Snow socks (also known as auto socks) are

textile Textile is an Hyponymy and hypernymy, umbrella term that includes various Fiber, fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, Staple (textiles)#Filament fiber, filaments, Thread (yarn), threads, and different types of #Fabric, fabric. ...

alternatives to

snow chains Snow chains, or tire chains, are devices fitted to the tires of vehicles to provide increased traction when driving through snow and ice. Snow chains attach to the drive wheels of a vehicle or special systems deploy chains which swing under ...

. Snow sock devices wrap around the

tire A tire (North American English) or tyre (Commonwealth English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a Rim (wheel), wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide Traction (engineeri ...

s of a

vehicle A vehicle () is a machine designed for self-propulsion, usually to transport people, cargo, or both. The term "vehicle" typically refers to land vehicles such as human-powered land vehicle, human-powered vehicles (e.g. bicycles, tricycles, velo ...

to increase traction on snow and ice. Snow socks are normally composed of a

woven fabric Woven fabric is any textile formed by weaving. Woven fabrics, often created on a loom, are made of many threads woven in a warp and weft. Technically, a woven fabric is any fabric made by interlacing two or more threads at right angles to one ano ...

with an

elastomer An elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity (i.e. both viscosity and elasticity) and with weak intermolecular forces, generally low Young's modulus (E) and high failure strain compared with other materials. The term, a portmanteau of ''ela ...

attached to the inner and/or outer edge. The woven fabric covers the

tire tread The tread of a tire or track refers to the rubber on its circumference that makes contact with the road or the ground. As tires are used, the tread is worn off, limiting its effectiveness in providing traction. A worn tire can often be retr ...

and is the contact point between the vehicle and the road. The elastomer keeps the snow sock in place and facilitates with installation. Some snow sock models have an additional component that covers the rim of the tire, which prevents snow or

debris Debris (, ) is rubble, wreckage, ruins, litter and discarded waste, garbage/refuse/trash, scattered remains of something destroyed, or, as in geology, large rock fragments left by a melting glacier, etc. Depending on context, ''debris'' can ref ...

from gathering between the tread of the tire and the inner side of the woven fabric. Snow socks for cars

Sizing and deployment

Snow socks are sold in pairs and come in sizes that are specific to a range of

tire code Automotive tires are described by several alphanumeric tire codes (in North American English) or tyre codes (in English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English), which are generally molded into the sidewall of the tire. These codes ...

s. Snow sock sizes are available for different

motor vehicle A motor vehicle, also known as a motorized vehicle, automotive vehicle, automobile, or road vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on railway track, rails (such as trains or trams), does not fly (such ...

classes, but most snow sock brands focus on

car A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people rather than cargo. There are around one billio ...

s and

pickup truck A pickup truck or pickup is a Truck_classification#Table_of_US_GVWR_classifications, light or medium duty truck that has an enclosed cabin (truck), cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof (th ...

s rather than

semi-trailer truck A semi-trailer truck (also known by a wide variety of other terms – see below) is the combination of a tractor unit and one or more semi-trailers to carry freight. A semi-trailer attaches to the tractor with a type of hitch called ...

s or larger vehicles. Since the largest variation of snow socks is in the market for cars and pickup trucks, wide or low-profile tires are often covered.

Bus A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a motor vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van, but fewer than the average rail transport. It is most commonly used ...

es, semi-trailer trucks or larger vehicles require snow sock models that can support the heavier axle load and larger wheel dimensions. Some brands also offer snow socks for specialized vehicles such as

forklift A forklift (also called industrial truck, lift truck, jitney, hi-lo, fork truck, fork hoist, and forklift truck) is a powered industrial truck used to lift and move materials over short distances. The forklift was developed in the early 20th c ...

s or airport

ground support equipment Ground support equipment (GSE) is the support equipment found at an airport, usually on the apron, the servicing area by the terminal. This equipment is used to service the aircraft between flights. As the name suggests, ground support equipment ...

(e.g. pushback tugs or loaders). Driving with snow socks usually reduces the maximum allowable speed to between and depending on the snow sock brand, snow sock size and vehicle class. These restrictions are normally stated in the product's or vehicle's owner’s manual. Neither snow socks nor snow chains are considered direct substitutes to

snow tire Snow tires, also known as winter tires, are tires designed for use on snow and ice. Snow tires have a tread design with larger gaps than those on conventional tires, increasing traction on snow and ice. Such tires that have passed specific wint ...

Legality of use

During inclement weather, regions may invoke snow chain laws as a precautionary measure. Snow socks are generally not considered a legal equivalent to snow chains, though some brands are individually approved. If snow chains are prohibited, snow socks without metal components may be permitted. This depends on local

legislature A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the legal authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial power ...

Textile snow socks

This is a cover in textile that covers the tire and insulates the tire from snow. They do not disturb safety systems ( ABS, ESP) or damage aluminum rims. One important component is

polyester Polyester is a category of polymers that contain one or two ester linkages in every repeat unit of their main chain. As a specific material, it most commonly refers to a type called polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyesters include some natura ...

. The fibres absorb the water and improve grip. They have been used safely up to .

Snow socks made of composite materials

Michelin Michelin ( , ), in full ("General Company of the Michelin Enterprises P.L.S."), is a French multinational tyre manufacturing company based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes '' région'' of France. It is the second largest t ...

manufactures a composite snow sock called Easy Grip. It is coupled with an inner elastic band to facilitate installation. To strengthen the tread and maximize road holding there are 150 galvanised steel rings.

Benefits of snow socks

Snow socks offer added benefit in that they do not disturb the safety systems on a vehicle such as ESP or ABS. Snow socks with a high polyester count absorb more surface water from the road improving grip and allowing driving at speeds up to .

References