AusiTraveller

Hello - need some advice. We have a rental car already but are travelling to Germany / Belgium & Switzerland - staying in major towns - will we need snow chains? Most importantly to drive to Bellevue Hotel, Interlaken from Pfullendorf. Thanks.

Bird

You MAY need chains. Inquire at the rental agency to see if they are in the trunk of your vehicle. I would ask for snow tires.

The Germans and Swiss are very good at getting snow off the roads.

DalaiLlama

As you may have gathered from the responses to your other two posts where you expressed similar concerns, you absolutely need winter tires (or tyres), and you should have chains in the trunk, and you should take the time to practice putting them on. In a blizzard that is not the way to learn to do it.

You will probably not ever need the chains, but the winter rubber will be welcome on any slippery surfaces - it doesn't have to be a blizzard, just a cold night with humidity like drizzle that freezes.

Andre

Hi AusiTraveller,

When are you travelling? If between November and April, you really do need a car equipped with snow/winter tyres in case there is ice/snow on the road.

Chains are not necessary, unless you intend to drive on mountain roads during heavy snowfall. This is certainly not necessary in order to reach Interlaken.

Hope this helps,
Andre

J62

I agree with Andre.

If the weather is bad enough that you need chains you shouldn't be on the roads in the first place.