snow chains and snow tyres

[alimac]

Does anyone have any experience of snow chains on an x type? The Jaguar OE ones seem hugely expensive compared to non-OE (set on ebay say rrp = £430). Can't use on mix of cleared roads and bad snow - how easy are they to fit/remove?

What about winter tyres - again, anyone with any experience of using these?

Generally, car was excellent last winter - worth having the 4wd!

[gwj]

I have to admit my 2.0d Estate was useless in the white stuff the last 2 winters.
This time around I have a spare set of 16" rims with winters tyres on. Will report back on findings.

G

[NightSky]

I have used Federal Himalaya snow tyres (225/45x17) on my AWD 3.0 Litre in Austria. The performance on snow is just amazing compared to what we are used to on 2WD summer tyred cars in the UK. Can recommend.

[gwj]

Well a big thumbs up for winter tyres, I now have a usable car in the bad stuff.
Lincoln to Birmingham and back last weekend (1st proper snow of this winter) in complete safety and confidence. Last winter I just woudnt have attempted it.
Tyres are a set of Falken Eurowinter 205/55/16

G

[robv12]

having lived in the far north of the UK for years (Shetland) and now in the Scottish Borders where we have seen the worst snow the UK has had in the last few years, we always have a spare set of rims with winter tyres fitted ready to bolt on, I buy them in the summer, part worn in sets of four, this years cost 89 quid!!, 6mm of tread , Michelins, go anywhere, bolted to our "winter XJ40", I go down one size in width and up one size in profile, so we run 215/65/15 in the winter and 225/60/16 in the summer

[alimac]

ended up going down the 'spare set of alloys + winter tyres' for all 4 wheels and the winter tyres do make a difference. with such poor values now on 3.0l petrol, car not worth selling so keeping it as my winter car - impossible to replace with another 4x4 for the price, except, of course, with another X!

[gwj]

Good move Alimac, you wont regret it. My winter set are about to go on for the 3rd winter now, if it ever stops raining!
Apart from the initial cost, its a win win situation, you have the right tyre for the conditions.
Nice summer wheels tucked up in the shed not getting curbed and eaten with road salt.
Winters set fitted giving exceptional grip the colder it gets, not just in the snow.
The Falken Eurowinter HS 439 arguably not the best in snow performance (have now been superseded by the HS449) but still a zillion times better than the Continental SC3 summer tyre which were completely and utterly useless in the snow.
Anyone who thinks they are a waste of money really ought to try some.