Grossglockner?

[Mace14]

OK, here I am in Munich with my pickup in a few hours :D On Sunday we're leaving for Berchtesgaden with a planned trip to the Grossglockner the next day.

The pass is open and it appears the road is completely clear of snow but the temps are rather low with 8 deg C today dropping to -3 to 4 deg C the next day. Not sure what it'll be I'm assuming the temps listed on the Grossglockner website are the day's high so I'm somewhat nervous regarding summer tires.

I've seen numerous concerns by some people about the cold weather but does anyone have any experience with summer tires and the Grossglockenr with temps just above freezing? Should it be "doable" with summer tires as long as there's no snow or ice?

[L Seca]

OK, here I am in Munich with my pickup in a few hours :D On Sunday we're leaving for Berchtesgaden with a planned trip to the Grossglockner the next day.

The pass is open and it appears the road is completely clear of snow but the temps are rather low with 8 deg C today dropping to -3 to 4 deg C the next day. Not sure what it'll be I'm assuming the temps listed on the Grossglockner website are the day's high so I'm somewhat nervous regarding summer tires.

I've seen numerous concerns by some people about the cold weather but does anyone have any experience with summer tires and the Grossglockenr with temps just above freezing? Should it be "doable" with summer tires as long as there's no snow or ice?
You should be OK as long as the weather is good. If it's raining at lower elevations, there can be snow and ice on the pass. It's really no fun in bad weather anyway, and you can't see the views. If you go early or late in the day and the temp is anywhere near freezing, watch out for areas where snowmelt runs across the road - it refreezes at night.

[b-y]

Here is a legalistic response you might not want to hear:

1. From Wikitravel:
Winter tires are strongly recommended by Austrian motoring clubs. When there is snowfall, winter tires or snow chains are required by law on some mountain passes, and occasionally also on motorways. This is indicated by a round traffic sign depicting a white tire or chain on a blue background. It is always a good idea to take a pair of snow chains and a warm blanket in the boot. Drivers often get stuck in their car for several hours and sometimes suffer from hypothermia.

2. I signed the ED "Release and Customer Notiification: Cold-Weather Driving Conditions" document yesterday and have it here in front of me. As I read it, one acknowledges that not having appropriate tires is "gross negligence" and that one releases BMW and "their affiliate companies" from all claims and losses. That may mean no insurance coverage.

[azjv11]

I was there a few days ago... It was snowing lightly at the top and it was
32F, but the snow was not sticking to the ground.. The road crew were really
efficient in keeping the road clear.. Absolutely no problems aside from the
fact that my GPS did a HAL 9000 and sent me way off course before
I realized the problem. However, the snow banks are so high I wasn't
able to see much, and since it was snowing lightly visibility was also very limited.
Based on this experience I might recommend this destination for a summer
ED rather than a spring ED..

[Mace14]

I was there a few days ago... It was snowing lightly at the top and it was
32F, but the snow was not sticking to the ground.. The road crew were really
efficient in keeping the road clear.. Absolutely no problems aside from the
fact that my GPS did a HAL 9000 and sent me way off course before
I realized the problem. However, the snow banks are so high I wasn't
able to see much, and since it was snowing lightly visibility was also very limited.
Based on this experience I might recommend this destination for a summer
ED rather than a spring ED..

Wow...hadn't even considered the snowbanks. No issues with the summer tires though even near freezing?

[ukthunderace]

The issue is really liability in an accident. There was a new law passed last year about driving in the snow with summer tires....VERBOTEN! Well, not completely, you can drive with them, but you will be held liable in an accident should you crash.

[azjv11]

Wow...hadn't even considered the snowbanks. No issues with the summer tires though even near freezing?

well, my car has the crappy bridgestone turanzas but even then, the road was mostly
dry.. i would say that it was the least of my problems with this drive... there was a lot
to see but due to the snowbanks and overcast weather i think i missed out on a lot..