I have a 2010 Frelander 2 XS, which is fitted with Continental Contact 108V M+S 235/65/17 tyres. To me, M+S indicates that it is a definite snow tyre.

As it happens, I am driving to Switzerland next February and had planned to fit the car with specialist snow tyres such as the Pirelli Scorpion Ice and Snow; and then transfer back to the Continentals for the Summer months. This idea evolved before I realised I was already running on M+S tyres. Has anyone got any suggestions please as to what is my best action, bearing in mind that the Continentals have already done 10 k miles.

Conventional snow chains are no good on this model Freelander, and I need to purchase single sided Spike Spyder Traction devices. I believe the locking device can be fitted to the wheels and left in place; making the pre adjusted chains a simple task to fit. Is this a must for a Landrover purchase, or are there any independents out there who supply the same thing. I understand from the handbook that Spyder devices can only be fitted to the front wheels, this surprises me as I would have thought it would have made the traction uneven on a four wheel drive vehicle.

I may be wrong but the research I have done has shown that while your M+S tyres will be better in snow than a summer specific tyre it is not going to be as good as a dedicated snow tyre such as the Pirelli Scorpian you have mentioned.

Regarding snow chains, I thought the same as you that standard chains were a no-no on the 17" wheels, but I spoke to a dealer last week that said chains are available for the 17" wheels. I pressed him to see if they were spikes spiders or similar but he assured me they were standard wrap around snow chains.

I am in a similar position to you, except that I will be spending the entire winter in the Swiss Alps, so I am looking at snow tyres and chainsas well. At the moment I am leaning towards Bridgestone Blizzak DM V1 but I think they are very snow and ice specific compared to a lot of other winter tyres.

JOHNTYWYN
BenSki
M+S tyres are a compromise and will not perform in the snow as well as a fully fledged "Winter" tyre. Braking distances are greatly reduced and grip vastly improved.

LR Snow Traction System LR005169: LR Duckworth Market Rasen have'em @ 28% discount for £350 (work ONLY on 17 & 18" wheels) - still a lot of money -chains will be cheaper but take longer to fit. And YES you must fit them to the front wheels ONLY.

Also - see my post this morning on the Thread "how to drive a Td4" for information re winter driving in CH.

Many thanks, both of you. You have answered my questions thoroughly, and been very helpful. I will opt for the dedicated snow tyres, and the spike spyders.

I now have a set of Land rover's own spike spyder traction system which I was lucky enough to pick up on ebay, but prior to this I was concidering the Weissenfels Klack and go quattro which appears to be a fantastic system and like the spike spyder's, very easy to use. Try here;

http://www.snowchains.co.uk/main/index_4x4_chains.htm

I've got a set of Snowsocks which fit over the front tyres, never had to use them. Also carry a set of standard snow chains to satisfy the demands of the Gendarmerie who do not recognise Snowsocks as a legitimate alternative to chains. To be fair the Gendarmes in France were stopping everyone and making them fit chains, took one look at my LR and waved me through. Said LR then proceeded to climb snow covered hill with no difficulty.