Piranha Off Road’s snow chain range

IT'S THE last month of winter, and snow is still falling in most ski fields of the southern states.

So, before spring and warmer weather arrives, load up the fourbie for a winter retreat to Australia's alpine regions. Whether it be Thredbo, Hotham or Buller, it’s imperative your 4x4 is ready to tackle snow and ice, as an ill-prepared vehicle can often result in a nasty accident.

“It is snow-chain season, and you have to have snow chains that fit your 4x4, not just chains,” Piranha Off Road said in a statement. Piranha Off Road has a range of snow/mud chains to suit a variety of four-wheel drives, catering for wheel sizes that range from 15 inches to 22.5 inches.

Piranha Off Road chains are made of nickel chromium manganese high strength steel to ensure the highest of qualities, and the diamond pattern of the chain is designed to maximise traction on highly slippery surfaces.

Fitment of the chains is a simple process, but be careful of suspension modifications that may alter clearance on front tyres or IFS models that limit clearance to a 4WD snow chain. It may mean the chain will not fit at all. With the chains fitted, a maximum speed limit of 40km/h is strongly advised.

VicRoads outlines the following rules regarding snow chains:
1. A person in charge of a vehicle who enters an alpine resort must at all times during the snow season, carry wheel chains suitable to be properly fitted to that vehicle
2. An authorised officer may, at any time, for reasons of safety or for the control or protection of an alpine resort, direct a person in charge of a vehicle to ensure that wheel chains are properly fitted to the drive wheels of that vehicle or, in the case of four wheel drive vehicle, to either the front or rear wheels of that vehicle.
3. A person in charge of a vehicle entering or in an alpine resort during the snow season must, when directed to do so by an authorised officer under sub-regulation (2), ensure that wheel chains are properly fitted to the vehicle in the manner directed by that officer.

A vehicle fitment guide is available from the Piranha Off Road website.

To view the complete range of snow chains, visit: http://www.piranhaoffroad.com.au/product/recovery/snow-mud-chains-4wd

Prices start for Piranha Off-Road’s range of snow/mud chains from $200.