2WD when braking going downhill on icy roads. The majority of accidents on the Hotham road involve 4WD/AWD vehicles travelling downhill without chains.

There has been a spate of crashes on the GAR recently. The pics I've seen have all been AWD and soft-roaders (admittedly not proper 4WDs) with no chains. Although chains would be easier to fit on an upside down car.

Cheers,
DB

[Drafrete]

I have a set of the ones that seem to be commonly available on-line. They are sized "CA460".

A copy of the fitment chart suggests that these are the same fit for your tyres.

I have test fitted these at home on the front and back. I am not comfortable fitting them to the front wheels as the clearance to the steering ball joint at the inside is way too slim for my liking. On the rear wheels, however, there is more room.

179835

[CF0491]

I 3rd snow chains on the back tyres, not enough clearance on the front. Just hired the self tensioning Konig chains from Bright and they also suggested the same.

[Airmech953]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I did contact the LR customer care centre in Sydney - the person that I spoke to didn't know what snow chains are!
City LR in Melbourne confirmed that the LR chains are not legal in Victoria. They advised me to contact a third party vendor who recommends the Konig chains fitted to the rear wheels. There are some crazy rules at times.

[D2Harry]

Be cautious about chains on front of D4 - clearance to strut can be very tight.
Recommend rear only for this reason.

[DieselLSE]

Checked the Owners Manual with Airmech953 today and it clearly states that the Land Rover chains must only be fitted to the front wheels:
* No traction devices should be fitted to the rear wheels
* Only Land Rover approved traction devices should be used on the vehicle

But the problem is that the Land Rover "traction device" is illegal in Victorian snow resorts; you must always carry and fit where requested a diamond pattern set of chains.

The general consensus of opinion above seems to be that it is best to fit the Konig xG-12 Pro 265 chains to the rear wheels. My son fitted them to the front of the D4 at Hotham a few years ago and drove really slowly at off-road height after making sure they were tight. I remember doing a trial fit at home with him before he left so we could see how little clearance there was.

My guess is that the rear would be better, as once you have established that they are tight with no loose ends flapping about, they shouldn't foul anything, whereas chains on the turning front wheels will be sure to catch on something.