Snow Chains are they required

[Deleted member 967]

Hi folks

We are heading down to Spain in November this year and returning in April.

Are there any places on the route down that I need to carry snow chains? Is it a legal requirement to carry them even if you don't intend to use them? I would just park up if the roads were bad.

Proposed route via the west coast of France from Calais via Bordeaux, RN 10 which circumnavigates Bayonne, Biarritz, San Sebastian. then either Zaragoza to med Coast of Spain, or across the plain via Burgos, Madrid, Granada, Malaga.

We don't want to go across the mountains so planned to hug the coasts and valleys.

John

 

[vwalan]

hi john , i have carried snow chains for years but never used in anger .they dont fit my mitzy so have took them out of the truck. even in maroc when we bribe the man at the snow barrier and traveled on never used them .have many a time woke up to fairly deep snow .like you said dont drive its more fun to have a day in the snow. main routes are cleared very quick. .its more end of march near burgos it can catch many out specially if racing for the ferry. allow lots of time. cant see how you cross from north to south missing th hills though . have been on most routes and spain is very high. which ever way you go. have a good trip but if you havent got chains then just dont drive if its snowy. what size are your wheel tyre . i have some 13inch and some 14-15 inch here .a few sets as we used to sell them years ago. not nice driving with them and they can damage tyres if not took off early. course you may not see any snow it happens . cheers alan.

 

[Deleted member 967]

hi john , i have carried snow chains for years but never used in anger .they dont fit my mitzy so have took them out of the truck. even in maroc when we bribe the man at the snow barrier and traveled on never used them .have many a time woke up to fairly deep snow .like you said dont drive its more fun to have a day in the snow. main routes are cleared very quick. .its more end of march near burgos it can catch many out specially if racing for the ferry. allow lots of time. cant see how you cross from north to south missing th hills though . have been on most routes and spain is very high. which ever way you go. have a good trip but if you havent got chains then just dont drive if its snowy. what size are your wheel tyre . i have some 13inch and some 14-15 inch here .a few sets as we used to sell them years ago. not nice driving with them and they can damage tyres if not took off early. course you may not see any snow it happens . cheers alan.

Thanks for the reply Alan

I was looking at an Atlas and it showed a green band across Spain at Zaragoza which I thought looked fairly low Google shows spot heights mostly below 1000ft.

My wheels are 185x14 Twin wheels on the rear.

John

 

[vwalan]

hi, john .are you coming anywhere near cornwall before you go. i have 2 sets here but you still only fit them on the outside wheels so you need one set.
as for the mountains you may be not so high but both sides ofyou will be very high and the wind can bring the snow in. but as i say you may not get near it . i went from santander to barcelona last dec .we had snow either side of the road but we were clear. it came down to just a few hundred yards from the road was interesting to see. if you can get here you can borrow a set if it bothers you. we hope to be on the boat to santander about 2nd week in nov. possibly heading to cartegena other wise it makes a dogleg trip. have fun. cheers alan.