The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a vehicle capable of driving on any type of terrain. Produced in Graz, Austria, customers can test its capabilities ten miles from where it was made in the G-Class Experience Center.
Nothing stops it
Nothing can stop the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, but for a Swiss customer and owner of a chalet in the Alps located at 3000 meters above sea level, the off-roader needed to be improved so that he could reach his home even in the worst weather conditions .
So he knocked on the door of Delta 4×4, which instead of wheels, installed tracks capable of carrying the vehicle to the star anywhere, whether it’s windy, snowy or raining. . The preparer began the transformation by increasing the body height by 20 cm so that the machine could accommodate the tracks. Delta 4×4 has also modified the front bumper and the wheel arches, without forgetting to add a roof rack.
More than €100,000 of preparation
These modifications have a cost, and the bill is frankly salty. The installation of the tracks still costs €50,000, to which must be added the same amount to homologate all the parts in Switzerland . And that’s not all, because the tuner invoices the suspension (as well as its homologation) at €19,000, to which price must be added a ticket of €20,000 for all the extras such as the bumper, the roof rack, the wheels, etc
Adding up all the prices, the modification of this Mercedes-Benz G-Class will have cost €139,000, which is close to the price of the vehicle in France (€149,651) . In case you were wondering, this transformation is reversible. The customer can always remove the tracks in summer in order to install traditional tires.
Driving in winter without breaking the bank
Not everyone has the means or the ambition to replace the wheels of their vehicle with tracks. Fortunately, there are several solutions for driving in winter without breaking the bank. Moreover, from November 1, 2022, it is compulsory to equip your vehicle with winter tires or to have chains or snow socks until March 31, 2023 in certain mountainous areas .
Winter tires must be fitted to at least two driving wheels of the vehicle, but it is however preferable to replace all four tires for optimum safety. From 2022 to 2024, the government specifies that the term winter tire will cover all tires identified by one of the following markings: M+S, MS, M&S, or ” by the joint presence of the Alpine symbol marking (3PMSF) and one of the markings mentioned (M+S, MS, M&S)” .
Be careful, because from November 1, 2024, only tires identified by the joint presence of the Alpine symbol marking (3PMSF) and one of the markings mentioned above will be recognized as being winter tyres. 4 season tires (4S, All Weather, All Season) will therefore no longer be accepted.
Why is it important to prepare your car for winter?
When temperatures drop, it is important to equip your car with winter tyres. Indeed, summer tires harden under the effect of the cold and lose their efficiency. They don’t grip as well as winter tires, which even when temperatures are close to or below zero degrees, remain quite flexible . Winter tires or “snow tires” have a different tread and tread pattern with deeper grooves. In addition to better gripping the road, they reduce braking distances and optimize vehicle stability .
What about chains and snow socks?
Sometimes, winter tires are not enough, in this case, the law requires you to equip yourself with snow chains , as can be found on Pneus-online.fr. In addition, if you do not wish to replace your summer tires with winter tyres, it is possible to keep them, provided that you fit them with snow chains. But their installation is more restrictive. In addition, in order not to damage them and for safety reasons, the snow chains must be removed as soon as there is no more snow on the road.
Snow chains are different from socks. Indeed, in the first case, the chain is added to the tire, while the sock completely covers the tire . The difference is important, because if you decide to equip your vehicle with snow chains, the grip will depend on the performance of the chain and the tire. As far as snow socks are concerned, the grip depends only on the textile of the sock, so the performance of the tire is canceled out. If the socks are easier to install, the chains have the advantage of being more resistant and more effective on the ice .
