Hello! It is that time of year, and being the madman I am I daily drive my Jag no matter the weather. I've only had it since March so this is my first winter with it. Does anyone have experience putting chains on their car/recommendations for chains to buy? I am looking to take a 1200 mile road trip soon that goes through some chain up areas.

 

Don't even think about driving your 2012 IRR XKR in freezing temperatures or on snowy/icy roads, even if you are the world's greatest driver. It's the other idiot you really have to worry about. And the black ice. If you have summer tires, you will have zero traction.

Why risk damage to your XKR? Aluminum repairs are costly, and the insurance company will total your car and pay you far less than you believe it's worth. Where are you going to find another Italian Racing Red XKR? That's a very rare color.

Rent an AWD SUV or sedan and make sure that it's covered by your insurance or buy the rental car company's insurance.

If you insist on driving your XKR, then search Amazon for "rubber car chains". Here's one:

But beware - you risk damage to your rim. And if it breaks, you'll have significant damage to the fender.

Your car, your choice.

 

I used the nylon straps on the xjr to go to ski country... wanted to try them. In hindsight, it was probably overkill, though fun.
Never needed them on the xkr. And did visit the same locations. Mind you, I'm as serious about my winter tires as I am with my summer tires and my all season tires.

 

Jaguar understand that owners who take their vehicles to the European ski resorts are required to carry/fit snow chains and provide three solutions for the XK:


1. SNOW CHAINS




The full PDF exceeds forum filesize limits so I can't attach it.



2. SPIKES TRACTION SYSTEM




Again, the fitting instructions are a large PDF.



3. SNOW SOCKS






The first two are likely to be hugely expensive from Jaguar. I've used SNOW SOCKS on an XK8 in France and they were very effective in fresh snow. In recent years I've taken my four wheel drive Bentley Continental instead during the Winter.

Graham

 

I bought the second set mentioned for my '98 XJR. I don't think I ever used them on it but have used them on all my 'ski cars'.

They are adjustable as you can add and remove chain links so fit a number of different wheel and tyre sizes and take seconds to put on if the hub is already fitted. The hub clamps on to the wheel nuts so I put that on at the beginning of the ski season and take it off again at the end.

 

Thanks Graham!
I purchased mine in ‘07. But they were different than those you show. Mine were nylon over cable. (Probably to protect the wheel)

 

YES - a better idea. If I planned regular snow use, I'd give serious thought to a spare set of wheels.

Graham

 

In my part of the UK we rarely get temps drop to below minus 4, in my driving times in coldest months it's between zero and 6 degrees. Have held off fitting winter tyres for a couple of years although have a set of spare vulcan's and rear set of sotzero's in the garage.

This year I've purchased a set of Falken HS01's for the front and am going for it, since I've only seen snow here 3 times in 20yrs. Appreciate that when the air temp is at 10c the road temp is 6-7c so mine are going on next week, which will mean my MPSP4S's will last that much longer.

Rims have just been C5 wheel armoured, and will be finished with some 'reload' for extra water repellence.

 

Graham,
What did you think of the snow socks overall? I've seen them advertised, but the ads are clearly fake. I would like some real world experience feedback.
Thanks.

 

Chains will likely be the OP's only option. Laws vary from State to State. I think spikes were outlawed by all States by the 1980's due to the road damage they cause. I'm guessing, but only guessing, that the nylon straps would be a no go in some States too. I lived in Colorado and at the time, chains were the only option as spikes had recently been banned. That was awhile ago and the nylon cable tech maybe ok, I dunno, but he would want to confirm it in every State he's passing through.
Marky, in the Western US, mostly where the terrain is mountainous, different States will announce "chain law in effect", much like a weather department issues a winter storm warning. It's obviously weather dependent, but highway patrols in these States will block all roads and enforce the law. So to the OP's question, if he's passing though Mountain States and a chain law goes into effect, he must put chains on. If you already knew that, apologies for the post.
I like the rims in the pic btw.

 

Here's the unbiased review by Consumer Reports:

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...d-it/index.htm

Summary:


My view:
AutoSock appears to be identical to the Jaguar Snow Sock in GGG's post #4, above.

I wouldn't drive my XKR on snow covered roads because of the risk of getting hit by another vehicle, and would buy a 4WD beater just for the winter. But if you have no choice and must drive your XKR in the winter where it snows heavily, I'd buy this type of product for emergency use only because of the 30 mph speed limit, difficulty of installation, and concerns about durability and longevity. I'd buy snow tires before buying any of these products.

And Sean W is right about state chain laws. These devices might not be legal.

 

I'd point out that in the owners manual, chains of any type are not recommended for 20-inch wheels, though I'm sure the snow-sock would work on 20's and certainly be better than nothing. I'm also sure that they wouldn't pass chain-up laws in the northwest and rockies. (And I think the nylon-strap ones are in fact legal, but don't quote me)

And I'm sure most people here have experienced this, but.... have you driven any length of road in a car with chains? It's not a pleasant experience-- and usually done while driving a vehicle with fat sidewalls on the tires that can absorb some of that vibration. Why put your suspension though that?
And on the subject of suspension, we've got cars with control arm bushings that dry and crack and bust open if you as much as look at 'em funny. I just don't think it's worth it.
Plus, if there's enough snow to require chains, you're that Jerk Driving His Jag In The Snow. Ask me how I know....

 

Sean, apologies in my 8urs living stateside I typically only lived in warmer states.

The European view of the US is mostly as seen below:

 

Only chains I will put on mine will be a timing chain !

 

I got a pair when they first came out and carried them on a Winter trip to France just for emergencies. On the return journey nothing was moving for about thirty miles around the Channel ports after sudden heavy snowfall and we had to work our way around stuck trucks and abandoned cars. The snow socks kept me moving. They will get you out of trouble but are really only useful for that. OK as long as there's soft snow but start to break up on sharp ice or patches of tarmac. I think maybe two or three uses would be the effective lifespan.

Graham

 

yeah... I've never had a need for a long drive down a paved road with chains. I put them on when I need them (snow covered dirt roads) and remove them promptly when I don't need them.
Even in "moderately deep snow" on paved roads, good snow tires do an excellent job.

Also, even without the snow, snow tires are much more friendly and useful in the colder temperatures. (Anyone see the Turkish F1 this last weekend)
I cannot even get the cat up my driveway if the temperature dips below 2 and there is the slightest of frost, with the Summer's on. With the all seasons it works, but there is some obvious give.

 

I have a truck for driving in snow. I don't have to worry about getting stuck in a Jaaaggg. Plus, I don't want layers of slop and slush frozen all over.

 

In the UK the Local Authorites and the national Highways Agency spread salted grit on the roads. This soon turns the snow into a filthy slush but the residual grit is then left to be kicked up by tyres throughout the rest of the year and hits other vehicles like bullets. The front bumpers on my XK8's needed re-painting every two years and several stone chips repaired in the windscreens. The XK's have so far been less prone to stone chip damage but I think that's probably just more good luck than anything else.

Our Continental European neighbours don't follow the same stupidity. They either snow plough or snow blow the roads, fit appropriate tyres and get on with it.

Graham

 

I was amazed at the lack of stone chips on my XK driving through the winters. I saw go for the chains, winter tires, etc... and have some fun!

 

Don't you like your car? Most Jag owners love their cars and if you love your car you don't unnecessarily ruin it! There is absolutely no reason to drive these cars in the winter! For one thing they're unstable on icey roads because that was never the priority when they designed them. As if being unsuitable for the conditions isn't enough, it's further hampered by the fact that they have no ground clearance when you get into more than a couple inches of snow. I can't think of a better vehicle to drive in those conditions if your goal is going off the road and into whatever happens to be on the side of the road - trees, ravines, whatever. But the big thing is what happens to your expensive and once valuable pride and joy when all those deicing chemicals get into every nook and cranny of the car and destroy it from the inside - which they absolutely will! Driving any vehicle in the winter will slowly and surely destroy it, it's just a matter of time. If you don't wreck it you'll at the very least send it slowly back to the dust from which thou came. If you're going to drive in the winter then drive something designed for it that isn't also a specialty vehicle, something disposable and fit for the job. Would you also put a hitch on it and pull a 30' camper too? Driving these cars in winter conditions is nothing more than a recipe for destroying your nice car and/or getting yourself killed. Instead of destroying a beautiful $90,000 car for no reason and risking your life, why not buy a used 4WD SUV or something and not have to worry about any of it?