No going to the snow in a 162TSI :(

[latearrival]

I'm posting this in the hope that one of you guys has a solution for this. Or at the very least, I'd like to warn others or save them some time...

There are no diamond-pattern snow chains currently available that will fit the 162TSI with its 18x7 wheels and 235/55 R18 tyres.

I've just had my car measured up by Roof Carrier Systems and there's just too little clearance.You can get spider chains that'll fit. But these are designed for use on winter tyres, not the summer tyres we drive on all year round here. Spider chains aren't even allowed on Hotham, only diamond pattern chains. And the manufacturers don't provide warranty on spider chains that are fitted to summer tyres.

My dealership couldn't help. VW Australia couldn't help. Their only 'solution' was to buy a set of different wheels+winter tyres and swap the wheels over when I want to go to the snow!

So I feel like I may have just bought a car that I can't drive to the snow in