Composite Snow Chains OR Universal Multigrip Snow Socks?
Discussion
If there was an award for the dullest thread title in history, I think I would have certainly been in line for a podium finish.
I have a 600 mile journey at the weekend, from the south west to the east midlands, but I don't have snow tyres... So I thought I might get a set of those snow sock thingies to throw in the boot.
Then I found these:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
They look pretty good and for £99 I could get a set for the real wheels of my rear-wheel drive car....
Or, for a similar price, would you opt for four of these - to put one on all the wheels?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
I might make a snowman.
Just saying.
I have a 600 mile journey at the weekend, from the south west to the east midlands, but I don't have snow tyres... So I thought I might get a set of those snow sock thingies to throw in the boot.
Then I found these:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
They look pretty good and for £99 I could get a set for the real wheels of my rear-wheel drive car....
Or, for a similar price, would you opt for four of these - to put one on all the wheels?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
I might make a snowman.
Just saying.
The composite snow chains are a little more hardy, and offer better traction on ice etc. If you ever make a trip to a proper winter climate you rarely see snow socks.
They're a fair bit cheaper here too: http://lovetyres.com/p/Wheel-Accessories/Snow-Chai...
They're a fair bit cheaper here too: http://lovetyres.com/p/Wheel-Accessories/Snow-Chai...
As insurance companies are ambiguous in their 'modification' statement as to whether they are or are not, and therfore you are fully covered, I would check you are covered for use with them first, before you buy any.
Also it is illegal to use them when they can damage the road surface so factor the ball ache for changing them when the snow is lighter..
Also it is illegal to use them when they can damage the road surface so factor the ball ache for changing them when the snow is lighter..
Gorvid said:
Awesome, so two of them probably works better than four of the socks?
Great link too - but I need mine by Friday so will have to buy in store.
Snow chains / socks are designed just to get you off a side street and onto some sort of gritted road so two normally suffice on a FWD vehicle. Neither are recommended for extended running for any sort of speeds.Great link too - but I need mine by Friday so will have to buy in store.
Gorvid said:
They look pretty good and for £99 I could get a set for the real wheels of my rear-wheel drive car....
So, you'll be able to go on snow, but not steer or stop... really needed all round for RWD. A set of 4 kept my BM moving just fine in the bad stuff 3 years ago (and even though I've got winter tyres on now, I rescued the socks from the back of the garage a couple of days ago and chucked them back in the boot... just in case...).
defblade said:
So, you'll be able to go on snow, but not steer or stop... really needed all round for RWD.
A set of 4 kept my BM moving just fine in the bad stuff 3 years ago (and even though I've got winter tyres on now, I rescued the socks from the back of the garage a couple of days ago and chucked them back in the boot... just in case...).
And yours were the socks, not the chains?A set of 4 kept my BM moving just fine in the bad stuff 3 years ago (and even though I've got winter tyres on now, I rescued the socks from the back of the garage a couple of days ago and chucked them back in the boot... just in case...).
Bum b
king cock rods.
My local Halfrauds (the next one is 50 miles away!) only has the snow socks and only has ONE pair in the size my wheels need....
What's the consensus:
If I was to buy an extra set for the front, on the premise that a badly fitting set might be better than no set at all, if I need them...
Should I go for one size too big or one too small?
My tyres are 235/45/R17 and the set one smaller does 235/40/R17 with the larger one doing 235/50/R17 - can't be very much in it?
I'm thinking one size too big for the front and correct size for the rears.
I wish I'd done this sooner.
king cock rods.My local Halfrauds (the next one is 50 miles away!) only has the snow socks and only has ONE pair in the size my wheels need....
What's the consensus:
If I was to buy an extra set for the front, on the premise that a badly fitting set might be better than no set at all, if I need them...
Should I go for one size too big or one too small?
My tyres are 235/45/R17 and the set one smaller does 235/40/R17 with the larger one doing 235/50/R17 - can't be very much in it?
I'm thinking one size too big for the front and correct size for the rears.
I wish I'd done this sooner.
Gorvid said:
My tyres are 235/45/R17 and the set one smaller does 235/40/R17 with the larger one doing 235/50/R17 - can't be very much in it?
The 2nd number is the aspect ratio of the side wall compared to the width. 5% of 235 is 11.75mm... not sure if that counts twice across a wheel, now I stop to think about it! I guess it does. The socks are reasonably snug, so a size bigger will probably be the answer, as I reckon an inch too small just won't go at all.And yes, putting them on and off is a faff, but it's still quicker than not moving at all
Used Michelin EasyGrip for the two recent bad winters up in East Yorkshire
They are fantastic so long as you know the limitations.
Get the right size, too small and you won't get them on, too slack and they will come off through centrifugal force as soon as you get any speed up. They then overtake you as you slide to a halt.
The right size are good for 30 mph
Take them off as soon as you see Tarmac.
Impossible to get on with lowered suspension like on AMG Mercedes.
You can't get your hands between tyre and wheel arch.
So I carry a trolley jack and they go on in a flash.
They really work, and remove the smirk off the X5 drivers face as you sail by in a RWD Mercedes
If you have to go somewhere congested forget it, it will be gridlock no matter what you have.
Best of luck
They are fantastic so long as you know the limitations.
Get the right size, too small and you won't get them on, too slack and they will come off through centrifugal force as soon as you get any speed up. They then overtake you as you slide to a halt.
The right size are good for 30 mph
Take them off as soon as you see Tarmac.
Impossible to get on with lowered suspension like on AMG Mercedes.
You can't get your hands between tyre and wheel arch.
So I carry a trolley jack and they go on in a flash.
They really work, and remove the smirk off the X5 drivers face as you sail by in a RWD Mercedes
If you have to go somewhere congested forget it, it will be gridlock no matter what you have.
Best of luck
Well, they had a single set of the snow socks, so I've bought them, I'm full expecting traffic to be the worst obstacle but I feel happier knowing that if I need to I can probably shuffle along a snowy or icy road to get to a gritted bit...
We shall see.
I have also packed 12 snickers bars, several litres of water, and some blankets
snow socks are very effective but only really designed to get you out of trouble.
we used a pair on an audi a1 that took a trip right up to the top of tignes last month when it was really hammering down with snow and they worked brilliantly - there were actually probably as many people using them as there were snow chains, and it takes about 3 minutes to put them on, instead of what looked like 30 for the guys trying to put on chains.
lasted a good few miles on tarmac too but 30mph absolute max, 20mph preferable and wouldn't have wanted to do more than 5 miles on them.
we used a pair on an audi a1 that took a trip right up to the top of tignes last month when it was really hammering down with snow and they worked brilliantly - there were actually probably as many people using them as there were snow chains, and it takes about 3 minutes to put them on, instead of what looked like 30 for the guys trying to put on chains.
lasted a good few miles on tarmac too but 30mph absolute max, 20mph preferable and wouldn't have wanted to do more than 5 miles on them.
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