General: Snow socks

[px_04]

As the colder weather is upon us I'm considering snow socks instead of chains so I don't suffer the embarrassment of getting stuck in light snow (used to have Audi Allroad much more sure footed). Has anyone tried these?


XC90 18" wheels

[Frank]

Hi PX_04

Not used snow socks or snow chains in this country. Not sure you would need anything for light snow. I used the XC90 all through last winter towing a caravan in quite heavy snow and ice at times and never had any problems.
It also works very well on muddy fields and slippery grass when towing which is probably as bad if not worse than light snow.
Do you expect to have problems for some reason?

Frank

[px_04]

Am not expecting problems - have already had problems! The geartronic is just not sensitive enough in the snow and I have plenty of experience driving in snow, Cambrigeshire isn't my home ground. Partially solved problem by switching into manual but I think investing in winter tyres will be the only way to solve this if the cheaper options of socks doesn't work.

[RoyMacDonald]

Is you're AWD OK?

My XC90 had no trouble with any type of snow on any type of hill or road. I do have it shod with Vredstien Wintrac4 Extreme's. If the snow is deep you should press the traction control button. It doesn't turn it off, despite what you may have heard, as it can't be, but it gives a more suitable characteristic for deep snow. Although I've never had to. I just sit back and enjoy that unstopable feeling the XC90 has.

[px_04]

Many thanks for the tip on the tyres, I still have the Continentals fitted and I think that's what has probably let the car down over this winter on the basis that even the best AWD can't operate on tyres that aren't designed for the job.

[Pitvar]

I never thought I'd need snow socks in our XC90 until I went walking in staffordshire this winter... a sudden 5 inch snow fall had closed the main roads near Leek so off we went [four up] across the back roads. One steep hill later and we had to get a tow off a friendly tractor driver which was a bit embarrassing to say the least. Mind you in my defence he was there precisely because he knew there would be plenty of people to rescue, I'd got higher than most of the abandoned cars lower down and the only thing passing me where properly shod with winter tyres!

So the next day I ordered snow socks just in case and they are amazing - so much so that I then ordered them for the other car I had [RWD BMW skating machine]. I used them once on the XC90 and three times on the BMW in the good snow we had this winter: one one occasion in the BMW I had to use a country road due to road closures that quickly became sheet ice, I was losing all grip and would not have made it up the next rise until I stopped and put the snow socks on the drive was then transformed completely.

Other thing to note is that on the XC90 they are a doddle to fit as per the videos on the web, on an large wheeled MSport I actually had to jack the wheels up to get the clearance under the arched to get my hand in to fit them [which was a bit dodgy].

[Neil Yates]

I had plenty of snow expereience over the winter in our D5, it was fantastic uphill but going down our lane, which is admittedly pretty steep, narrow and winding, it was nerve wracking to say the least (we live just outside Leek as it happens). The weight of the car made downhill braking impossible without skidding, even at the lowest speeds.
I got a set of chains soon after which make a world of difference, having used them on the last 3 cars we've owned.

Haven't tried socks but the theory looks good and they've got to be more convenient than chains.

Cheers

Neil