Snow socks for cars??.. where/how much?

connorcarroll

Anyone know where you can buy snow socks around the south Dublin area and how much they cost??? Is there different grades and whats the difference??

Nissan doctor

Wherever you buy them just make sure you don't make the mistake that so many did last year and try to drive around normally on them.

R.O.R

I think Fast Fit / First Stop are probably stocking them again this year. They dropped a couple of sets in to me from head office on Friday.

They come in different sizes depending on the tyre size, so you'll need to know that to make sure you get the right ones.

I was offered 2 different types - Weissenfels WeissSocks and cheaper Bottarri gripsocks. Went with the WeissSocks as that's what I'd budgeted for, and I've never heard of Bottari.

Vicxas

Are snow socks any good? i cant really afford snow tyres but i dont feel like writing off my car this winter...

Nissan doctor

Vicxas wrote: »

Are snow socks any good? i cant really afford snow tyres but i dont feel like writing off my car this winter...

They are good but they are only for fitting to your car to get you out of your drive or on uncleared roads. Once you get to any road with no snow or ice they have to be removed.

The amount of people last who were whinging about their snow socks falling apart on the m50 or othe main roads was crazy.

Vicxas

So you can drive around on main roads as long as theres snow? Makes sense

leeroybrown

Vicxas wrote: »

Are snow socks any good? i cant really afford snow tyres but i dont feel like writing off my car this winter...

They're fine as a backup to get you home if the roads are bad but don't expect them to last long if you use them outside of the operating speeds and conditions they're designed for.

166man

Sorry might seem like a dumb question but do you have to jack the car up to take the snow socks on and off to cover the entire wheel?

Vicxas

leeroybrown wrote: »

They're fine as a backup to get you home if the roads are bad but don't expect them to last long if you use them outside of the operating speeds and conditions they're designed for.

Aye I work in swords and live in dundalk, they'd be emergency use only. Like if im snowed in when i leave work kinda thing.

ambro25

166man wrote: »

Sorry might seem like a dumb question but do you have to jack the car up to take the snow socks on and off to cover the entire wheel?

It's basically, like the name says on the tin, "a sock":

• you wrap about 3/4 of both car wheels (essentially, what doesn't touch the ground) with them as you would a sock,
• then you move the car (or wheelspin slowly) forward or back a few inches, to clear the bottom portion of the tyres which is still uncovered,
• then wrap the rest of the sock over that uncovered tyre portion,
• job done, away you go

No need to jack the car up, and it only takes a couple of minutes, if that.

I used them extensively in France last Xmas (2010) and they're good to go up to 70 kph-ish on fresh, unplowed snow (in a straight line, obviously ) with no adverse effect on material/structure.

EDIT - bit of an obvious one, but...if your car is rear-wheel drive, buy two sets. No need to have good traction at the rear, if you don't have good steering at the front

Mr Benevolent

166man wrote: »

Sorry might seem like a dumb question but do you have to jack the car up to take the snow socks on and off to cover the entire wheel?

No, you partially fit them and then roll the car forward a bit to fit the rest of the sock.

connorcarroll

R.O.R wrote: »

I think Fast Fit / First Stop are probably stocking them again this year. They dropped a couple of sets in to me from head office on Friday.

They come in different sizes depending on the tyre size, so you'll need to know that to make sure you get the right ones.

I was offered 2 different types - Weissenfels WeissSocks and cheaper Bottarri gripsocks. Went with the WeissSocks as that's what I'd budgeted for, and I've never heard of Bottari.

What price do they start at??

166man

@ Confab and Ambro25

Cheers for that lads I always wondered how to put them on now I know.

biko

Some info from youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x8iHyLWWKw

chasm

connorcarroll wrote: »

Anyone know where you can buy snow socks around the south Dublin area and how much they cost??? Is there different grades and whats the difference??

I know you said the south Dublin area but if you were up the north at all Asda sell these ones instore :

http://direct.asda.com/TEX-Car-Snow-Socks---Various-Sizes/MASTERTexSnowChains,default,pd.html?dwvar_MASTERTexSnowChains_size=Medium

WestWing

+1 for Autosock.

Top notch.

R.O.R

connorcarroll wrote: »

What price do they start at??

http://www.micksgarage.ie/tyre-snow-socks.aspx - check the price there. Think Fast Fit were in and around the same price last year.