| Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Marc (---.ddns-lan.rakovski.ekk.bg)
posts : 13
Date : 01-25-12 20:26
Having Driven from Turkey without chains (couldn't find them) I bought a pair in Carrefore Sofia for 30lv. Boy did i need them today, we went to Dobrinishte, managed to get about half way on my Summer tyres before requiring the Chains.
Massive difference, chalk and cheese, but got me thinking maybe I should invest in some winter tyres as we have made the 1000km journey 3 years in a row and have been lucky so far in the fact this has been the first year we needed chains.
So my question is, are winter tyres as good on snow as chains?
There were plenty of cars at the top today and only about 5% had snow chains, i guess the remainder had winter tyres.
Second question would be where would be the best place to get winter tyres in the Bansko area and roughly how much do they cost (I have 175/70*14).
Its been snowing most of the day in Bansko today so I drove back with the chains on as I'm pretty sure they will also be needed tomorrow.
regards
Marc |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : arron (---.bb.sky.com)
posts : 3658
Date : 01-26-12 01:15
A new option is snow socks for tyres, a lot lighter than chains and cost about 40 pounds.
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Niki (---.range86-154.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 208
Date : 01-26-12 02:19
Haven't driven in Bulgaria but used reg tyres and chains in Greece, didn't like fitting them, snow tyres all winter in Lithuania and Latvia, felt great and reg tyres and textile socks (so easy to fit) in N Spain to get up to ski resort, they worked great but only used them for the last few kilometres above the serious snow line. I would opt for snow tyres every time. |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Steve C (85.118.193.---)
posts : 2390
Date : 01-26-12 08:39
Snow tyres are a requirement on BG roads, even for visitors, and when indicated (a sign with a snow chain and tyre) you must carry snow chains... The roads are awash with cars attempting to travel on summer tyres, they cause more problems than anything else, blocking roads and colliding with other vehicles, and do not get me started about trucks attempting the same 
Snow chains are very cheap here, and with a bit of practice fairly simple to fit. The best place for tyres is on-line, barzgumve.com will deliver to any address in BG within 3 days. You can buy from local dealers but expect to pay a premium...
Snowsocks will get you out of a sticky spot, but long term they are not very durable, chains are far better...
Do it now !!!! i do not want to get stuck again behind a GR, SRB, ROM, MAC etc car/truck who is attempting (in vain) to cross Predal in the snow.... |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : don (---.range109-157.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 422
Date : 01-26-12 10:16
Travelling to Italy (Aosta), on Fri night, winter tyres fitted and chains in the back ready, snow is forecast so may need the chains to get up the pass to resort (La thuile).
The allocation of winter tyres was increased this year by most wholesalers in the UK, but it has appeared that sales have been slow due to the mild weather, there may be some bargains about in UK, but I guess getting them out there will be restrictively expensive.
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Marc (---.static.as29550.net)
posts : 13
Date : 01-26-12 10:40
Thanks for the comments,
I'm Happy fitting snowchains when needed, but still trying to establish that during snowy conditions Like now in Bansko are winter tyres better? do they grip as good as Snowchains or Better?
Steve, great site, thank goodness for google chromes autotranslation  we are here for another 10 days so could get them delivered. Any recommendations based on 3 weeks a year usage? Also do they have partners for fitting or would it just be the local tyre man? |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Roger decoursey (---.range109-148.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 39
Date : 01-26-12 10:43
Winter tyres are required by law in Bulgaria, obviously in winter, all bulgars that i know have a spare set of tyres that they seasonally change. |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Andie (---.as13285.net)
posts : 1201
Date : 01-26-12 11:01
My winter tyres are on a spare set of wheels . It's easier to replace and/or have them checked out before fitting.
Also, headlights must be used at all times from beginning of October to end of April |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Niki (---.range86-154.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 208
Date : 01-26-12 11:02
Local tyre people fit them for a small charge only 10 euro in any German fitters per tyre so must be cheaper in Bulgaria |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Marc (---.static.as29550.net)
posts : 13
Date : 01-26-12 11:03
From reading around the Internet AA.com and Winter Tyrehttp://www.winter-tyres.info/europe-requirements.html#007 they seem to say that there is no regulation for winter tyres only for carrying chains where sign posted.
I'm sure that whether law or not they are essential in the mountainous regions as steve has said weve had 50cm in the last 2 days and its still chucking it down.
Here is a list from the website, anyone using and can recommend?
http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?suchen=Ordern&cart_id=59019311.153.18841&ranzahl=4&Breite=175&Quer=70&Felge=14&Speed=N&Transport=P&dsco=153&sowigan=Wi&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=20&sort_by=preis
thanks Marc |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Marc (---.static.as29550.net)
posts : 13
Date : 01-26-12 11:11
winter tyres for 2 or 4 wheels, We tend to only put chains on the drive wheels but there are lots of people recommending 4 wheels for winter tyres.
Any thoughts? |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Steve C (85.118.193.---)
posts : 2390
Date : 01-26-12 19:35
The requirement is for drive wheels, but not a bad thing to have them all round... Snow tyres will not give you the grip of chains, but vastly improved traction over normal tyres... and remember to adjust your driving style, nailing the accelerator to the floor and spinning the wheels will not get you anywhere, slowly, slowly, in a higher gear than normal, think well ahead, leave plenty of space between you and the car in front (though you likely will get some idiot pull in between you)... Chains on all wheels ??? nah, just the drive wheels... and snow tyres ?? fit on the drive wheels also, as you are here for short periods, and the local place will fit them, 10lv a wheel... |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Steve C (85.118.193.---)
posts : 2390
Date : 01-27-12 08:56
And as for tyres, choose the cheapest... honestly, we have noticed no difference between Asian imports and expensive German... we are running `Sunny', `Toko' and most recently `Nankang'... C rated transporter, around 170lv delivered.. |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Steve Gee (---.range86-134.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 80
Date : 01-27-12 18:51
Left Bansko this morning for Sofia airport, in the hire car , with winter tyres. Some uncertain moments on the icy sections of road but generally it was a smooth drive. If I hadn't taken the first exist into Sofia I would have saved a good half hour but got to finally see central Sofia !
What a cracking four days we had, it was like skiing on silk and the powder yesterday was the best. Hope it lasts, as back out in March.
For the locals I have a couple of questions. Why were the lorries all parked up along the main routes ? and Why are there pictures of people on doors in Old Town Bansko ?
Anyone on their way to Bulgaria will have a cracking time in the snow and after 5 years I still can't get over the value for money.
Enjoy !
Steve |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Steve W (---.in-addr.btopenworld.com)
posts : 12
Date : 01-27-12 19:10
In answer to Steve Gee questions;
I assume that the lorries are parked up because of a Code Red weather warning was issued which banned all vehicles over 10 tons from travelling on the roads due to the snow.
In respect of the pictures of people on the doors and / or lamp posts, these are death announcements. The pictures are often of the people when they were young. |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Steve C (85.118.193.---)
posts : 2390
Date : 01-27-12 20:26
Correctomondo |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Steve Gee (---.range86-133.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 80
Date : 01-28-12 12:30
Thanks Steves
Thats sad as there are many such posters ! |
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| re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains? |
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Author : Steve C (85.118.193.---)
posts : 2390
Date : 01-29-12 08:37
Not quite so sad, its a celebration of their life, in remembrance of happy times, and some of the posters are 30 years old, they are rarely taken down... If you want a sight look at the gate of the local cemetery down near the bus station, hundreds of posters... |
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