Snow Socks VS Snow Chains VS Snow Tires - What's REALLY Best on Snow and Ice?

No nokian studded in the mix??

Jus do AWD with the Michelins or studded Nokians

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Stephan Winkelmann, global CEO of the Italian sports carmaker, said that at under 40 years, the bulk of buyers in India are among the youngest compared to developed economies.

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Please cut the loud music when talking. Its very loud and distracting.

Il y a une autre video où une "personne agée" met et retire ses chaines sous la neige en 5mn 30 sec ........

So you're trying to tell us that normal winter tires are better than even classic snow chains at snowy hill climbs and at breaking on snow?
Sorry but that doesn't make any sense at all. I have witnessed myself multiple times when cars where completely stuck on winter tires but were then able to drive away after snow chains had been installed. A lot of European countries can and will mandate chains on certain roads when the conditions are too harsh and they won't let you pass without proper chains, even if you have the best winter tires.
So I don't really know what miracle winter tires you've been testing, but I can't quite believe those results. I mean there's a reason that snow mobiles and snowcats drive on chains and not on winter tires, is there?

Why didn't you test the studed snow tires? Personally I don't like them because they are very slippery on dry surfaces.

The key to chains is to practice fitting them before you need them, just like you practice changing a wheel before you actually have a puncture. I'm using European 4-season M+S tyres with chains stored in the spare wheel (well in boot floor) with gloves, old cag, overtrousers and a piece of old yellow karrimat. I've not needed them for over a decade (climate change?).

las mejores son las cadenas tradicionales , esas que se colocar como una manta , se mueve el auto para adelante y se engancha, después se coloca los tensores de goma y listo -

Snow socks are awesome….so easy to use, it’s no issue taking them on and off, and they just work …👍😉👌🇮🇲

Thank you!

I'm going to have to disagree with the recommendation for the ladder style chains. The problem with the ladder style chains is that they Only provide longitudinal traction. So if you're actually driving, they will do nothing or at least very little to help with any sort of steering input. Yes they work decently in acceleration and deceleration, but with deceleration you have the same issue of ABS locking between the rungs of the ladder as it would. This is obviously tire size dependent as larger tires will have a larger gap between the rungs depending on manufactured. But the diamond chain pattern is significantly better especially for front-wheel drive. As you also get your steering from that axle and they provide lateral traction as well as longitudinal.

As far as I can see, your only Mark against the diamond pattern chain is the ease of use. And I can tell you that there are many products that fit the category in this market segment and some are much easier to use than others. But if this was your first time using them then yeah they will be difficult to fit as you have to figure out what the heck is going on. As with any product, I would recommend testing and learning how to use them before them being needed. Koenig chain makes some excellent chains of that type, that have very quick installation and removal.

Those who don't know, there is TIRE GRIP spray, alternative of chains and socks, its a spray can, yellow sticker with blue top, search online, you spray it on a thread, not on side like tire shine, it forms a fresh rubber layer and improves traction, always in my trunk in winter, did used a couple of times on all season tires, worked very well, suggest to try...

not sure why you didn't use the SSL wire chain as they have a criss cross pattern so you don't get the slip between the 'ladder' pattern. Plus they are very slim, so they fit large tyres with out rubbing on the car parts. I can use a normal all season tyre, here in Australia, and they give more than enough grip on a 4wd in our snow conditions - which tends to ice and slush

What tire pressure where you running?
I would be interested in seeing the effect (and recommendation) of deflating the tires.
Effect at different PSIs?

So spend $1,000 on tires that only benefit in the snow or spend $200 on chains or ladders that'll benefit greatly on both snow and ice?
I wonder which one I'd choose...

Good test and I'd agree with the results. I drive a 4x4 up a steep hill and good tyres will get me through snow fine. Sheet ice is the killer. I have a full set of chains for the odd time the hill freezes into a bobsleigh run. They take a little practice to get on and off but definitely grip the ice.

I mean a better all season tire then what you had would be a michelin cc2 or bridgestone weatherpeak, both of which are 3 mountain peak rated and are popular in the u.s. market

I can say that although I have excellent winter tires on my cars (Nokian Hakka R5 and Blizzak 7, Conti Extreme winter contact before that), there are still plenty of times when I spin he tires or slide, and hill climbing with the FWD minivan is a no go. So, I still have diamond chains for the rare times it’s needed.
And with chains it definitely pays to practice and to pay more for models with easier install.

I can say that although I have excellent winter tires on my cars (Nokian Hakka R5 and Blizzak 90, Conti Extreme winter contact before that), there are still plenty of times when I spin he tires or slide, and hill climbing with the FWD minivan is a no go. So, I still have diamond chains for the rare times it’s needed.
And with chains it definitely pays to practice and to pay more for models with easier install.

Hey, can I increase the effectiveness of snow tires if I have snow chains?

Which all season tyre was used in this test?

Great timing. I am investing in "chains" for my three cars as I recently moved to Oregon and they are required including some areas of Portland.

I would like to see a test of the Michelin Easy-Grip composite chains. I already have Michelin Cross-Climates which (as your testing shows) are awesome in snow but don’t have ultimate grip of chains on smooth ice. Would like to see how the Easy-Grips do on smooth ice. Or do I get Michelin extreme-grip chains? Please do another test!

Try those socks in deep non compact snow, they dont work, not all roads get ploughed, I have used chains for 30 + years, when you need em you need em, leaving in a city maybe something else, but in the back country, chains all the way. And with practice it doesnt take long to put them on.

German that sometimes travels to Austria in the winter here. If you do what im doing you must be aware of the fact that you get hefty fines when you get stuck in Austria in the snow because you are not carrying snow chains. After the snow test i thought what the heck at first, plain winter tyres are so much better than everything else on the snow i thought. But i kept watching and actually learned something. The good old chain makes a lot of sense on ice. Counter intuitive because they are called snow chains and not ice chains but whatever. Not that i ever had the pleasure to drive on pure ice but its very common to encounter snow thats really been compacted from cars driving over it, partial melting during the day and hard freezing over the night makes it effectively ice. The chains are going to be really helpful there i assume.

i like that in Phoeniz,Az and travel 2 hrs north to get to the ski resort. Could i use winter for that drive?

Remember those strap-on chains? No good today because of the reduced clearance between tyres and suspension/body.
US$225 per tyre!! I just bought eight 16" snow tyres fitted, balanced, new valves, old tyres disposed for 65,000 yen. That's US$433.00.
Jack, the Japan Alps Brit

Thanks for the video the info is very informative. I do think you were a little off on installing the Chains. I can install one in less than a minute. You should probably try it in the shop first. reading instructions in the wind/snow/cold is not the best place for the first time.

Great video! I have the Michelin Cross Climate 2’s (with 3PMSF), would these be okay to drive over to Norway with this Christmas time? I’ll be on all sorts of roads (snow, ice…) and I am genuinely concerned about if I should be bringing chains or something with me?

Traditional chains are still the most reliable

Good info, but turn down the music. What's the point of talking over your soundtrack?

How about testing just normal studded tyres ;)

Can anyone find these tyre ladder chains? I've looked all over the Web and can only find the normal crappy ones that cost £50 and are a pain and scratch your wheels up

Considering how easily the first ones came off, there should be a 5th grading - quality. I mean that would only make sense to have that grading, surprised it wasn't in.

And I wondered if the tire doesn't slip inside the sock.

I think that with the chains you can buy the same style how to put them on like with the ladder, just drive over and clip them.

On snow we normally just use winter tires. Problem starts if there is ice, so chain looks like the only one useful product. Putting on chains are easy. Key is that try before you need it, not like 2 am in -15 C because then will be frustrating.

la "Loi Montagne" (Alpes Maritimes) n'est pas très claire....est-ce qu'on doit avoir les pneus neiges montés ET les chaines (ou chaussettes) dans le coffre "au cas ou", ou bien est-ce l'un OU l'autre ?

If you own a Subaru, it is explicitly stated in the manual that chains are not recommended.
The dealerships recommend using Autosock. But only when you are on a road that requires “chains”.
There's no doubt that a good quality winter tire is the best first line of defense. I keep a set of Autosocks in my Subaru if get to a road that is mandates chains.

Practice putting chains on before you need them before it snows. Otherwise you're going to get a serious winter education.

Jeez man, put a little pause between your sentences. Your speaking without points and comma's is so hard to listen and comprehend at the same tine.

Glad I watched your video a few days ago. I got a pair of chains instead of the cheap plastic stuff and socks that the shop was promoting... Guess what: next day I saw a guy lose control 2x ahead of me while I was still in control of my car thanks to chains... I agree chains are not super easy to mount but they literally saved my family from a trip to the hospital! 👍

I have Goodyear Vector Gen-3 SUV tyres on my 4x4 Skoda Karoq in size 225/50-18. They have the three peaks symbol. Will I be able to drive well on snow or should I still have chains on?

5/5 removal for the cable ties is cooold 😂

You cant really says 5/5 for removal if the cable ties all break, it should be no score. No surprise the winter tyres for the right terrain is better than everything to which you can still add chains if needed.

Studded winters can be great but the biggest issue is their really designed for best use in areas that let their roads turn into ice/snowpack and just put down a bit of gravel.

up in northern canada this is how it is, you cannot see the pavement so the studs don't wear out nearly as fast. 1 road trip with studded tires on asphault is enough to ruin their effectiveness.

Better than nothing but typically studded winters aren't as good as good non-studded. so they balance out.

We in Austria recommend chains. And watching vids first how install it..... 😂

I do a lot road trip me and my kids, but last time we went to Chamonix, we had to walk up the hill as the my English car could not go up with normal tyres...so now we are going to Switzerland, I have all season tyres, but they said is going to have a lot snow and it's very steep and height, am I safe if I put the chain? Another problem, I am a woman 😆

I used my diamond pattern chains for the first time, in the middle of the night and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Needless to say, installation was awkward. They worked great on the icy pass though.

So Michelin gives you FREE TIRES, and they just happen to beat out every other traction device. Hahahahaha !! Gee, no bias here.