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Anyone tried Auto socks

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Anyone tried Auto socks

mzhussein said:
from what ive read, they are better than snow chains and winter tyres...also thy seem to be cheaper than snow chains. also dont have the problem of swapping out your wheels for snow tyres, or the extra outlay for winter tyres when its only bad for 1-2months out of a year here...
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I don't see the extra outlay for winter tyres any issue. Sure you only use them for a few months but than you store them till next year and the year after...
It also means your summer tyres will last longer as they are not in use.

It's been snowing here in the Netherlands for over 3 weeks and I wouldn't drive without winter tyres. Also if I cross the border into Germany I must have them by law.

I haven't used Auto socks or chains but anything option other than just summer tyres has to be a good thing. It will save you having a silly accident going at 20 or 30km/h just because you can't stop.
 
hpat said:
I don't see the extra outlay for winter tyres any issue. Sure you only use them for a few months but than you store them till next year and the year after...
It also means your summer tyres will last longer as they are not in use.

It's been snowing here in the Netherlands for over 3 weeks and I wouldn't drive without winter tyres. Also if I cross the border into Germany I must have them by law.

I haven't used Auto socks or chains but anything option other than just summer tyres has to be a good thing. It will save you having a silly accident going at 20 or 30km/h just because you can't stop.
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Sadly, they don't prevent silly accidents. I've just had to buy a new tyre.
Some twonk coming through S bends too fast slid straight across in front of me, I steered to the right to take evasive action & ended up hitting the offside wheel on the kerb - fortunately I saw it a split second before I hit it so was able to turn my wheel to hit it full on instead of sideways glance, lucky to get away with a damaged tyre & not my alloy.
All the main roads are fairly clear now but after a couple of days driving with the socks on, you really do feel the difference when you take them off.

Mine are only just starting to show signs of wear, a couple of worn holes in the 'tread' - but still serviceable.
Thing is, you have to keep them on for quite a while as all the estates are still thick & icy whereas the main roads are passable.
Makes a change to see everything going at 20 or less. also makes a change to see the chavvy types hanging right back as they are obviously scared of the white stuff - bring it on.
 
sludgeguts said:
Sadly, they don't prevent silly accidents. I've just had to buy a new tyre.
Some twonk coming through S bends too fast slid straight across in front of me, I steered to the right to take evasive action & ended up hitting the offside wheel on the kerb - fortunately I saw it a split second before I hit it so was able to turn my wheel to hit it full on instead of sideways glance, lucky to get away with a damaged tyre & not my alloy.
All the main roads are fairly clear now but after a couple of days driving with the socks on, you really do feel the difference when you take them off.

Mine are only just starting to show signs of wear, a couple of worn holes in the 'tread' - but still serviceable.
Thing is, you have to keep them on for quite a while as all the estates are still thick & icy whereas the main roads are passable.
Makes a change to see everything going at 20 or less. also makes a change to see the chavvy types hanging right back as they are obviously scared of the white stuff - bring it on.
Click to expand...


Well sometimes there's not much you can do about the Twonks on the road, snow or no snow. Lucky to get away with just a tyre. The winter tyres did prevent me running into someone last week, who entered one-way street the wrong way. Had to drive a car with summer tyres for one day also last week and I wouldn't have been able to stop in time.

Ultimately I'm very happy with my 'Pirelli W 190 Snowcontrol Serie II' tyres.
Got them delivered balanced on steel wheels so I can just swop them myself and store them until needed.

Anyone got an idea how quickly winter tyres wear? I hope to get at least 3 years out of them. Using them for 3 months a year driving 4000km in that 3 months.
 
hpat said:
Well sometimes there's not much you can do about the Twonks on the road, snow or no snow. Lucky to get away with just a tyre. The winter tyres did prevent me running into someone last week, who entered one-way street the wrong way. Had to drive a car with summer tyres for one day also last week and I wouldn't have been able to stop in time.

Ultimately I'm very happy with my 'Pirelli W 190 Snowcontrol Serie II' tyres.
Got them delivered balanced on steel wheels so I can just swop them myself and store them until needed.

Anyone got an idea how quickly winter tyres wear? I hope to get at least 3 years out of them. Using them for 3 months a year driving 4000km in that 3 months.
Click to expand...

No idea where I would store 4 sets of wheels (16 wheels) with snow tyres on for use over 3 months every year, I do get the deal on Summer tyres by the way, personally I'd say Slow Down fools.... But if anyone wishes to line my pockets with upwards of £1,200 I'll go for Winter wheels & tyres & stick them up the loft for 9 months a year. :p
 
Ffoxy said:
No idea where I would store 4 sets of wheels (16 wheels) with snow tyres on for use over 3 months every year, I do get the deal on Summer tyres by the way, personally I'd say Slow Down fools.... But if anyone wishes to line my pockets with upwards of £1,200 I'll go for Winter wheels & tyres & stick them up the loft for 9 months a year. :p
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I only have 2 sets, Winter/Summer, so 8 wheels in total and 4 are always on the car. I pop 4 in the attic so that's not a problem for me.

Not sure what type of tyres you are getting for £1200 but here you can get winter tyres for a panda, balanced on 14'' steel wheels, delivered from about €350! The cheaper tyres sell out quick so your probably looking to pay about €500/600 now.

As i said in an earlier post the Germany border is less than 30min from me and there you must have winter tyres by law so it's a necessity.
 
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Don't suppose somebody with these could advise. Im guessing they are adjustable within reason. I have 195 45 r14 tyres, which are a bit uncommon. Rolling diameter is slightly larger than standard 13's so guessing the widths would stretch if i bought some designed for 13" wheels???

Any tips would be great. Also anybody come across any cheap websites with stock? :)
 
On the subject of using winter tyres for a week or so then swapping back 'till the next time - how long can you store a tyre before it becomes unuseable?
Speaking in terms of the tyre being legally safe as opposed to the rubber simply dropping to bits through age.
 
thats difficult to answer.. it all depends on conditions its stored in. but i would expect it to be a fair while if stored in a cool dry place. maybe useable after 10 years ?? in any case i think the wheel would succomb to rust long before the tyre perished enough to be unsafe
 
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hpat said:
I only have 2 sets, Winter/Summer, so 8 wheels in total and 4 are always on the car. I pop 4 in the attic so that's not a problem for me.

Not sure what type of tyres you are getting for £1200 but here you can get winter tyres for a panda, balanced on 14'' steel wheels, delivered from about €350! The cheaper tyres sell out quick so your probably looking to pay about €500/600 now.

As i said in an earlier post the Germany border is less than 30min from me and there you must have winter tyres by law so it's a necessity.
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We have 4 cars. x2 sets of wheels for each = 32 wheels / tyres... 1 set on each at any given time means 16 wheels to store.

I'd be looking at middle price range tyres, a set of 225 45 17's for my car, a set for a 207 Sport, a set for a 1.3 Swift (non-standard rims) and a set for the Picanto.

So x4 sets of Winter rubber will easily bypass the Eu350 you paid for 1 set I think......:rolleyes:
 
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Just given my Autosocks a go for the first time. Definitely helped but wouldn't say they were amazing. Fairly easy to fit though
 
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Most Easterly Pandas said:
Can you expand on this at all out of interest please :confused:
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Well I felt there was extra grip from the front tyres when pulling away but the back end can still easily skid out going around a corner which limits their benefits. I think maybe having two on the back would help. Ive just been in to town without them going very slowly and back with them on and I didnt feel confident enough to go any faster but the extra grip was more reassuring. (just to clarify before someone says anything, I didnt buy them to drive faster in the snow but I mean i was already driving very slowly due to the conditions so it was safe, and the socks didnt make a huge difference to this)

So in summary I say they do help, especially when pulling away. Didnt get much of a chance to test them under braking as I didnt want to risk damaging them

dave said:
what make?
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Yeah sorry, Autosocks
 
garlicbread22 said:
Well I felt there was extra grip from the front tyres when pulling away but the back end can still easily skid out going around a corner which limits their benefits. I think maybe having two on the back would help. Ive just been in to town without them going very slowly and back with them on and I didnt feel confident enough to go any faster but the extra grip was more reassuring. (just to clarify before someone says anything, I didnt buy them to drive faster in the snow but I mean i was already driving very slowly due to the conditions so it was safe, and the socks didnt make a huge difference to this)

So in summary I say they do help, especially when pulling away. Didnt get much of a chance to test them under braking as I didnt want to risk damaging them



Yeah sorry, Autosocks
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but you didnt get stuck though? that's what they are supposed to prevent, so if you didn't get stuck they worked
 
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