When the thermometer reads below 7°C, it becomes essential for your safety to equip your vehicle with winter tires. However, to maintain traction on snowy or icy roads in winter, we need to equip our cars with removable anti-skid devices.
But then, which option should you choose? Snow chains or snow socks?
FOR EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS: SNOW CHAINS
Essential for safe driving and required when indicated by the B26 sign, snow chains provide full traction on snowy or even heavily snow-covered roads. Thanks to the materials used (notably steel), they are durable and do not wear out as quickly as snow socks.
There are two types of snow chains: manually tensioned chains and automatically tensioned chains.
Manual-tension chains are less expensive, but they require some practice to install correctly. You also have to stop the vehicle to retighten them (the best approach is to install them, drive about 50 meters, and adjust them if necessary).
Automatic tensioning chains are more convenient because they require little training and take less time to install (less than 1 minute). There’s also no need to retighten them; they do so automatically when the vehicle starts moving. Of course, this ease of use comes at a cost—they are more expensive than manual-tension chains.
Easy to install, these front chains are self-tensioning and are designed to be placed on the tread of your tires, securing them to the wheel nuts. They are therefore a significant advantage for vehicles with limited wheel well clearance.
Front-mounted snow chains are the ideal solution for all vehicles that cannot be fitted with traditional snow chains. The narrow wheel wells on some vehicles, along with the various sensors found on newer models, prevent the chains from fitting on the inner side of the wheel. Since they cover only the tire’s tread, there is no risk of damaging these components.
Drivers also appreciate front-mount snow chains for their ease of use: they’re quick to install and just as easy to remove. Once adjusted beforehand, the front-mount system eliminates the need to reach behind the wheel, preventing your clothes from getting dirty and minimizing contact with the snow.
Our Polaire Grip front chain features a polyurethane structure with metal studs. It fits perfectly on the tire, and its automatic centering on the tread occurs as the tire rolls. Its universal mounting system fits all wheel nut diameters.
The manufacturer also offers it with a steel tread—Polaire Steel Grip—or, for commercial vehicles, the Polaire Spider Grip.
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FOR DRIVING ON ROADS WITH LIGHT SNOW: SNOW SOCKS.
Snow socks, made of fabric, do not damage the rims. They are much easier to install, since you simply slip them over the wheels like covers. However, they are not compatible with vehicles that cannot use snow chains.
By absorbing water (generated by driving on snow)—made possible by polyester fibers—they allow the tires to grip the road firmly. They are also easy to store since they are foldable.
Furthermore, they do not interfere with driver-assistance systems such as ABS or ESP.
Compared to snow chains, they do wear out more quickly, so they should only be used occasionally (be sure to remove them when driving on a road without snow). On the other hand, they are lighter and provide a quieter ride.
Finally, they’re less expensive than snow chains, so they’re perfect for those on a tight budget!
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POLAIRE STEEL SOCK AND EASY GRIP EVO: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS BETWEEN SNOW CHAINS AND SNOW SOCKS
Can’t decide? We have the solution: Polaire Steel Sock and Easy Grip Evo, revolutionary snow chains that fit like socks.
Polaire Steel Sock, a hybrid snow chain, combines the effectiveness of the metal links found on snow chains with the ease and speed of installation offered by snow socks.
In addition, its 9-mm steel links ensure maximum traction on snowy roads. It attaches to the tire via its flat rear elastic strap, which requires no fastening, for convenient and intuitive installation. It also minimizes centrifugal force.
Thanks to its highly durable tread and automatic tensioning system, it offers low dynamic slippage, giving you peace of mind on slippery roads. Its diamond-shaped pattern also enhances traction on snow and ice. The chain is securely held in place on the front of the tire thanks to the crisscross strap system.
The Polaire Steel Sock chain has the smallest rear profile on the market. This makes it ideal for vehicles with narrow wheel wells. Its high adaptability allows it to be used on vehicles with special chain specifications (7 mm) and certain vehicles considered “non-chainable.”
Finally, it has a total load capacity of 3,500 kg and comes with a 5-year warranty.
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Our Easy Grip Evo textile snow chain—an improved version of the Easy Grip snow chain co-developed with Michelin—is also a good compromise between chains and snow socks. It is made of a composite material, which makes it as light and quiet as a snow sock. It also provides excellent traction on snow or ice, thanks to the steel rings at the mesh joints.
Equipped with a one-piece internal elastic band with high stretch capacity, it automatically adjusts to the right tension, making installation a breeze. As a bonus, gloves for installation are even included! Its “Night Vision Security” system also ensures side visibility at night.
However, unlike the Polaire Steel Sock chain, it is only suitable for vehicles that can be fitted with chains.
In any case, whether you choose snow chains or snow socks, you should not exceed 50 km/h for optimal safety!