Snow Socks

[The Moo]

My daily commute is mainly A Roads, Dual carriageway and motorway which do not present too much problem if snow is on the ground and the ploughs have been out. The untreated roads at either end of the commute can get a bit tricky on uphill gradients but I always carry the snow shovel I use to keep the drive free on board. Last year I managed to get the Zed to work every day when others with supposedly more able cars failed.

I have thought about winter tyres but it is quite a big outlay for a few days and then there is the associated problem of storing them.

Been following the thread on SNOW and wondered if anyone has had experience with those snow socks you can put over normal tyres.

Specifically Do they work? How long do they last? Easy too fit? What happens if they are driven on roads that are just a bit slushy?

Thoughts welcome......

 

[pvr]

Yes, they work, emergency use only really as you will wear them down very hard on non snow surfaces.

They work by providing a lot more grip, but like snow tyres.

 

[chrisj900]

ive used them in the past and personally think there a bit of a faff. if you need these just buy a FWD car!!
they are good to get you out of a drive or up to a main road but as soon as you see tarmac they have to come off. if you are going through a town where half your journey is gritted then it would be quicker to walk as they take 5 min to put on.

drove a few hundred metres on tarmac with mine and i could see them starting to break up

 

[mmm-five]

I've got 2 sets of the Autosock ones for my Z4M, and only really bought them for travelling to the 'Ring in the margin months of operation (Oct-Mar) in case there's a bit of snow higher up. I know Costco and others are doing a Michelin versionwhich look more sturdy and are basically kevlar snow 'chains'. I'd buy the kevlar chain version if I didn't already have the Autosocks.

They're very easy to fit, but as you need a set for the front & rear axles it takes twice as long as it would for a FWD car that only needs one set.

They work on slush, snow & ice. However they only last 50 miles max on dry roads (at 30mph), so you need to remove them ASAP once the road clears enough for normal tyres to work.

They're about £60 a set, so you've got to weigh that up against the cost of winter wheels & tyres that you can put on in October and leave on until March, which saves your summer tyres too.

I too like the idea of having winter tyres on winter wheels, but the £1000 cost and lack of storage space puts me off - and I've not been caught out anywhere in 3 years where I've even needed to fit the snow-socks. Partly luck, and partly planning - although I bet the moment I decide to leave the snow-socks at home will be when I need them

Autosock

Easygrip

 

[Jembo]

ive used them in the past and personally think there a bit of a faff. if you need these just buy a FWD car!!
they are good to get you out of a drive or up to a main road but as soon as you see tarmac they have to come off. if you are going through a town where half your journey is gritted then it would be quicker to walk as they take 5 min to put on.

drove a few hundred metres on tarmac with mine and i could see them starting to break up

Agree a cheap FWD banger might be the order of the day, maybe an old SJ410 & just keep the Zed warm, uncoroded & undamaged in the garage for the same price as a set of winter tyres & alloys...

 

[mmm-five]

Agree a cheap FWD banger might be the order of the day, maybe an old SJ410 & just keep the Zed warm, uncoroded & undamaged in the garage for the same price as a set of winter tyres & alloys...

Although even the cheapest banger will cost more than the £100 for 2 sets of 'socks'.

 

[The Moo]

Agree a cheap FWD banger might be the order of the day, maybe an old SJ410 & just keep the Zed warm, uncoroded & undamaged in the garage for the same price as a set of winter tyres & alloys...

Although even the cheapest banger will cost more than the £100 for 2 sets of 'socks'.

and take up a fair bit more room than a set of winter tyres

 

[Jembo]

Agree a cheap FWD banger might be the order of the day, maybe an old SJ410 & just keep the Zed warm, uncoroded & undamaged in the garage for the same price as a set of winter tyres & alloys...

Although even the cheapest banger will cost more than the £100 for 2 sets of 'socks'.

and take up a fair bit more room than a set of winter tyres

... though cheaper than having to repair the Zed if either some Muppet uses you to stop their mota or u get it stuck & have to abandon your baby...

 

[mickl86]

Asda was knocking them out at £35 a pair in all sizes, picked up a couple of sets a couple of weeks back. You have to make sure you get the correct size for your tyres.

 

[deka]

had a pair of autosocks for the old celica last year and used them in anger and well worth the money. But they are only for use in an emergency situation if your stuck....

The good thing with autosocks is that if you change your car they will trade them in aslong as they are unused.

 

[chrisj900]

i like the look of these
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk7uBEwF_-g
not having to roll the car forward just makes sence

 

[mmm-five]

not having to roll the car forward just makes sence

The video shows fitting to a 4x4 with plenty of clearance between the tyre and arch. You simply don't have enough clearance to get your hands around the back on a Z4 - plus the device might flail a little and cause damage (part of the reason BMW don't recommend snow-chains for Z4s).