Snow Socks Chains or Snow Tyres

DoctorF

Snow Socks Chains or Snow Tyres

Whats your experience guy for Passat or front wheels

vibe666

probably best to stick to the one thread or there's going to be heaps of thses after the weather we'v been having. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056079290

MarkoC

Winter tires any day over some stupid socks, these socks wont last long in Ireland as heres nearly no snow.

Mattracks are cool :cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0JYnb7ippo&feature=related

vibe666

MarkoC wrote: »

Winter tires any day over some stupid socks, these socks wont last long in Ireland as heres nearly no snow.

Mattracks are cool :cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0JYnb7ippo&feature=related

i'm guessing you haven't been in ireland in the last week as we've already had more snow than they have in the mattracks video in your post.

they do look pretty cool tho, but i imagine they take longer to put on than snow socks.

winter tyres would be best, but they are not cheap and snow socks are a cheap alternative to keep in the boot in case you get stuck.

neilthefunkeone

Considering winter tyres will last years as you are only using for 2-3 months a year.. thus also prolonging the life of your summer tyres too.. In the long run its gonna save money id say!!

Bjorn Bored.

I was gonna get the snow socks but I was put right off them by the fact that they wear out very quickly when not driven on snow.

Now that may seem obvious but the main roads and most of the secondary roads are pretty much clear now, so when you do drive into an area like a housing estate for instance that you would need them for, they may be no good.

Frankly no matter how quickly you can fit them on it would be a pain to keep taking them off when you hit the open road.

I asked my local tyre fitter about winter tyres and he says they cant be got,his advice was to deflate the tyre pressure to 15psi and go carefully!

As others have said it may be handy to have a set in the boot if your really stuck but at 80 euro?

Another idea would be to do what my dad used to do,simply bring a few mtrs of 2.5 elect cable in your boot and tie it round the wheels if your stuck takes a minute and always gets you out!

vibe666

neilthefunkeone wrote: »

Considering winter tyres will last years as you are only using for 2-3 months a year.. thus also prolonging the life of your summer tyres too.. In the long run its gonna save money id say!!

no doubt, but a lot of people don't have the big chunk of cash to spend up front in these tough economic times.

not to mention no space to keep an extra 4/5 tyres & wheels at home.

Tabnabs

Bjorn Bored. wrote: »

I asked my local tyre fitter about winter tyres and he says they cant be got,his advice was to deflate the tyre pressure to 15psi and go carefully!

I'd find a new tyre fitter if I were you.

The only time you'd let air out of a tyre is to enable it to 'float' over the surface to prevent it penetrating the surface where there is even less grip. The same applies to soft sand which is why you always deflate tyres when driving across desert areas.

On snow laden roads, you're aiming for the opposite effect which is to cut through the snow to the tarmac below where there is more grip.

Matt Simis

vibe666 wrote: »

no doubt, but a lot of people don't have the big chunk of cash to spend up front in these tough economic times.

Then buy part worn (5mm+ thread) Winter tyres, if they cannot spend EUR150 - 200 (16-17") fitted, then they maybe they shouldnt be out driving the car as they couldnt possibly pay for repairs to themselves or others.

Run_to_da_hills

I have seen heaps of snow socks along the side of the roads. Enough to put me off using them. They are only good for getting you out of a situation and not for every day driving.

JJJJNR

Get everything: winter tires, chains and snow socks as backup. They all provide different levels of grip and are useful in their own right..

Case closed...next

MarkoC

JJJJNR wrote: »

Get everything: winter tires, chains and snow socks as backup. They all provide different levels of grip and are useful in their own right..

Case closed...next

With good new winter tyres you dont need any socks or chains.

JJJJNR

Bullsh*t now don't start mate as I've winters on and they provide as much grip in ice and a bag of cotton wool.

peltor

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I have seen heaps of snow socks along the side of the roads. Enough to put me off using them. They are only good for getting you out of a situation and not for every day driving.

Wont see these thrown on side of road decent long term investment...


http://www.spikes-spider.ch Tick the English version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Eil3u3GvM

Bjorn Bored.

Dyflin wrote: »

I'd find a new tyre fitter if I were you.

The only time you'd let air out of a tyre is to enable it to 'float' over the surface to prevent it penetrating the surface where there is even less grip. The same applies to soft sand which is why you always deflate tyres when driving across desert areas.

On snow laden roads, you're aiming for the opposite effect which is to cut through the snow to the tarmac below where there is more grip.

Thats fair enough if you can actually get winter tyres? He said no wholesalers in the country can get the proper winter tyres as it is not worth it for them for the small amount of snow and ice we usually get, though this seems to be changing.

He did say to make sure you have all weather tryes that have a good thread,obviously you dont want to be trying to navigate the ice with bald tyres.

I must say in his defence that since I have deflated the tyres it definetly handles better,it seems clear that if you are filled up to the top with air that you are gonna skid more, when the trye is down a bit you are spreading the load on to the ice a lot better. Sure I would like the proper winter tyres,but where do I get them?

Bjorn Bored.

peltor wrote: »

Wont see these thrown on side of road decent long term investment...


http://www.spikes-spider.ch Tick the English version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Eil3u3GvM

oooh I like I like....

vibe666

Bjorn Bored. wrote: »

oooh I like I like....

in the other thread on snow socks (still not sure where the mods are to merge these threads) the spikes spider yokes don't fare too well in tests.

vibe666

Matt Simis wrote: »

Then buy part worn (5mm+ thread) Winter tyres, if they cannot spend EUR150 - 200 (16-17") fitted, then they maybe they shouldnt be out driving the car as they couldnt possibly pay for repairs to themselves or others.

i have a 14 year old 4x4 thats worth about €2000 on a good day but i'd be looking at about 600 quid for winter tyres and rims. also, you need more than 6mm of tread on a 4x4 to be legal on the road so 5mm of tread would be no good to me.

that said, i haven't had a huge amount of trouble on the roads so far with my almost new, €170 a corner, all-terrain tyres and 4WD, but i still don't get a huge amount of traction on ice, which winter tyres wouldn't help with a huge amount with over what i already have anyway.

i don't imagine snow socks would be of much use to me either as with 2 tonnes of weight on top of them i doubt they'd last long even when used properly. i'm half considering getting some chains for emergencies in case it gets really bad (i.e. worse than what we've already had) later in the winter but i'm not decided yet as what little spare money i have leading up to xmas needs to go on more important things in any case.

the other advantage for me with chains would be that i can use them for extra traction when off-road if i get really stuck too so they would be multi-use.

peltor

vibe666 wrote: »

the spikes spider yokes don't fare too well in tests.

Im sure they will last longer than the snow socks at €70 quid a go and parts are replaceable so will never wear out,
The video was made in Ireland in Irish conditions good enough test to satisfy most, we are never goin to experience 6 months of Nordic conditions where these tests are carried out where full blown konig/thule high tensil chains are required just to go to the shop for milk and sugar:D,how many won't damage tyres or alloy wheels,

I have a set of spikes spider and used them on my missus car and she felt safe to drop the small lad to childminders & get to work without sliding around like others,at the end of the day if one can get a decent safety & traction device thats easy to put on, won't disentegrate after one use, and get years out of same i think its a good investment for occupents and car alike

http://www.spikes-spider.ch/en For Info

MarkoC

vibe666 wrote: »

i have a 14 year old 4x4 thats worth about €2000 on a good day but i'd be looking at about 600 quid for winter tyres and rims. also, you need more than 6mm of tread on a 4x4 to be legal on the road so 5mm of tread would be no good to me.

Where that comes from ? Source please !

peltor

MarkoC wrote: »

Where that comes from ? Source please !

Never knew that either,doubt it very much

recyclebin

How much are the spikes-spider?

vibe666

MarkoC wrote: »

Where that comes from ? Source please !

peltor wrote: »

Never knew that either,doubt it very much

doubt it all you like, but it comes from me going for my NCT with less than 6mm of tread on the jeep and failing for the bushes (they were fine according to my mechanic).

the tester told me that the was only giving to give me a warning for the tyres although it is normally a fail but WAS going to fail me because of the bushes and would need to get those fixed before a retest, then warned me that the tyre tread needed to be more than 6mm and i would have to have the tyres replaced ASAP to stay legal.

MarkoC

vibe666 wrote: »

doubt it all you like, but it comes from me going for my NCT with less than 6mm of tread on the jeep and failing for the bushes (they were fine according to my mechanic).

the tester told me that the was only giving to give me a warning for the tyres although it is normally a fail but WAS going to fail me because of the bushes and would need to get those fixed before a retest, then warned me that the tyre tread needed to be more than 6mm and i would have to have the tyres replaced ASAP to stay legal.

Thats bollix ! This tester wasnt the shaprest pencil in the box ... Tried to be smart with you.
Legal minimum limit is 1.6mm by the LAW !

peltor

MarkoC wrote: »

Thats bollix ! This tester wasnt the shaprest pencil in the box ... Tried to be smart with you.
Legal minimum limit is 1.6mm by the LAW !

Absolutely agree,just checked with Nct tester and minimum 1.6 mm is the law across the board regardless car jeep ect,
So wherever you got jeep tested fella did'nt have a clue,

tossy

JJJJNR wrote: »

Bullsh*t now don't start mate as I've winters on and they provide as much grip in ice and a bag of cotton wool.

Tyre brand/model?

vibe666

peltor wrote: »

Absolutely agree,just checked with Nct tester and minimum 1.6 mm is the law across the board regardless car jeep ect,
So wherever you got jeep tested fella did'nt have a clue,

looks like you're right. i just called the NCTS enquiries number after checking the PDF on their website which doesn't differentiate between car & jeep and they told me its 1.6mm regardless.

won't be going to Kells NCT test centre again anyway, what a bunch of cowboys!

Matt Simis

vibe666 wrote: »

looks like you're right. i just called the NCTS enquiries number and they told me its 1.6mm regardless of whether its a car or jeep.

won't be going to Kells NCT test centre again anyway. bunch of cowboys!

So now you can put the part-worn Winters back on the table and stop using the price as a barrier right? :P

vibe666

Matt Simis wrote: »

So now you can put the part-worn Winters back on the table and stop using the price as a barrier right? :P

depends how much a decent set of part worn 275/70 R16 winters and rims are going to cost me.

anyone know where i could pick some up cheap?

tossy

peltor wrote: »

Wont see these thrown on side of road decent long term investment...

Reminds me of something i'd see on one of those JML Ads, also i can for see problems fitting to dished alloys where the the nuts/centre are also in a recess.Also a lowered car might pose problems.

Bjorn Bored.

tossy wrote: »

Reminds me of something i'd see on one of those JML Ads, also i can for see problems fitting to dished alloys where the the nuts/centre are also in a recess.Also a lowered car might pose problems.

you have a point here, if i were to purchase a pair and i seriously think i may do, i would insist that they be fitted on front of me and that i was easily able to fit and remove myself.

wex96

peltor wrote: »

Wont see these thrown on side of road decent long term investment...


http://www.spikes-spider.ch Tick the English version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Eil3u3GvM

Have you seen the price in sterling???? that's why you won't see many on the side of the road!!!!!!!!! winter tyres are cheaper

peltor

tossy wrote: »

Reminds me of something i'd see on one of those JML Ads, also i can for see problems fitting to dished alloys where the the nuts/centre are also in a recess.Also a lowered car might pose problems.

Dished wheels aren't a problem in the kit comes spacers to extend the adapter plate flush with the side wall of the tyre,
if the car is that low you would be using the front splitter as a snow plough:D

Fitting and removal is really as easy as it looks in the video

JJJJNR

tossy wrote: »

Tyre brand/model?

Continental WinterContact TS 790 205/55 R16 91H Been the perfect winter/snow tire just not that good on 30cm of snowy pack ice at -10.

I now know the limits of winter tires..

Biglad

peltor wrote: »

Dished wheels aren't a problem in the kit comes spacers to extend the adapter plate flush with the side wall of the tyre,
if the car is that low you would be using the front splitter as a snow plough:D

Fitting and removal is really as easy as it looks in the video

These yokes are great as a rescue option or on roads with a good layer of (preferably fresh-ish) snow. Posh people used to have them in the ski resorts as they were to lazy to put on the normal poor mans chains. You won't be dowing 40mls an hour down the n-whatever with those boys on. About the same effect as cruising down tarmac with chains on...
Horse for courses I suppose.

Tabnabs

wex96 wrote: »

Have you seen the price in sterling???? that's why you won't see many on the side of the road!!!!!!!!! winter tyres are cheaper

I've only seen a price of €350 on the continent, is this about right?

peltor

For sale here..

PM me for details

Bjorn Bored.

one question, are they lockable? very important feature.

vibe666

Bjorn Bored. wrote: »

one question, are they lockable? very important feature.

no, since when you park up somewhere they can be taken off in 30 seconds and put in your boot.

i'd say that the centre piece is held in place by your existing wheel nuts (open to correction here tho) so you should be able to use your existing locking wheel nuts to keep them from going walkabouts when you're doing your shopping.

hopefully.

i actually like the look of the alpine pro ones, but they're still pretty expensive.

its still hard for me personally to justify anything after seeing how well my existing tyres work with the 4WD on, so it would want to be pretty extreme for me to want to add anything to them, hence my original thoughts on getting chains, but again if its bad enough to need chains chances are lack of traction is going to be the least of my problems and would more than likely be getting grounded on deep snow.

time for a body & suspension lift and some bigger boots on the jeep.

peltor

vibe666 wrote: »

no, since when you park up somewhere they can be taken off in 30 seconds and put in your boot.
i actually like the look of the alpine pro ones, but they're still pretty expensive.

Apline pro are pretty hardcore & pricey:( could also be used on slippy off road/Muddy conditions as well. Prices for Alpine pro start from €450-€490 plus Vat depending on size

vibe666

peltor wrote: »

Apline pro are pretty hardcore & pricey:( could also be used on slippy off road/Muddy conditions as well. Prices for Alpine pro start from €450-€490 plus Vat depending on size

yeah, its one of those things that seems like a good idea till you acually start pricing it up.
nto to mention tha with a proper 4WD you'll want to be getting two pairs and doubling up on cost. :eek:

i came into work this morning and had no bother at all in 4WD even with all the new snow and ice, even on the back roads. i don't think i'll be needing anything at all tbh. i might get chains to stick in the boot for those 'just in case' times when i could end up getting stuck somewhere, they'll be just as good in mud anyways, so as i do sometimes do some off-roading they're a good year round investment either way.

-Chris-

peltor wrote: »

For sale here..

PM me for details

I've snipped the link because it's possibly breaking the Charter - FYI.

Are you selling these yourself Peltor? Can you ship nationwide?

peltor

Ok sorry for posting link,

I bought 10 sets,4 for our own company off spikes spider in Switzerland met them during the summer,have 6 more sets general popular sizes if anyone wants them.
I have used them myself and find them really good plus missus is happy to be able to get to work safely over last 2 weeks on her car,
To answer the question yes but in a small way(would,nt be my trade) just to let other drivers out there see a different alternative to Winters or chains(i have used both) the profit is minimal, in the long run i find these will be a cheaper solution even though the intial purchase is expensive.
I know someone in Germany who has there set with 25 years:eek: and that promted me to check them out more.
The fact that parts are easily replaceable i like so will never need to be thrown away.
I have the full price list from spikes spider albeight a little cheaper than they have advertised the Vat does wreck with them.
Can have them delivered nation wide with Fast way couriers as i deal with them anyway.

ComDubh

Just in case you're considering ordering spike spider from Peltor, here's my (positive!!) experience so far.

The price Peltor is charging is the same as on the swiss web page. They're not cheap, but if you need to take your daughter to the doctor in the snow, they're a steal...

I'd a few queries about the the product. The company in Switzerland was very quick and helpful, as was Peltor. I'd a few chats with Peltor on the phone and he seems to be a decent, honest guy who knows his stuff. I ordered at 3pm one day and had them delivered by DHL within 24 hours even though I live the back of beyonds. They come with a full business receipt -- this is a proper operation.

I haven't got to using them yet of course! From the reviews on the web, they seem to work great. To be honest, I'll be quite happy if I never have to use them, they bring peace of mind if nothing else!

vibe666

ComDubh wrote: »

I haven't got to using them yet of course! From the reviews on the web, they seem to work great. To be honest, I'll be quite happy if I never have to use them, they bring peace of mind if nothing else!

you might only have to give it a day or two at this rate before you need to try them.

Frank165

Just came across this thread, know its a bit late but if we get the same weather as we have for the last two winters, i thought I'd throw in my experience. I bought the snow socks last year, they were the motorsock brand. Snow chains & winter tyres seem a bit overkill for the few weeks we get. Anyway you cant use chains unless its very heavy ice/snow & they wreck your cars suspension on tarmac. Also I think they are illegal for use on roads where there isn't snow/ice so you'd be taking them on & off every few minutes.
I drive a rear wheel drive & saw loads of similar cars struggling. I found the motorsocks excellent. I left them in the car all winter & used them whenever I was leaving my estate, there's a slope on the way out which was impossible to get up without them as its exits onto a main road, so you couldn't take a run at it. Used them probably around twenty or thirty times for the commute home, its about 7 miles & they are still pretty much perfect, ready for this year. Sure they cost a few bob, but a lot cheaper than driving into the car in front of you or braking an arm on an icy footpath after abandoning your car by the side of the road.

vibe666

Frank165 wrote: »

Just came across this thread, know its a bit late

just a bit, this is a thread from last year. there's several current threads on the go if you check the forum.