Snow socks - any good??

[SirFallot]

Looking through the posts on this forum, there do seem to be a number of people ordering/using snow socks.

Given the scenario of occasional snowfall in Southern England where snow tyres aren't warranted, have you found snow socks give a useful added boost in traction on ice/snow covered roads?

Are there any models in the A4 range that can use chains and if so which ones?

[robtt09]

They are brilliant but remember limited to 30mph or so !

[SirFallot]

They are brilliant but remember limited to 30mph or so !

Thanks - so they do make a difference?

[zollaf]

they make the difference between getting home by car or by foot. very handy to have in your boot.

[SirFallot]

they make the difference between getting home by car or by foot. very handy to have in your boot.

How easy were they to put on?

[markp306]

Looking through the posts on this forum, there do seem to be a number of people ordering/using snow socks.

Given the scenario of occasional snowfall in Southern England where snow tyres aren't warranted, have you found snow socks give a useful added boost in traction on ice/snow covered roads?

Are there any models in the A4 range that can use chains and if so which ones?

Mine were delivered yesterday...and snow is forecast for tomorrow isn't it?!!

[zollaf]

you slip them over the tops of the tyres, then drive a metre or so and slip the rest on. can be a bit tight between the top of the tyre and the arch, but you can turn the steering to give a bit more room. once on you drive off and they self centre, but you need to stop after a few hundred metres to re check them. all in all, once youve got the hang of them, its a 5 minute job. best to practice on your drive first though, and handy to have some gloves with you as well. the only thing is, if you come to a clear bit of road you should take them off as tarmac will wear the out very quickly. but all in all, easier than chains and cheaper than another set of winter tyres. you only need them on the driven wheels as well. they wont turn your car into a go anywhere in the snow machine, and indeed i still struggled up the hill out of our village, but made it, which i couldnt do without the socks fitted. braking is the best though, as you still can, gently, without the abs continuously cutting in.

[Hillbeley]

Had to use the socks last night, only car on the road at 2:00 am, I live 500 metres up a rural hill - no problem even my luddite wife (driver) was impressed.
Get them if you can.
Getting them onto the tyres on an Avant SE was straight forward, but mucky. i would imagine you types with big, wide, rubber would huff and puff a bit.

[adrianwalker]

Had to use the socks last night, only car on the road at 2:00 am, I live 500 metres up a rural hill - no problem even my luddite wife (driver) was impressed.
Get them if you can.
Getting them onto the tyres on an Avant SE was straight forward, but mucky. i would imagine you types with big, wide, rubber would huff and puff a bit.

Which type/brand of snow sock have you got?

[ScottyUK]

They seem to be the best solution for me but I haven't bought any as

[1] I don't think I'd be able to get my hand in to fit them over the wide tyres
[2] I'm assumming I'd have to fit them on all four wheels to avoid the quattro spooling up :confused:

[phil miller]

never seen them until yesterday a woman in the village had them on her renault, at first i thought they were rim protectors lol, she was still spinning everywhere :biglaugh:

[golfgt140]

Mine are great. Need them as the car is terrible in the snow- the worst I've had in the snow by far.

In the last couple of weeks I would not have got to & from work without them. Also at night, most others round here had to leave their cars on the main road- I was able to sail smugly in, right up to my back door.

The first time I used them I was coming home from work, and the snow was really bad. I made it most of the way home and then came to a hill that I knew I could never make. My snow socks ('Weissenfels Weiss socks') were in the boot and had been delivered the day before. At the bottom of the hill were 2 BMW's, parked up and presumably waiting for a lift or a tow.:biglaugh:

I got out and struggled to get the socks on, being watched by the BM drivers, and crapping myself at mucking this up in front of an audience. I'm sure they though I was a right muppet. I was also dreading having to leave my car in the middle of nowhere. Getting them on was difficult due to the clearance, and took a few goes and a few cut knuckles, but once on I drove smugly up the hill and home.

After using them a few times you get better at the technique. Even on 19's it's easy enough after a couple of goes. I wouldn't be without these as I can't afford winter wheels/tyres! Would highly recommend!

Funny how in the direst of situations one always takes time for a photo!

http://i808.photobucket.com/albums/zz9/andrewandheather/photo-10.jpg

Downsides:-

1. You look like a plonker.

2. It's a pain in the hole having to take them off for 'clear tarmac'. (I left them on for a couple of journeys, as on my commute I have really deep snow/clear road/light snow/really deep snow etc and am not prepared to keep taking off and putting on.) I wonder how much damage is done by a bit of clear road? My thoughts were who cares I'd rather buy another set than get out of the car again.

3. Cold hands and dirty cuffs.

4. Not so easy with 19/255/35's.

5. You look like a plonker!

[paultheo]

I love them and don't mind looking like a plonker as long as I am driving past the plonker that is stuck in the snow. Yes they are a pain to put on but no where near as bad as chains. You can still get stuck and you still need to be careful but much better and safer than normal tyres.

[Hillbeley]

I bought Auto Socks from TheRoofBox.co.uk

[A1287210]

I found that they were fine on the clear road as long as you don't wheelspin out of junctions etc We lent a pair to a friend who was a bit over enthusiastic in a car park and they ripped down the middle. We have sewn them up and are still working but they are NOT invincible.

Damo

[Eddo1968]

Had about 20 cms of snow yesterday in Normandy. Even with Quattro the car only moved a few cms on the drive. Struggled to put the socks on the 18"s but once on they were a revelation. Took me all the way to the autoroute which was about 10kms. Would have been impossible otherwise. Well worth the money!

Checked out winter tyres with Audi today - €2000 for 17"s (with alloys):yikes:

[vwawudi]

Had about 20 cms of snow yesterday in Normandy. Even with Quattro the car only moved a few cms on the drive. Struggled to put the socks on the 18"s but once on they were a revelation. Took me all the way to the autoroute which was about 10kms. Would have been impossible otherwise. Well worth the money!

Checked out winter tyres with Audi today - €2000 for 17"s (with alloys):yikes:

Check out the big-bad-bay (eBay)!

[nrwilliams35]

Having been stuck for 16 hours in Kent with the first dump of snow 3 weeks ago - i bought a set (18") from snowchains.co.uk - they are in the boot ready to go now - only problem i am a bit of a chicken now and just a smattering of snow has me working at home. However i now have the means to get home if i get stuck next time. Miner are Weissenfels. Welly boots/spade and gloves in the boot ready.

[Boat_face]

I've got a pair of the Weissenfel Weiss Socks for my A4 and add my recommendation to get some. There's a knack to getting them on but it's very easy. They store away in a small space in almost no space at all. At first I did think how good can they be but they're excellent.

[robtt09]

Before the quattro I used them on my C class Merc 320cdi auto and they made the difference of moving and not ! That car was just pants in any kind of snow.