Snow chains for modern vehicles
From what I’ve observed overseas snow tyres make a massive difference. The Japanese fly around in their little tiny cube cars with thin snow tyres and rarely seem to lose traction. It’s really only the trucks/buses you regularly see with chains.
I’m sure there must be a sacrifice in wear rating though that would make them less than optimal for the typical Australians drive to the snow i.e 99% of it isn’t actually on snow/ice rather a dry highway.
Yeah I’m sure they work fine, it’s just a judgement call as to whether it’s worth all the cost and hassle to run them in winter vs the risk. On the cost side, the shop guy’s argument was that while you’re running winter tyres your summer tyres are not wearing. This is true, however there is a labour cost in changing tyres and also the hassle of storing them. I would think for people travelling to the snow a lot, or frequently on particularly dangerous roads snow tyres might be a good option. For the rest of us, a set of chains is probably fine. Buy a second set of chains if you’re driving on especially bad roads infrequently.
. . . Hotham for 2013 . . . the official notice explicitly bans [] spider chains. It’s the banning of spider chains that is freaking people out, because it obviously leaves those who have cars with minimal clearance with precious few options.
WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!
Evidently, my chains are categorised as “spider chains” - and they’re easily the best chains I have EVER used, ANYWHERE in the world!!!!!!!
The Hotham RMB are evidently a bunch of morons - this insanity is beyond belief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, Chucky, there’s a mini-riot over on the other forum. It only applies to Hotham, though.
^ For snowboarders, there is no “other forum”. 
Anyone want to buy a Hotham day pass voucher - good for any day in the season?
I’m sure there must be a sacrifice in wear rating though that would make them less than optimal for the typical Australians drive to the snow i.e 99% of it isn’t actually on snow/ice rather a dry highway.
My memory could be wrong but i swear someone told me that snow tyres are illegal outside of high country ares in Australia?
I’m sure there must be a sacrifice in wear rating though that would make them less than optimal for the typical Australians drive to the snow i.e 99% of it isn’t actually on snow/ice rather a dry highway.
My memory could be wrong but i swear someone told me that snow tyres are illegal outside of high country ares in Australia?
Could very well be true. I’ve done absolutely zero research on the matter as I’ve never considered them (only going by what I’ve seen in Japan) but they could have all sorts speed/load rating issues when in non alpine areas.
An extreme example would be what F1 cars do to wet tyres when the track starts to dry. The tread pattern movement and overheating is a disaster.
I’m sure there must be a sacrifice in wear rating though that would make them less than optimal for the typical Australians drive to the snow i.e 99% of it isn’t actually on snow/ice rather a dry highway.
My memory could be wrong but i swear someone told me that snow tyres are illegal outside of high country ares in Australia?
That can’t be right, unless you’re talking about some full-on studded tyres or something? The snow tyres in the shop just looked like moderately chunky 4WD tyres. The big deal about them is that they stay rubbery at low temps rather than going hard and plastic-y.
Ah - i think I was thinking of the studded variety!
Ah - i think I was thinking of the studded variety!
Straight to the “taken out of context” thread! 
Yeah, Chucky, there’s a mini-riot over on the other forum. It only applies to Hotham, though.
Well, that’s valuable time I’ll never get back. Yeah, so I ventured over to ski.com.au to see for myself. I see nothing’s changed - what a bunch of self-absorbed morons!!!
The underlying sentiment is that of “it doesn’t affect me, so I don’t care” - from 4WD driving Hotham locals. What these geniuses (and Hotham RMB) fail to comprehend, is that low profile wheels/tyres are FAR safer and more efficient to drive on for the hundreds of kilometres casual visitors to Hotham have to drive to get there. Contrast that to the10-20 kilometres these casual visitors MAY have to drive with chains ONLY if it happens to be snowing heavily, and you get the picture. Idiots.
Some people there genuinely believe that Hotham’s asinine decision to ban “spider chains” (effectively banning every modern vehicle that simply can’t use any other type of chain) will not affect visitor numbers to Hotham at all!!! These ignorant clowns REALLY think that someone who has paid between $600 - $800 on chains is going to be perfectly fine with shelling out even MORE money for chains, even though the ones they’ve got work extremely well!!!
And as far as I’m aware, the number of resorts besides Hotham to ban ‘spider chains’ is also ZERO.
Jim Atteridge (the Hotham bloke responsible for this) is a deadset idiot.
If I had pre-paid for Hotham passes and accommodation etc. prior to their ridiculous rule amendment, I’d be demanding a FULL refund!
Any travel agent handling Hotham bookings better make REALLY sure they are VERY clear to EVERY single client, that there are new rules in place regarding access tom the resort! Anyone arriving at the base of the resort (unaware the chains they’ve previously used are now banned) only to be turned away, is NOT going to be too chuffed! There’s bound to be law suits.
They may have struck a nice deal with the bus company that leaves from Harrietville to Hotham to ban those chains to increase their patronage perhaps?
I doubt it affects that many people!
It should be noted that this exercise in abject stupidity was a Hotham decision, not a VicRoads decision.