Bulgaria Ski discussion board
Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
Author:Marc
posts : 13 (Beginner)Date : 01-25-12 20:26Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
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 ...
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 ...
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
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
re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
A new option is snow socks for tyres, a lot lighter than chains and cost about 40 pounds.re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
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.
re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
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, ...
Snow chains are very cheap here, and with a bit of practice fairly simple to fit. The best place for tyres is on-line, ...
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....
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....
re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
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.
re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
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? 
re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
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.
re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
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
re: Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
Local tyre people fit them for a small charge only 10 euro in any German fitters per tyre so must be cheaper in Bulgariare: Winter Tyres or Snow chains?
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 ...
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 ...
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
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
