Snow Chains Vs Snow Socks

[Damage2011]

I have just ordered a new XC60 having been attracted to the AWD with the hope that I won’t need to don chains when I go on my winter skiing trips. However I have just realised that there is insufficient clearance to install traditional snow chains.

The single sided affairs can be obtained from Volvo at

£250: http://www.volvopartshop.com/snow-ch...c60-2458-p.asp
£399 http://www.partsworld-uk.com/product...xc60-xc90.aspx
£295 http://www.volvocars.com/uk/sales-se...-XC60-MY12.pdf

Has anyone any view on the performance of these different chains?

Also has anyone used a snow sock. These are considerably cheaper than chains £65 http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbv.../njNA_v1i5%406

Finally if the snow sock is as good as it claims, does anyone have an info regarding their use in mountainous areas where ‘chains’ are obligatory?

It would be really good to get feedback and view, thanks

[popuptoaster]

winter tyres would probably have been a better bet, bit more cash if you buy some wheels to fit them on i guess, but less hassle on the journey.

[Damage2011]

Unfortunately only likely to keep the car for 2-3 years, and winter tyres probably come in at c£800 & wheels c£400. Just a tad expensive for me.

[darbs]

Originally Posted by Damage2011

I have just ordered a new XC60 having been attracted to the AWD with the hope that I won’t need to don chains when I go on my winter skiing trips. However I have just realised that there is insufficient clearance to install traditional snow chains.

The single sided affairs can be obtained from Volvo at

£250: http://www.volvopartshop.com/snow-ch...c60-2458-p.asp
£399 http://www.partsworld-uk.com/product...xc60-xc90.aspx
£295 http://www.volvocars.com/uk/sales-se...-XC60-MY12.pdf

Has anyone any view on the performance of these different chains?

Also has anyone used a snow sock. These are considerably cheaper than chains £65 http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbv.../njNA_v1i5%406

Finally if the snow sock is as good as it claims, does anyone have an info regarding their use in mountainous areas where ‘chains’ are obligatory?

It would be really good to get feedback and view, thanks

not sure about chains or socks, but there's a lot of info about winter experiences in this forum - mainly with or without winter tyres. there are those who keep them on all year round. some of these tyres are not necessarily much worse than summer tyres in +7c temps. if you do an xc60 forum search on the word winter, you should get some good info. here's a sample thread: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=110109 (the subject is lost midway through, but it does recover).

[popuptoaster]

I have run all sorts of proper 4x4s for years and its the tyres that make the difference, a 4x4 on road tyres will get stuck before a normal car on winter tyres when the going is slippy, the last couple of years here when we have had snow I have been lucky in that one year i had a Mazda B2500 4x4 pickup and last year we had a Toyota Hilux Surf 4x4, both of them were on good quality all terrain tyres and both are part time 4x4 (run in 2wd usually).

Because of the tyres i hardly used 4x4, its not the extra driven axle that was getting me up hill while everyone else was sliding down backwards, it was the tyres.

If they cost to much i would suggest trying the snow socks as they are cheap, and if they are not good enough or you just dont get on with them then lay out for the chains.

[snowchains]

If you have no clearance running between the tyre wall and suspension strut then you can use chains such as Weissenfels Clack & Go Quattro or Thule K-Summit. As you are asking snow chains are mandatory and snow socks are not a replacement for chains.

Even with snow socks you need a minimum clearance of 9mm.

Snowchains Europroducts will continue answer questions here and also provide a discount of 10%

Simply go to http://www.snowchains.co.uk/specials/ and login in using the following details.

Username: volvoforums
Password: volvo5861forums

Originally Posted by Damage2011

I have just ordered a new XC60 having been attracted to the AWD with the hope that I won’t need to don chains when I go on my winter skiing trips. However I have just realised that there is insufficient clearance to install traditional snow chains.

The single sided affairs can be obtained from Volvo at

£250: http://www.volvopartshop.com/snow-ch...c60-2458-p.asp
£399 http://www.partsworld-uk.com/product...xc60-xc90.aspx
£295 http://www.volvocars.com/uk/sales-se...-XC60-MY12.pdf

Has anyone any view on the performance of these different chains?

Also has anyone used a snow sock. These are considerably cheaper than chains £65 http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbv.../njNA_v1i5%406

Finally if the snow sock is as good as it claims, does anyone have an info regarding their use in mountainous areas where ‘chains’ are obligatory?

It would be really good to get feedback and view, thanks

[ak888]

Has anyone sourced reasonably priced chains? I am planning a trip to the Alps and I have already changed tyres to Vredestein Quatrac 3 (all season but also satisfies categorisation for winter tyres - has M+S label).

As its a requirement to have snow chains - wondered if anyone has sourced or successfully used Snow Socks? I don't envisage having to use chains but its the requirement to carry a set. Don't fancy forking out 260 quid after the tyres.

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by ak888

Has anyone sourced reasonably priced chains? I am planning a trip to the Alps and I have already changed tyres to Vredestein Quatrac 3 (all season but also satisfies categorisation for winter tyres - has M+S label).

As its a requirement to have snow chains - wondered if anyone has sourced or successfully used Snow Socks? I don't envisage having to use chains but its the requirement to carry a set. Don't fancy forking out 260 quid after the tyres.

An excellent source for snow chains is www.roofbox.co.uk.
See recent comments in the XC60 forum Roof Box thread posted today

[Teejay1]

If you plump for the Snow socks get the order in quick. If the weather is anything like last year they sell out very quickly.

[topofthestack]

We've got a pair of Snowsocks in the back of each family car but, fortunately, have never used them.

My son, who drives a Ford Kuga, had to use them for long periods of a difficult and snowy journey back through northern France last year and says they were great!