General snow socks/chains

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General snow socks/chains

ironmanalishi

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Dec 12, 2010
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hi all,

After our disasterous start to the UK winter and living where we do (at the top of a high slope) I didnt want to risk the "no show" at work...before I invest in either of the above, I thought Id gauge the forums opinions on the pros and cons of both of the above.

This is for our bog standard 1.1 eco active with steel 13" wheels

Thanks
 
I borrowed some snow chains to use on the 100HP last year and they are certainly effective but they are a total PITA because they can't be used on clear tarmac so there is rarther alot of faffing about involved.

Putting them on is OK once you get the knack of it but taking them off a crud covered wheel with ice encrusting the inner wheel arches at the side of a slushy road is a nightmare.

December-january2010042.jpg


If you're committed enough to consider buying snow chains then you are far better off getting winter tyres.

No direct experience of snow socks but I've heard mixed reviews - some saying they are great, others saying a total waste of time. I'd guess the reality is somewhere in between bare 'summer' tyres and 'summer' tyres with chains.
 
hi all,

After our disasterous start to the UK winter and living where we do (at the top of a high slope) I didnt want to risk the "no show" at work...before I invest in either of the above, I thought Id gauge the forums opinions on the pros and cons of both of the above.

Your main problem now is that it's rather too late to be buying this kind of thing. Autosocks themselves are out of stock so it's whatever you can find with retailers. Same I guess for chains...

I have a set of Autosocks from last year I still haven't used, but I expect they'll be most effective on ice and compacted snow where the woolly texture works better than a chunky tread.

Similarly you've missed the boat on winter tyres. For your Active they would have been about £30. Now they're about £60 :(
 
Agreed. Never really understood why British people even bother with snow chains, like you say they're going to be a total PITA to change over when you reach clear road and with temps as they were today (-11 in North Wales) why the **** do I want to be outside any longer than necessary?

Snowsocks are the same really, you can't use them on clear roads
 
Agreed. Never really understood why British people even bother with snow chains, like you say they're going to be a total PITA to change over when you reach clear road and with temps as they were today (-11 in North Wales) why the **** do I want to be outside any longer than necessary?


They're particularly popular in mountainous alpine regions, so perhaps because they may be the only way to get up the steeper hills with an open diff?

Maxi, as you live in more mountainous parts, how well do your winter tyres cope on steep hard compacted snow? I was really struggling on one hill last Saturday & would have given a lot at that point for an LSD.
 
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Both have to be removed when you hit normal "clear" roads. Snow socks are easier to fit, but don't last as long.
Chains cost more, but last longer, and are a touch harder to fit/remove.

So far a shovel, a strong bristle brush, and a bit of fore-thought has seen me not get stuck once.
 
Winter tyres are definitely the way to go when you live up a hill (like I do). I've been using them this past 5 years and I've yet to fail in getting up, even in the hard compacted snow there is now. I can even show off and stop half way up the hill and then get going again without a problem. :p Lol. I've got Continental WinterContacts on the standard 13 inch steel wheels. I can highly recommend them. I got around 18K miles on the first set. I bought a new set around the middle of November as the fronts were suffering a bit from the usual Panda wear, although I've kept the two old rear ones on the back for the time being cause they still had around 4mm tread depth on them. I took the other two home with me to be fitted later when the back ones wear below 3mm, but I reckon they should last through the winter season given the weather so far... They're not the cheapest (around £60 a corner fitted - I wouldn't fit anything cheap anyhow, no Taiwanese ditch-finders for me), but they do a superb job and the main thing I want is to arrive safe where I'm going with my two boys. Did laugh quietly to myself the other morning though. I seemed to be the only one brave (or mad) enough to drive down the lane to the boys' day nursery, everyone else walked it! I got down and back up easily. :slayer:
 
Winter tyres are definitely the way to go......
I wouldn't fit anything cheap anyhow, no Taiwanese ditch-finders for me), easily. :slayer:
I bought the ditchfinders (Sava Eskimos @ £29 per corner and some cheap wheels from the breakers) just before the price went through the roof and they've been excellent.
Did I 500 mile round trip to the Pennines last weekend in all that snow and never once did they slip or slide, I'm stunned on how they grip ice and packed snow? I can't work it out!

Winter tyres are the way to go, you can soak the cost up, as your summers are in the shed not wearing!
 
Both have to be removed when you hit normal "clear" roads. Snow socks are easier to fit, but don't last as long.
Chains cost more, but last longer, and are a touch harder to fit/remove.

So far a shovel, a strong bristle brush, and a bit of fore-thought has seen me not get stuck once.

Snow socks are quick to fit, can live quietly in the boot and when snow is bad, would make the difference between sleeping in the car or making it to bed. As ably proven by a neighbour in the January snow.....

PG
 
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