Off to Queenstown & Wanaka boarding in August. I'm told that if u hire a car you will need (by law?) snow chains. Anyone been over there had to put snow chains on before? Are they a pain in the ass? Also if you hire a 4wd instead does this mean no snow chains necessary?

4WD still needs chains
Its not law, but if you have a prang, insurance won't want to know you since its deemed necessary for safe driving in snow (it actually not snow, but for a icey surface, where its like glass)

You normally leave them on while in the highland, snow areas and take them off on dry areas, so only put them on once

I used chains plenty back in the USA. They are a pain in the arse to put on when its freezing cold and snowing. I will post up a how to from the libo forum recently to show you how. If you are renting a car in a snow chain required area then usually the rental car place provides a set in the boot.

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Funny looking German Subaru

Off to same areas in July with some mates and we have hired 3 cars - which come with snow chains.

Basically you stop the car, lay each chain for each wheel just in front of it, and then slowly roll the car over the top of the chains and attach them.

As PMH said it's not law but you will definitely want to consider them!

email sent with instructions and pic. The great thing about Subaru AWD is that you really dont need the chains as long as you have good all weather tyres. I used to go snow boarding every weekend to Lake Tahoe, 11,000 feet above sea level and usually 4-5 feet of snow each year. You get stopped at checkpoints before you drive up the mountain to ski resorts and they will let you pass if you have 4wd or AWD, if not then you have to put chains on before proceeding. If you dont have chains they will sell them to you on the spot and even get someone to install them for you. $50 later you are driving with chains.

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Funny looking German Subaru

You generally don't have to put chains on with a four wheel drive. I never did in the 323 GTX over 4 years....
Al

Cool thanks for info guys. Roll on August!

Be careful driving on snow/ice - It's not hard to almost end up in a tree doing 30 km/h in the italian mountains

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TD06 - Oink.