French Halfords equivalent

[Sortie 10]

Will shortly be heading to France (Doubs 25/Jura 39), and am desperate for snow chains (many places in the UK seem to be out of stock due to panic buying after the recent few snow flurries).

Is there a French equivalent of Halfords? From memory of my frequent visits to France, the centres comerciaux seem to have many supermarkets, home stores, Intersports etc but no car accessory/maintenance retailers.

Any ideas (and links to websites so I can see what is on offer) would be appreciated.
FWIW My route is broadly Calais/Reims/Vitry/St Dizier/Chalons en Champagne/Langres/Besancon.

Many thanks

[Joe T]

Have a go with this http://www.autofr.net/ type in the town you looking for the items in , it then lists all the automotive related stores in that area. I must admit I have not seen an halfords type stores in france, but you may find chains at places like Leroy Merlins etc.

I have used a motor factors called Bernards, a bit like Autoparts or EBC etc.

Cheers

Joe

[smifffymoto]

Nearley all large supermarkets(hypermarket) stock chains as do Feu Vert(shop locater top right of web page)

[leyorkie]

Try NORAUTO they have shops all over and they have chains available.
Link to store locator. http://www.norauto.fr/CentreNorauto.aspx

[neil-f]

Most of the petrol stations on the autoroute sell chains/socks

[Le Pop]

I saw snow chains in Feu Vert only today

[Sortie 10]

Many thanks for all your advice. My local indie in the UK managed to obtain a set from Thule incredibly quickly (within same town as Thule HQ) and had them ready for me within 1 hour.


The basic Thule chains cost £50 and were fantastic - easy to mount and take off, and retensioning was not a pain; all important when it is freezing cold and snowing.

Now returned to the UK after a super week in Malbuisson, Doubs (25), where I watched the Rallye de Neige et Glace - see the short thread I posted on the Switzerland forum.

Cheers again