Snow socks

...for my wheels, not my feet obviously.

After the air temp dropped a few days ago, and there was the threat of some white stuff, I decided to order some. My 'silknet' snow socks arrived today, and they appear to be a quality item for £40. Just wondered if anyone has had any experience of them - are they any good, easy to fit etc? The sellers website goes on about how easy they are to use, but they would wouldn't they?

Never had the need for them with the coupe , always been good in the snow even on summer tyres

They are good, but only use them in "emergency" situations. They wear out very quickly if used on clear roads.
I now live down an unmade road so they would just get torn to shreds if I used them on that.
I use "winter" tyres all year round these days. They don't wear that badly and are great in the rain, snow, and ice.
I would suspect that a coupe, like the old Saab 900's would be pretty good in snow with all that weight over the front wheels even if the back end has a mind of it's own!

A friend of mine has AutoSocks and swears by them. She is an older lady and never had a problem fitting them and has used the same pair for several years. She lives in an area where there is snow every year and has used them quite a bit. They do wear out and she is looking for another set now. They are cheap enough, easy to use and easy to remove.
I have used chains before and they are a real pain to fit.

I've used chains many times in the Alps and just to get out of my estate (there is a hill) and they are great , but as people say, a royal pain to get on. One year I had to tow my mate out of our road. I felt invincible!

Anyway I'm after some socks for the Giulietta as the wheels wont take chains. Good to hear positive reviews. Only tend to need them if I am stuck, so wear should not be a big problem.

My youngest son got his VW Bora stuck in about 8" of snow a couple of years ago. It was on a gentle slope, but due to the depth of snow and the fact he was on Toyo Proxes, he couldn't move an inch.

I borrowed Wifey's Punto, fitted some snow socks and towed him out like there was no snow on the ground at all - deeply impressive

Utterly useless as soon as tarmac is visible though, so should be used with some care to avoid an expensive trashing

I already have a pair of snow socks in the back of my daily hack Alfa GT, even though the winter tyres will be fitted in the next couple of weeks

Although I have winter wheels for the Punto which I will fit soon, I also have a can of liquid tyre chain left in the car.

I first came across it about 40 years ago when it got me moving when stuck going up Goodwood Hill on my way to work.

Don't know how it works, but it does.

The current can is labelled Catena Liquida and is good back-up for less than a tenner.

Should I need to use either of the other cars in snow I would be happy to go out with just that can in them.

Cheers Pete, never knew anything like that existed.

I've just bought a can, as you've said, a good back up and handy to keep in the car

I can't see the point in snow socks when it is so cheap to pick up a spare set of wheels and put winter tyres on. That can be done around this time of year and then taken off in March rather than having to put socks on when it is snowy and very cold, taking them off when reaching a clear road, back on at a back road etc. Winter tyres make a massive difference on snow and are much better in typical UK winter conditions of cold, damp roads than summer tyres. Having used them I wouldn't think of not doing. £100 will buy a decent set of wheels and the tyres effectively work out free as you aren't wearing out the summer ones so cost is the same as two sets of socks.

The only issue is space to keep the winter/summer set of wheels but all seasons and the Michelin Cross-Climate tyres make a very good compromise then.

I do live in Yorkshire not London though so get to see snow most winters!

I use that 'liquid snow chain' in the spray can it's pretty good - well in the UK, especially for negotiating untreated frozen car parks and access roads at my workplace. and as soon as the tyres hit exposed tarmac it simply rubs off in seconds

I fit snow tyres - they've been on the hack for a couple of weeks - but I've had snow socks in the back of the coupe most winters for years. That said I rarely use them, only once or twice in Scotland.

Thanks for everyone's replies.

Not sure about the argument of getting another set of wheels with winter tyres instead though. Buying a set of wheels and 4 tyres (unless you bought 2, which I wouldn't do) could cost between £400 to £500 if you buy decent rubber. I understand that I would need tyres anyway but I can't currently stump up that much until well into next year, by which time I'll get some Summer tyres! For now a pack of £40 snow socks will hopefully do the job in an emergency.

A few years back when we had one of the very bad winters, I didn't make it home one night. After miraculously keeping a 5 series BMW moving forward up a half mile long hill I decided to stop after several warning lights illuminated on the dash board. On realising the issue was simply snow on the ABS sensor, I tried to set off again but the damn thing refused to move forward. I pretty much had to reverse for half a mile in the pitch black. Always thought 'if only I'd had snow socks/chains'.

Let's just see what the weather brings...

Thought the post on 'liquid tyre chain' was a joke. Can't believe I've never come across it before.

Andyps - We have a set of Michelin Cross Climate fitted to our Golf. They seem to be grippy, quiet, comfortable, etc. Not had opportunity to test them on ice or snow yet though. The last time I looked they didn't make them to fit the Coupe's standard wheels, sadly.

I've been using the same set of snow tyres for the last three years, on an old set of 20vt wheels that happen to fit my bravo... they're coming up to 30k miles.

Not sure I would fit them to the Coupe as they are probably too much of a compromise for spirited driving but on a less sporty car I would certainly use them. The sizes are limited at the moment but I heard the range will increase next year. They already make them to fit my wife's Freelander and are what I will get when it needs the summer tyres replacing, the winters with wheels can then go on ebay.

I only have a pair for the Coupe and have pushed it very hard in many conditions to test the balance and haven't had any issues. On snow it was tail happy but not to a dangerous extent, certainly needs to be driven to the conditions but way safer than a full set of summer tyres. On my RWD car I have a set of four winter tyres as that is essential, FWD less so in my view.