Autosocks

[stevenal]

I have new 3 peak mountain snowflake AT tires on my four wheel drive F350, and am travelling to Utah the end of December. I carry a set of cable chains I've never used, and am considering picking up some Autosocks. My reasoning is they are faster to deploy and remove than the cables, and in a real pinch I could have something on all four. I question whether the socks will improve traction much over the 3pms tires. Anyone have experience to share? Thanks.

[Matryx]

Why would you use either?  Are you planning on going off road, towing a heavy trailer or afraid of snow?

Cant think of a much better setup than a 4x4 with new tires and a couple thousand lbs in back. 

[Buzzcut1]

In CA traction devices are required to be carried over the passes in winter.  I have had to drive out in icy conditions to get to a hospital after Ruth fractured her ankle.  You need chains on all 4 corners on ice covered off camber roads just to avoid sliding off the road into a ditch or over the cliff.

[Bedlam]

In my area, you must carry chains or traction devices over mountain passes November 1st through April 31st. If your vehicle is under 10k GVWR, you do not need chain up if you have 4wd and are not towing. If towing, you must chain up a tow vehicle drive axle plus add a drag chain to your trailer. If your vehicle is over 10k lbs GVWR, you must chain up regardless of how many driven axles you have.

[Bedlam]

Well, my $80 chains were lost by USPS with no more in stock for that price, so I went on the hunt for the next deal after getting refunded by the seller. I found a pair of Autosock AL64 for $125 and just received them today. Now I need a dry day for a test fit on the 245/70r19.5 tires.

[MORSNOW]

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@Bedlam wrote:

Well, my $80 chains were lost by USPS with no more in stock for that price, so I went on the hunt for the next deal after getting refunded by the seller. I found a pair of Autosock AL64 for $125 and just received them today. Now I need a dry day for a test fit on the 245/70r19.5 tires.

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I had not heard of Autosock's until this thread, let me know what you think of them after giving them a test.  I've lived in Alaska for 26 years previously and we all ran dedicated winter tires (studs or Blizzaks) and nobody carried chains.  

[Bedlam]

Think of the textile weave of the socks like siping the tread on a tire. It offers all these extra nooks and crannies to get a better grip on a slick surface. They are flexible enough to make them self clearing but I suspect slush may be a negative for these socks.

[Bedlam]

I was just looking at them. They are better for ice than chains but not as good in deep snow. I ended up buying $80 chains over $160 socks just because I worry how much wear I can put on socks before having to replace them.

[monkey44]

A little late to this party, but we lived above the snowline in the Sierras for ten years.  Drove a 2500HD with good BFG AT tires. We carried light chains in winter (sometimes required, even w/4x4).and I can only remember once or twice putting the chains on - on the way to Lake Tahoe right after a heavy snowfall.  Almost never needed them, but was always glad I had them.  Have no clue about Auto-socks.  Never heard of them before this thread.

[WarrenS65]

The review videos I've seen show v-bar chains are better on ice (especially with a heavy vehicle) as they can break through the surface and dig in.