Snow chains or Socks for Tyres

Jase

Jase

Jase

Soldato
Joined
19 Oct 2002
Posts
5,122
Location
Pembrokeshire
Well it's that time of year again, and having being caught out with the snow last year I think it would be a good idea to have some chains or socks for my tyres.

Just wondering if anyone has some recommendations? I was going to get chains but looking online I see snow socks too.
 
I'm 99.99% sure snowchains are banned in the UK? Well, not illegal, but you need to be ready to change them: The use of snow chains is legal in the UK, as long as they are not used in a manner that will damage the road surface. This means snow chains must only be used on snow-covered roads and need to be removed when driving on a tarmac surface.

Studded tyres are illegal though. TBH you'd be just as good buying some proper snow or winter tyres. What do you drive?
 
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Assuming you're anywhere in the UK other than up in the cairngorm mountains, chains are just ridiculous.

For the 1 day it snows, if you can't just stay at home and have somewhere to be and have to drive in it - just get winter tyres. The difference is massive in a bit of light snow compared with summer tyres

 
I understand the OP position

i think winter tyres on a spare set of alloys are a great idea providing you can keep them somewhere
IF NOT (like myself) i use All season tyres all year round as i HATE driving in snow, but want to be "ready" just in case

My Cross Climates are doing me proud, and will continue to buy them for the foreseeable
 
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probably have to check chains would give clearance in the wheel arches - have some Michelin extremes originally purchased for french ski resorts
- used once ~10 years ago in UK Cambs, on rwd rear wheels, would have had to buy 4 tyres in comparison.
chains do corrode so need to rinse occasionally if being used, not difficult to attach, possibly more resilient than socks.
If I were regularly going to N wales winter time they be useful to have as backup in boot.

e: pity don't seem to be able to see met data on number of days of snow coverage or sub-zero temps for individual UK regions
london data suggest 13days in 2013, versus 24 in 1982 and 69 in 63
https://wansteadmeteo.com/2013/12/12/snow-survey-of-london-1946-2017/


e2: thought it was interesting anyway V
Winter Index RankYearWinter Mean (DJF)KelvinWinter Rain mm (DJF)Snow Lying (Oct to May)Winter Index using KelvinGreatest Depth cmDateIce Days TMax <0C
11962-630.15273.3078.66925.247>3028-Dec16
21946-471.30274.45114.15821.133
31981-823.77276.92147.72410.47228.59-Feb4
41954-554.37277.52127.9299.7293
51984-853.58276.73107.8269.3952616-Jan7
61952-533.80276.95110.6259.027
71978-792.93276.08229.3278.69323.816-Feb4
81985-864.13277.28183.7197.93421.86-Feb4
91955-563.80276.95143.9227.2222
102009-103.28276.43213.920
6.873197-Jan4
111969-704.17277.32163.1186.491185-Mar0
121986-874.23277.3899.5124.68712.814-Jan2
131958-594.30277.45131.6124.686
141961-624.72277.87177.5124.678221-Jan4
152008-093.62276.77161.6134.336122-Feb6
161950-513.70276.85237.9134.334
171990-913.88277.03163134.332129-Feb0
181957-585.02278.17151.6104.3141
192012-134.15277.30168.9113.9671121-Jan1
Retrieving data. Wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again.
Retrieving data. Wait a few seconds and try to cut or copy again.
 
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Thanks for the replies guys.

The reason I was asking (and why I still want something in the car) is I'm into photography/hikes and often go to remote areas or mountains during the winter.
Last year I was in the mountains, parked the car and no sign of snow. An hour later the the snow was very heavy and by the time I got to the car the roads had about 5 inches of snow, they were not main roads so not gritted. I had to pull over on a hill and could not get grip again to continue so had to go down and find another route.

All was OK on main roads which had been gritted but the roads I was on were a nightmare. So for this I really wanted something to put in the car, all weather/winter tyres I'm sure would not of helped much.
 
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If you're overly concerned and you have the storage space, a new set of wheels with Winter tyres is an option rather than running all-seasons. Just Winter tyres and get them swapped in November and March.
 
Jase said:
Thanks for the replies guys.

The reason I was asking (and why I still want something in the car) is I'm into photography/hikes and often go to remote areas or mountains during the winter.
Last year I was in the mountains, parked the car and no sign of snow. An hour later the the snow was very heavy and by the time I got to the car the roads had about 5 inches of snow, they were not main roads so not gritted. I had to pull over on a hill and could not get grip again to continue so had to go down and find another route.

All was OK on main roads which had been gritted but the roads I was on were a nightmare. So for this I really wanted something to put in the car, all weather/winter tyres I'm sure would not of helped much.
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I'm having the same thoughts at the moment. I do a lot of winter climbing so can end up parking in remote places and have been lucky getting out in the past. Last winter, I just ended up heading out in my mates van as he had all seasons fitted. We still struggled a bit, but wouldn't have stood a chance in my car. I'd recommend taking a snow shovel too as that's been a life saver, much easier than digging yourself out with ice axes!

Ideally I'd get a set of rims and stash them in the shed, but I'm fairly limited as they need to clear the Brembos on my car so smaller cheaper wheels wouldn't work. Most of my driving is in the week, commuting in the rain as it very rarely snows in the north west, but I do drive to the Lakes/Peak/Wales/Scotland regularly. Winter tyres would be nice, but they'd be more of a compromise for 90% of the driving I do so all seasons are probably the best option. CrossClimate 2s aren't available in my size, but Vector 4s are so I'll probably get some put on, keep my old tyres and then swap them back on in March for the summer.
 
sounds like you've never driven on winter or even all season tyres, even the all season Bridgestone's i had on my old Impreza and Yaris were amazing in the snow, like really next level compared to summer tyres. You could go, stop AND turn without any real fuss at all :eek:

Saying that my dad used to have chains when he lived about 1000ft up in the Welsh hills 15+ years ago, he had to use them to get down the few miles to the nearest town. He did that for years without any issues, it is however quite a faff to put them on and off so a proper set of tyres would be the clear choice nowadays.
 
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Street said:
I'd recommend taking a snow shovel too as that's been a life saver, much easier than digging yourself out with ice axes!
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I'd usually had my red arva pelle in the boot - not wearing the arva though in case of avalanche

----------------

Having to really? change all the tyres at once to all season is a bit of an additional expense - my rwd tyres are low, but the fronts are fine,
due to a combination of not-rotating, and having had a few punctures needing replacements. .. if I could just change two
 
Either get all-season tyres (good ones though, like the Contis or Michelins) or a set of winter wheels for the winter months.
Unless you live in Himalayas, you don't need chains.
 
with 2 new/2 old/low summers
subsequently read another thread suggesting all-season/conti on one axle and summer on the other isn't too bad, with the operating window of conti's not being too different to summers,
euromaster & blackcirce both seem to have michelin deals currently

Swapping tyres...cross climates and summer tyres [Archive] - Volvo Owners Club Forum

[Archive] Swapping tyres...cross climates and summer tyres S60 & V60 '18> / XC60 '17> / S90 & V90 '16> / XC90 '15> General
www.volvoforums.org.uk
 
jpaul said:
with 2 new/2 old/low summers
subsequently read another thread suggesting all-season/conti on one axle and summer on the other isn't too bad, with the operating window of conti's not being too different to summers,
euromaster & blackcirce both seem to have michelin deals currently

Swapping tyres...cross climates and summer tyres [Archive] - Volvo Owners Club Forum

[Archive] Swapping tyres...cross climates and summer tyres S60 & V60 '18> / XC60 '17> / S90 & V90 '16> / XC90 '15> General
www.volvoforums.org.uk
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Don't mix tyre types! The last thing you need is the back end sliding around and smashing you into the nearest tree.
 
ShiWarrior said:
I understand the OP position

i think winter tyres on a spare set of alloys are a great idea providing you can keep them somewhere
IF NOT (like myself) i use All season tyres all year round as i HATE driving in snow, but want to be "ready" just in case

My Cross Climates are doing me proud, and will continue to buy them for the foreseeable
Click to expand...
Second this, my Cross Climates had their first real test this weekend and I must say, they performed excellent.
 
I wish I'd had my new ones fitted this morning. The main road to work was closed due to an accident so I had to take the back roads. They were like sheet ice and I had to crawl along, much to the annoyance of the van up my backside as the bends were lethal.
 
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