Snow socks on front of Rear wheel drive cars?

[Rick Cutler]

Does anyone believe there is value in having snow socks on the front of a rear wheel drive car? Car in question is a Jag Sportbrake.

Jaguar have said they don't advise the use in front wheels.

Thanks.

[funkyrobot]

Aren't they designed to be added to the drive wheels?

[ThunderSpook]

I have 2 sets for my BMW on the sock manufacturers recommendation. I've not used them though so can't comment on effectiveness on the front.

[anonymous-user]

I think Jaguar have said not to use them on the front to avoid any confusion. They're main use is to get you out of a tough spot isn't it? They would be fine on the front in addition to the rear set. Just check the clearance.

[McWigglebum4th]

steering and stopping are greatly over rated

[kambites]

I'd imagine you'd need them on either all four or none. Power is no use without control and vice versa.

[carl_w]

I used them on the rear wheels only of a BMW 5-series and didn't die or anything. There was surprisingly plenty of steering and stopping from the front (I imagine the big diesel lump over the front wheels helped) -- it was traction that was an issue without the socks.

[Poopipe]

swerni said:

i'm pretty sure my car has brakes at the front and rear

Yes. And when you operate them weight transfers in the direction of travel - commonly forwards.

[PositronicRay]

Aren't we missing the point? Snow socks are only used to get you out of trouble.

[anonymous-user]

PositronicRay said:

Aren't we missing the point? Snow socks are only used to get you out of trouble.

Not really... But it depends on your definition or trouble and when to use them.

My definition would be 'whenever there is a covering of snow on the road'. I have used them like this in the past with great success, much more so than winter tyres.

They add them to tyres as a matter of course during snowy conditions in the Alps and leave them on there for days/weeks if the road surface remains quite covered in snow/ice.

I only ever use them on front wheel drive cars so I don't have he dilemma of which wheels to put them on.

I would suggest that on a RWD car then only putting them on all 4 wheels was safe.

Otherwise you could set off but not steer or brake, or rather you could steer and brake but not have any forward traction.

Screwed either way!

[saaby93]

Is it the same as clearing the snow away from front wheels on RWD car?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAr6cHSNQaQ

[SWH]

Worked really well, meant I could stop and steer - often handy.

E39 525 TDS - could be a little wayward in the wet, and was more on the lively/in the hedge side of things when it snowed. I found a set of decent chains on the back and some cheapo ebay snow socks on the front resulted in a sure footed snow barge.

Snow socks all round would probably be as good, and somewhat quieter too.

[Rick Cutler]

For reference I live on a steep hill. The drive down to main roadways is about 1/2 a mile and is steep. The auto box chooses first gear. I wouldn't dream of driving over 15mph in snow with or without chains. Just ordered a set for the back wheels and will wait and see.

Winter tyres not an option as I do too many motorway miles so would scrub a set of winters every season.

[Benbay001]

This is pistonheads where everyone steers their rwd car with the throttle

[Ranger 6]

NinjaPower said:

PositronicRay said:

Aren't we missing the point? Snow socks are only used to get you out of trouble.

Not really... But it depends on your definition or trouble and when to use them.

Yes, actually snow socks are only intended to get you out of trouble - i.e. moving. They're then supposed to be taken off when on tarmac. Chains can be left on for extended periods e.g. in the alps. You'll find the locals don't use socks, it's the tourists.

NinjaPower said:

I would suggest that on a RWD car then only putting them on all 4 wheels was safe.

The only vehicles I have ever seen with chains/socks on all four wheels are the diggers who clear the resorts or off-roaders in extreme conditions.

[Rick Cutler]

Benbay001 said:

This is pistonheads where everyone steers their rwd car with the throttle

Like the idea!

[anonymous-user]

Ranger 6 said:

NinjaPower said:

PositronicRay said:

Aren't we missing the point? Snow socks are only used to get you out of trouble.

Not really... But it depends on your definition or trouble and when to use them.

Yes, actually snow socks are only intended to get you out of trouble - i.e. moving. They're then supposed to be taken off when on tarmac. Chains can be left on for extended periods e.g. in the alps. You'll find the locals don't use socks, it's the tourists.

NinjaPower said:

I would suggest that on a RWD car then only putting them on all 4 wheels was safe.

The only vehicles I have ever seen with chains/socks on all four wheels are the diggers who clear the resorts or off-roaders in extreme conditions.

Erm, it was on French cars in the alps where I first saw snow socks being used around ski villages... Not tourists from the UK or other countries wherever.

I am well aware that they should be taken off on Tarmac, as you will see I wrote in my post that they are to be used '"when there is a covering of snow on the road" and went on to say that they were left on the car only if the roads remained well covered in snow and ice. If the roads were cleared back to Tarmac or mostly Tarmac then of course you would remove them, I did not state otherwise.

As for front or rear wheels, what would you suggest for a rear wheel drive car in extreme conditions, because as far as I can see, if you only have a pair of socks, it's a toss up between traction to get moving or the ability to steer and stop yourself slithering down a hill with the front wheels locked.

[HertsBiker]

Rick Cutler said:

For reference I live on a steep hill. The drive down to main roadways is about 1/2 a mile and is steep. The auto box chooses first gear. I wouldn't dream of driving over 15mph in snow with or without chains. Just ordered a set for the back wheels and will wait and see.

Winter tyres not an option as I do too many motorway miles so would scrub a set of winters every season.

Rick, motorway miles are exceedingly kind to any tyre. They would last ages. It's corners that eat them up faster.

[Harrytsg]

2 years ago I got stuck in some freshly laid snow on ungritted roads in my TVR, snow socks (on the rear) got me home, up and down some (gentle) gradients, even allowing me the confidence to reverse onto my drive.

They were brilliant.

ETA photo in my profile.

Edited by Harrytsg on Monday 29th December 19:59

[thegreenhell]

NinjaPower said:

As for front or rear wheels, what would you suggest for a rear wheel drive car in extreme conditions, because as far as I can see, if you only have a pair of socks, it's a toss up between traction to get moving or the ability to steer and stop yourself slithering down a hill with the front wheels locked.

You don't need the ability to steer or stop if you have no traction to get moving in the first place.