Snow Chains or Socks?
Ebay have just sent me an email suggesting I prepare for winter. Food for thought and advice please? I live a mile up a rural lane that is never snow ploughed and the snow can drift. I would be interested in some way to be sure I can get out! How easy
are Snow Socks to fit - and with a 4 x 4 (Mitsubishi Outlander) and on all 4 tyres? So far I have coped and it is usually me rescuing other drivers - I have a feeling this could be a harsh winter although who knows?!
Comments
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We have used snow socks on our car in the Alps. Socks are easy to fit, just wrap around the top half of the wheel then drive forward a half-turn to complete the fitting. Times 4 for you, but much much easier than chains.
You must remove the socks when you get to your destination otherwise they will freeze solid and you'll need a hammer and chisel to get them off!
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If you can afford a set, Good Winter tyres are probably the best option. The kind of snow this country generally gets, and the fact that most main roads are cleared pretty quickly, you will be putting chains/socks on and off fairly frequently, each journey.
Leaving them on, with no snow could cause other problems. Tyres are not cheap, but a lot less hassle in this country. You need to be able to store them of course as well. We get some bad Winters occasionally round us, and we change tyres over if bad weather
looks like staying around.
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shouldn't need them if you have good tyres on.
Rubbish, they're mandatory in some countries in winter.
but not in Lincolnshire.
Winter tyres are the way to go, they make a huge difference and not just in snow.
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shouldn't need them if you have good tyres on.
Rubbish, they're mandatory in some countries in winter.
But in this country they're not .... and you only use chains or socks on snow to get you to the hard stuff, neither are intended for use all the time.
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New type of snow chains on YouTube , called universal snow chain , basically a metal belt that fixes around Tyre circumference centrally , on in a matter of mins , sorry no idea of the price .
www.bolandscarcare.com
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I have never had the need for snow chains and that was before having an all wheel drive car, and have Travelled Via the Woodhead Pass in worse conditions than i would think most who post on here ,it just needs good treads and if Thick snow a good tyre pump as tyres pressures can be reduced to give more traction,then returned to correct pressure when conditions impove, and keep revs low
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shouldn't need them if you have good tyres on.
Rubbish, they're mandatory in some countries in winter.
but not in Lincolnshire.
Winter tyres are the way to go, they make a huge difference and not just in snow.
Write your comments here...
exactly. I have seen many a 4x4 stuck on a shoot day because of road or rather summer tyres but never seen one not get out with winter or off road tyres. I have just fitted winter tyres to my multispace and hope for much better traction on mud and snow
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I've bought both snow chains and snow socks in the past but I've never had to use them. A couple of years ago I invested in a further set of wheels (from a well known auction site) and a new set of winter tyres for my car which is rear wheel drive. I just change my wheels over a couple of times a year. I feel much more confident with the winter tyres fitted than having to think about fitting chains or socks if the weather turns.
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As to your questions on a 4x4 - snow socks need to be fitted onto all tyres, a 2 wheel drive needs them on the driving wheels. I would suggest that snow socks are okay for an emergency, they are easy to fit, driving on tarmac with them is not recommended
as it increases fabric wear very considerably. I also would be be cautious of buying them from eBay for safety and quality reasons.If you are really considering your options have you thought about all season tyres or the Michelin all weather Crossclimate? I appreciate that it may be difficult finding the correct tyre size for your vehicle. Whether winter tyres are really needed for
most of the UK is questionable, but all season/all weather tyres have come on leaps and bounds and may well meet your needs when you next come to change your tyres. For reviews have a look at
www.tyrereviews.co.uk0 -
That's Brilliant everyone - thank you very much. Winter tyres look the way to go - and I have also remembered I bought some "ladder" type contraption at a show some years ago - that get you out of trouble. Plus the shovel I always carry in winter. I do have it in mind to visit the Highlands this winter (still hoping to see the Aurora Borealis).
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Very happy with all season tyres, Vredestein Quatrac 5, on my estate 4x4, they have the 3 peaked snowflake symbol on.
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I have used Michelin Easy Grip composite chains successfully. They are like a cross between socks and chains. But they come off through centrifugal force if you go too quick. Great for getting out of trouble.
But on lowered sports suspension I couldn't get them over the tyre because not enough clearance to get your hand between tyre and wheel arch.
I now use winter tyres on my RWD Auto Merc Estate between December & March. They transform it into a snow eating monster, with little compromise when it's fine. Quite staggering ability until the snow gets too deep for the ground clearance.
I would be amazed if a 4x4 could not manage in all but Alpine or Arctic conditions on decent tyres, but there you go.
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There are some very very expensive snow chains that might very well sit in the boot for ever not used
(i know my tyres aren't the smallest inthe world, but there are plenty bigger)0 -
When we lived in Germany 26 years ago now, we always had snow chains in the car as they were needed in the mountains in winter (skiing) I remember them well, I also remember OH swearing whenever he had to put them on. Thankfully we have not needed them here,
although we do get snowed in on occasion. We just sit it out and wait until the roads have been cleared. Our eldest son who has not long come back from living in Germany used to have winter tyres, he thought they were worth the money provided you are not want
to keep changing the car.0 -
shouldn't need them if you have good tyres on.
Rubbish, they're mandatory in some countries in winter.
They are mandatory to CARRY!
How many taxi drivers / bus drivers / car drivers do you see with them on in any ski resort?
With a good snow tyre....
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We tow with a 3.0 Hilux Invincible Auto ( both caravan & horse boxes) and we live on the Saddleworth Moors where we get deep snow. The first thing we did when we got the car which arrived with road bias tyres was fit a decent set of winter type tyres which
we use year round. Our preference is General Grabber AT2 which perform excellently off road, in mud as well as on snow & ice.
As we are out in all weathers, all our tyres are treated with TyreSafe .... the last thing one needs is a puncture !
Yes, there are times when traction can be limited, even with good tyres and especially whilst towing - so the Hilux always carries 2 sets of snow chains.
The rear wheels are fitted with Wiesenfels Rex-TR chains. The front wheels, which have a more restrictive clearance (due to steering rods, etc..) are fitted with Thule XG-12 Pro chains.
This combination makes the car unstoppable providing ground clearance is not compromised.
An additional benefit is that chains can (and have) been used in quagmire conditions, when even normal aggressive tyres cannot gain traction.Personally I favour chains over socks as they have far more longevity, give better traction and are easier to remove.
For winter use on snow & compacted ice, we also fit cheap chains to the trailer / caravan - whilst these are not powered wheels the additional traction greatly improves lateral traction & towing stability, especially whilst cornering.
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