Experience with Snow Sock / Auto Sock

[zriha]

Gents,
does anyone have some experience with a new type of snow chains? It is called a snow sock?

I am considering to go to the sea in March, and as I don't have snow tyres on my Z4 and I need to pass the winter part of the country, if there is snow, I am looking what to have to help me, chains are really bad to put on a Z4, I don't want to harm the car and the rims, so I saw those socks, and it looks interesting.

So my question is, does it work and is it ok for the rim?

Thanks

 

[brillomaster]

snow socks (and chains) are only for usage on very short distances - probably less than a mile - and then as soon as conditions improve, you need to stop and take them off again. I dont think you ever plan to use them, they're for emergencies only really, ie if you get snowed in down the end of an untreated lane or something.

personally, i'd think if you're planning on doing any long distance touring in potentially wintery conditions, i'd buy a set of all season tyres. though, i'd also argue that once you get going, you're unlikely to be on roads that havent been treated. the hardest part for most drivers in snowy conditions is getting out of an untreated supermarket car park, or even just getting off your own driveway. Once you hit main roads, they'll likely already be cleared.

 

[Chris_D]

i'd go one further and consider investing in a set of winter tyres on their own rims.

i've been on mine for 6 years now and imo even in flat old Holland they're invaluable!
Go on in Nov/Dec, come off March or if temps go above 7deg.
Saves up to 5 months wear per year on your summer tyres and can get you out of tricky spots during the winter.
I saved the original 16 inchers off an old E36 coupe and have had Nokian and Kumho winters. I would have gotten the Nokians again if they had been available but the Kumho's are fine.

 

[zriha]

I know, and that is the plan, but I didn't have time to arrange it, and I don't have a plan to drive the car during winter days, but this was not planned, and I wish to take Z4 as it will be wonderful at Adriatic coast, I just need to pass around 150 km of mountain part on the cleaned highway and I need to have some kind of winter gear.

As I live in Croatia and the market for Z4 rims is really small, I am trying to find a perfect rim set for my Z4.

 

[buzyg]

I have a set of these and a shovel in the back of my daily shed. I needed them a few winters back in the Breckon beacons.

https://www.wish.com/product/5baf7ed8114a271e122203f5?hide_login_modal=true&from_ad=goog_shopping&_display_country_code=GB&_force_currency_code=GBP&pid=googleadwords_int&c=%7BcampaignId%7D&ad_cid=5baf7ed8114a271e122203f5&ad_cc=GB&ad_curr=GBP&ad_price=9.00&campaign_id=8703990225&retargeting=true&exclude_install=true&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwfPLjtfc7gIVCJ7tCh1dUAg-EAQYDCABEgJRvfD_BwE&share=web

They worked great to get me out of a spot where I had slid backwards into a hedge, trying to climb a hill on a country lane. So they work, but only for emergency use of a few hundred yards. The shovel has been used several times to dig the car out after winter walks.

A happy reminder of the day I needed them. What a great days walking that was.



My Z4 has no idea of what snow is. :?

 

[mmm-five]

I've had a 4-wheel set of Autosocks in the boot of the Z4M for 10 years - never needed to use them though, so can't offer any advice on them. Whilst they are reusable, they're really only intended for temporary, short use to get you out of trouble - at a max of 50kph, for about 50km.

Also, be cafeful what brand you buy, as some are tested and approved for areas where chains are mandated - some are not and you may get a ticket/recovery fee if you're unlucky enough get stuck/stopped with them on.

However, if I was driving it as much as I used to, then I'd have no hesitation in getting a spare set of wheels with either all-seasons (with 3-peaks snow logo) or full winters...as I have on my daily driver (summers for April to October, Michelin Cross-Climates for November to April).

Another option I've been seeing recently is the multi-piece plastic type where you fit 2-6 plastic panels or straps around the wheels...e.g.:

 

[Mr Tidy]

As I live in Croatia and the market for Z4 rims is really small, I am trying to find a perfect rim set for my Z4.

E46 3 Series wheels are the same sizes and offsets as E85 wheels, so looking for those might give you more options.

 

[zriha]

Thanks, gents for the help, I didn't know about E46 wheels fitting the car, I will look for them. I wasn't prepared for this winter, and I didn't plan to drive it, I have a daily snow driver - Mini One, but this is a nice weekend and I don't want to miss a chance and drive the Z4.