Great video, thanks. One question. You said 2 steering wheels and 2 driving wheels hence 4. A lot, if not all, motorhomes are front wheel drive hence the driving wheels are the steering wheels. Question do you still need 4 sets of chains? I would have thought not. Am I right???? Regards Michael
At 7:20 you talk about "2 steered wheels and 2 driving wheels". The "steered wheels" are obvious, but I would have assumed that a "driving wheel" is a wheel connected to the engine. So in the case of a front wheel drive vehicle, the steered wheel is also the driving wheel, and so would be the only wheels you need to put chains on. ie just 2 chains in total. A rear wheel drive vehicle would need 4 chains ...... but I could be wrong?
The requirement is to bring with you chain on both drive wheels and a chain on one of the steering wheels IF your vehicle weighs more than 3.5t. If it is under 3.5t you don't need to bring snow chains, as long as your tires are marked either M + S / MS or M & S.
You don't want to miss match your tires on any vehicle. Front wheel drive you want your best tire on (winter) be aware your rear end may or tend to want to slide out on you so putting four Winters on is best. If your rear wheel drive winter on the rear but your steering may plow or slip out on turns but having Winters on the front is beater as your more in control. Having for studed tire is best. Only my local law say all studded tire have to be off the road by end of April 15.
Very informative on the legal winter requirements. M is for mud and S is for snow. All season tires are fair weather tires designed to bead water away and made of harder rubber compounds. Slightly acceptable for 4inches or less of snow Winter tires have soft rubber to grip better, larger grip for a good bite in snow and have designated spots for studs to be inserted. You can't stud all seasons. I have a 4x4 so I run m&s tires yr round. I get about 4 yrs out of em. I do notice a difference each winter season on grip and alway have my chains handy for winter. I run studed tires on my front wheel drive car front and back and all season in summer.
After 10 Bavarian winters in my Saab, winter tires proved invaluable and compulsory Oct-March. Now I have them fitted to the Motorhome all year. Peweg brand easy to fit/remove but they are not tough enough to use continuously all through the winter season. Snow Sox are as you say "get you out of trouble" but would be shredded if used too much. Where the Sox are really useful is when you get "Ice Rain" virtually invisible when the rain freezes on contact with the road surface, so it's well worth carrying these as well as winter tyres, especially if you have front wheel drive and are using the gears to slow down. Also if you have an accident without Winters fitted you may not be insured! (See Jon Snow comments for more info.)
I can back up what you say about snow socks. We had them for our VW T4 and they got us out of trouble in a blizzard in Yorkshire - but they certainly wouldn't have lasted for a long distance. While this law involves cost for us, it is actually very sensible and we ought to be doing what they require without a law forcing us, it seems to me.
Driving wheels and steering wheels need to be fitted with appropriate equipment. Surely as most motorhomes are front wheel drive that is only on the two front wheels?
I've said for years people should be fitting winter tyres even in the uk. They make a big difference in snow AND the wet. Great information though, I might need to invest in some snow chains and learn how to fit them! 😊
Here in Luxembourg you have to have winter spec tyres on you car when the temp is below 7*c, roughly between 15 Nov- 15 March. People routinely have 2 sets of tyres and tyres garages will store them for you. When we were getting ready to emigrate here from the UK I decided to just fit All Season tyres, Luxembourg doesn’t get enough snow to need full winters and all seasons are actually better in cold slushy conditions than full winters. M+S stands for mud and snow and they are utterly pointless as a manufacturer can put that symbol on any tyre they want. Law here specifies tyres must have the mountain and snowflake symbol otherwise they don’t count as winter tyres.
Thanks for the great information keep up the great work and enjoy your travels. I think m and S stands for mud and snow all the best and happy travels Milo
M&S M+S stands for mud and snow. Mountain with snow flake is called the three peaks symbol. Some tyres only have M+S better to have M+S and three peaks symbol.
Have you been to Collioure yet? - lovely place, I had to replace a universal joint on a Cortina there, out in the sun and using borrowed tools - one of life’s experiences!
These rules on certain roads have been in force for years! and signed with a picture of a tyre with a chain on with obligatoire underneath. M+S Mud & Snow only some of these tyres can have studs pressed into them, and the studs don’t last long when run on tarmac and do affect stability and breaking so not good unless on snow & ice.
Hi just asking to confirm about snow chains. You mentioned and showed the snow chain sign snow chains are needed when this sign is present. What wasn’t clear is does this mean you still need snow chains even if you have proper rated winter snow tyres?
Hi Duncan. As I understand it, now that the law has changed, as long as you don't have a trailer you can choose to use EITHER winter tyres or snow chains, even on the B26 roads. But bear in mind the B26 roads require chains/ winter tyres at any time of the year, not just Nov- March. Hope that clears it up for you.
M + S stands for Mud and Snow, winter tyres are fantastic and can also be used on dry roads no problem. Chains are a pain to fit and use and speed restricted like a few km/hour. Snow socks are useless. Studded tyres are dreadful and cause huge damage to vehicle roads. Winter tyres are the best option and are compulsary in many countries.
Wonder if this law will be routinely ignored by motorhome users like the blind spot stickers have been? I think I’ve seen max 3 motorhomes with those stickers on,
I understand the French authorities very well. It is stupide and dangerous to drive on winter roads with summer tires. When I go to Spain in the winter, I always use studless winter tires with Three Peak Mountain Snowflake Symbol (3PMSF, the ultimate tested winter tire). I'm driving a motorhome, so the grip is good enough on dry or wet asphalt too. The main reason is because I usually drive home to NORWAY in December, and it is 99% certain it is winter conditions there. But also because I don't want any surprises in the mountains south in Europe. -And btw, Germany does not allow studded tires. The focus on fines sound strange. How about focus on safety? I don't want to meet you down a snowy road with four season tires (Winter tires wannabe) either.
This has been law for meny meny year's in europe back 40 years ago I had to have winter tyres all round and that was all 10 tyres and snow chains for my drive axle on my truck from November to March, we could revert to normal tyres in march but we had to keep the snow chains on the truck all year just incase it snowed and I've had snow in April and may on the mountains between France, Italy, and Spain so this is not really a new law brought in by the French government.
Snow chains are a pain in the a**e, if you want to drive into the beautiful mountains in winter, get a second set of tyres/wheels. Then you can relax and enjoy!
Imagine living in a country where laws are enacted for the benefit of the population rather than just billionaire interests. What must that be like? ;)
Ok thanks for the information about snow chains I'm going down to the south of Spain at Christmas so thanks very much for the info.
Tony . Dom.
As a P.S. to my question comment. That rule has been in operation in several States of the USA for many years and it is a wise one. Michael
Thank you!!!!
THANK YOU for ALL the information!! ☺
Great video, thanks. One question. You said 2 steering wheels and 2 driving wheels hence 4. A lot, if not all, motorhomes are front wheel drive hence the driving wheels are the steering wheels. Question do you still need 4 sets of chains? I would have thought not. Am I right???? Regards Michael
Thankyou so much for this and all you do
Thanks for the clarity Kat
You're so welcome! Glad it was helpful.
Looked like a groovy dog carrier rucksack - I need one for our bike too - be interested in which model you went for!
At 7:20 you talk about "2 steered wheels and 2 driving wheels". The "steered wheels" are obvious, but I would have assumed that a "driving wheel" is a wheel connected to the engine. So in the case of a front wheel drive vehicle, the steered wheel is also the driving wheel, and so would be the only wheels you need to put chains on. ie just 2 chains in total. A rear wheel drive vehicle would need 4 chains ...... but I could be wrong?
I would suggest putting the same tyres on all wheels and keeping life simple!
The requirement is to bring with you chain on both drive wheels and a chain on one of the steering wheels IF your vehicle weighs more than 3.5t. If it is under 3.5t you don't need to bring snow chains, as long as your tires are marked either M + S / MS or M & S.
You don't want to miss match your tires on any vehicle. Front wheel drive you want your best tire on (winter) be aware your rear end may or tend to want to slide out on you so putting four Winters on is best.
If your rear wheel drive winter on the rear but your steering may plow or slip out on turns but having Winters on the front is beater as your more in control.
Having for studed tire is best. Only my local law say all studded tire have to be off the road by end of April 15.
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, job done
Thanks Kat!
Very informative on the legal winter requirements. M is for mud and S is for snow. All season tires are fair weather tires designed to bead water away and made of harder rubber compounds. Slightly acceptable for 4inches or less of snow
Winter tires have soft rubber to grip better, larger grip for a good bite in snow and have designated spots for studs to be inserted. You can't stud all seasons.
I have a 4x4 so I run m&s tires yr round. I get about 4 yrs out of em. I do notice a difference each winter season on grip and alway have my chains handy for winter. I run studed tires on my front wheel drive car front and back and all season in summer.
Very useful information. Cheers m’Dear.
Is the law on these designated roads for all vehicles?
After 10 Bavarian winters in my Saab, winter tires proved invaluable and compulsory Oct-March. Now I have them fitted to the Motorhome all year. Peweg brand easy to fit/remove but they are not tough enough to use continuously all through the winter season. Snow Sox are as you say "get you out of trouble" but would be shredded if used too much. Where the Sox are really useful is when you get "Ice Rain" virtually invisible when the rain freezes on contact with the road surface, so it's well worth carrying these as well as winter tyres, especially if you have front wheel drive and are using the gears to slow down. Also if you have an accident without Winters fitted you may not be insured! (See Jon Snow comments for more info.)
I can back up what you say about snow socks. We had them for our VW T4 and they got us out of trouble in a blizzard in Yorkshire - but they certainly wouldn't have lasted for a long distance. While this law involves cost for us, it is actually very sensible and we ought to be doing what they require without a law forcing us, it seems to me.
Hi and thank you for the informative video. All the best 👍🚐👍
Lovely thank you 👍
You're welcome :)
Driving wheels and steering wheels need to be fitted with appropriate equipment. Surely as most motorhomes are front wheel drive that is only on the two front wheels?
I've said for years people should be fitting winter tyres even in the uk. They make a big difference in snow AND the wet. Great information though, I might need to invest in some snow chains and learn how to fit them! 😊
UK weather lends itself more to all seasons than winters, they are better in cold, wet and slushy conditions below 7*c than winters.
Same rule apply Here in Germany 01,10,-- 31,03. Just for anyone needing to know
How do you stand with 4x4 tires?
Thanks for the info, I found this video very informative👍
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting. :)
Here in Luxembourg you have to have winter spec tyres on you car when the temp is below 7*c, roughly between 15 Nov- 15 March. People routinely have 2 sets of tyres and tyres garages will store them for you.
When we were getting ready to emigrate here from the UK I decided to just fit All Season tyres, Luxembourg doesn’t get enough snow to need full winters and all seasons are actually better in cold slushy conditions than full winters.
M+S stands for mud and snow and they are utterly pointless as a manufacturer can put that symbol on any tyre they want.
Law here specifies tyres must have the mountain and snowflake symbol otherwise they don’t count as winter tyres.
Excellent and informative advice. Love that coast 👌💙❤️
Crazy “rules.”
Those campsites look incredible. Keep up the great work. 👊
Thanks! Will do!
M + S ( mud & snow ) ?
Thanks for the great information keep up the great work and enjoy your travels. I think m and S stands for mud and snow all the best and happy travels Milo
Thank you!
M+S - mud and snow 👍🏼
M&S M+S stands for mud and snow. Mountain with snow flake is called the three peaks symbol. Some tyres only have M+S better to have M+S and three peaks symbol.
Have you been to Collioure yet? - lovely place, I had to replace a universal joint on a Cortina there, out in the sun and using borrowed tools - one of life’s experiences!
Not yet- I'll add it to the list! :)
Mud and Snow according to Michelin.
I had to slow down the playback speed to 0.75 to understand😳 as you speak too fast. I recommend this to all viewers 🙏
These rules on certain roads have been in force for years! and signed with a picture of a tyre with a chain on with obligatoire underneath. M+S Mud & Snow only some of these tyres can have studs pressed into them, and the studs don’t last long when run on tarmac and do affect stability and breaking so not good unless on snow & ice.
Hi just asking to confirm about snow chains.
You mentioned and showed the snow chain sign snow chains are needed when this sign is present.
What wasn’t clear is does this mean you still need snow chains even if you have proper rated winter snow tyres?
Hi Duncan. As I understand it, now that the law has changed, as long as you don't have a trailer you can choose to use EITHER winter tyres or snow chains, even on the B26 roads. But bear in mind the B26 roads require chains/ winter tyres at any time of the year, not just Nov- March. Hope that clears it up for you.
HI! If you have proper winter tires, you don't need chains. Only vehicles over 3.5 t are required to have snow chains for use if necessary.
M + S stands for Mud and Snow, winter tyres are fantastic and can also be used on dry roads no problem. Chains are a pain to fit and use and speed restricted like a few km/hour. Snow socks are useless. Studded tyres are dreadful and cause huge damage to vehicle roads. Winter tyres are the best option and are compulsary in many countries.
M and S is Mud and Snow or a great place for decent food and clothes.... 😊
And cake... :)
Wonder if this law will be routinely ignored by motorhome users like the blind spot stickers have been? I think I’ve seen max 3 motorhomes with those stickers on,
Hi M + S = Mud and Slush, not full winter tyres
Great video cheers
Paul
I would presume m and s stands for mountain and snow
Ha- I thought this too but didn’t want to assume! Should probably just look it up… 🤦♀️🤷♀️
@@WanderingBird might be a good idea
it stands for mud and snow
Mud and snow
MUD + Snow :)
I understand the French authorities very well. It is stupide and dangerous to drive on winter roads with summer tires. When I go to Spain in the winter, I always use studless winter tires with Three Peak Mountain Snowflake Symbol (3PMSF, the ultimate tested winter tire). I'm driving a motorhome, so the grip is good enough on dry or wet asphalt too. The main reason is because I usually drive home to NORWAY in December, and it is 99% certain it is winter conditions there. But also because I don't want any surprises in the mountains south in Europe. -And btw, Germany does not allow studded tires.
The focus on fines sound strange. How about focus on safety? I don't want to meet you down a snowy road with four season tires (Winter tires wannabe) either.
👍😎
Won't affect me in anyway what so ever! I used to ski in France every year. I certainly will not be skiing there ever again!!!
arse!!!
This has been law for meny meny year's in europe back 40 years ago I had to have winter tyres all round and that was all 10 tyres and snow chains for my drive axle on my truck from November to March, we could revert to normal tyres in march but we had to keep the snow chains on the truck all year just incase it snowed and I've had snow in April and may on the mountains between France, Italy, and Spain so this is not really a new law brought in by the French government.
Snow chains are a pain in the a**e, if you want to drive into the beautiful mountains in winter, get a second set of tyres/wheels. Then you can relax and enjoy!
M +S. =. Mud and Snow.
I don't believe M + S is accepted for winter tyres everywhere. Far better to ensure you have the ' 3 peaks' symbol. I.e Germany and Austria.
Yep, 3 peaks is definitely the way to go.
Mud and snow
M+S - what girl doesn’t know what those two letters are, my wife is always there!
Shhhhh. I'm just grateful I'm in charge of our accounting... ;)
Imagine living in a country where laws are enacted for the benefit of the population rather than just billionaire interests. What must that be like? ;)
Stupid trying to drive up and down mountains in snow and ice in a heavy 2 wheel drive heavy campervan anyway, correct tyres or not 😂