Winter tyres or snow socks

mike rice · Sep 14th, 2016, 06:42

Hi all, apologies if this has been covered before. I'm going to the northern Highlands in February from the sunny and warm East anglia, so which of the above would you go for, I drive a v70 d5 man fwd. Cheers mike

daveyonthemove · Sep 14th, 2016, 07:33

If you really need to have one or the other, then buy the tyres.
The socks aren't designed for long term driving and if one comes off on a corner, you may not know until it's too late.

Billggski · Sep 14th, 2016, 08:06

Winter tyres.
Socks are a real pain to put on and take off, are only of use in snow and ice, and wear out.
Winter tyres help in marginal conditions and your summer tyres are not wearing down, so the change really costs nothing extra.
Having said that I bought an extra set of alloys for them, some use steel wheels with winter tyres.

tt82 · Sep 14th, 2016, 08:09

Socks are better than nothing but winter tyres are better!

Socks need a decent covering of snow before they can be used and must not be used on clear tarmac.

Harvey1512 · Sep 14th, 2016, 08:41

Are you just going for a weekend trip or is it something longer? I agree with all of the sentiments above and personally could not be fagged with snow socks, on off on off on off etc, but if you are only there for a few days the cost implications are hard to justify for tyres. Living up in the NE I have winter tyres and have done for about 7-8 yrs now so I am a tyres fan.

stutgart69 · Sep 14th, 2016, 09:43

I put winter tyres on my V70 last year and they are still on now. They actually give a more comfortable ride than the summer tyres that I took off!
As yet though, they haven't seen much in the way of snow.

domhart10 · Sep 14th, 2016, 10:25

Get tires, they are well worth it. save your current tires for better weather

wimorrison · Sep 14th, 2016, 10:32

It is the Highlands you are going to not the Artic

the functions of tyres and socks are completly different, winter tyres provide better grip in marginal conditions and if you buy the correct type of winter tyre then they will also provide traction in snow. The socks are an emergency recovery situation only when you find that your tyres are not providing the grip in heavy or packed snow. Socks do not work in wet, cold, frosty or icy conditions.

mike rice · Sep 14th, 2016, 11:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harvey1512

Are you just going for a weekend trip or is it something longer? I agree with all of the sentiments above and personally could not be fagged with snow socks, on off on off on off etc, but if you are only there for a few days the cost implications are hard to justify for tyres. Living up in the NE I have winter tyres and have done for about 7-8 yrs now so I am a tyres fan.

Were staying a week, but will be travelling while up there, what are February's normally like as weather goes

827Roverman · Sep 14th, 2016, 11:23

You might be pleasantly surprised, they look after the roads up there far, far better the we do in England, be safe and enjoy your trip its a wonderful place to go.

Sep 14th, 2016, 06:42	#1
mike rice Senior Member Last Online: Aug 31st, 2019 07:11 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: ipswich	Winter tyres or snow socks Hi all, apologies if this has been covered before. I'm going to the northern Highlands in February from the sunny and warm East anglia, so which of the above would you go for, I drive a v70 d5 man fwd. Cheers mike

Sep 14th, 2016, 08:09	#4
tt82 Forum Support Team Last Online: Jun 7th, 2024 07:24 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Here.... obviously!	Socks are better than nothing but winter tyres are better! Socks need a decent covering of snow before they can be used and must not be used on clear tarmac. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I like my dog! 2009 V70 D5 R-Design - Jeade'en

Sep 14th, 2016, 08:41	#5
Harvey1512 Premier Member Last Online: Jan 30th, 2021 12:00 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Northumberland	Are you just going for a weekend trip or is it something longer? I agree with all of the sentiments above and personally could not be fagged with snow socks, on off on off on off etc, but if you are only there for a few days the cost implications are hard to justify for tyres. Living up in the NE I have winter tyres and have done for about 7-8 yrs now so I am a tyres fan. __________________ I used to have an S40, V60 and XC60 so I am allowed here, honest.

Sep 14th, 2016, 10:25	#7
domhart10 Volvo S40 Last Online: Jun 1st, 2024 01:07 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Chichester	Get tires, they are well worth it. save your current tires for better weather __________________ ----------------------------------------- Current: 2009 Volvo S40 T5 Progress Thread: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=271945 Previous Volvo: 2008 S40 SE Lux R Design 2.0D

Sep 14th, 2016, 10:32	#8
wimorrison Grumpy Old Sod Last Online: Dec 14th, 2021 15:39 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hampshire, nee Scotland	It is the Highlands you are going to not the Artic the functions of tyres and socks are completly different, winter tyres provide better grip in marginal conditions and if you buy the correct type of winter tyre then they will also provide traction in snow. The socks are an emergency recovery situation only when you find that your tyres are not providing the grip in heavy or packed snow. Socks do not work in wet, cold, frosty or icy conditions. __________________ Currently XC60 Previously XC60, V70, S40, ...

Sep 14th, 2016, 07:33	#2
daveyonthemove Senior Member Last Online: Oct 11th, 2017 19:23 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Carterton	If you really need to have one or the other, then buy the tyres. The socks aren't designed for long term driving and if one comes off on a corner, you may not know until it's too late.

Sep 14th, 2016, 08:06	#3
Billggski Senior Member Last Online: Nov 15th, 2019 13:19 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Stone	Winter tyres. Socks are a real pain to put on and take off, are only of use in snow and ice, and wear out. Winter tyres help in marginal conditions and your summer tyres are not wearing down, so the change really costs nothing extra. Having said that I bought an extra set of alloys for them, some use steel wheels with winter tyres.

Sep 14th, 2016, 09:43	#6
stutgart69 Master Member Last Online: May 13th, 2024 21:25 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: lanark View Photos By: stutgart69	I put winter tyres on my V70 last year and they are still on now. They actually give a more comfortable ride than the summer tyres that I took off! As yet though, they haven't seen much in the way of snow.

Sep 14th, 2016, 11:23	#10
827Roverman VOC Member Last Online: Oct 4th, 2022 16:02 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: UK	You might be pleasantly surprised, they look after the roads up there far, far better the we do in England, be safe and enjoy your trip its a wonderful place to go.

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