SNOW SOCKS? Never heard of them. I lived in Colorado for 52 yrs. I always ran with all weather tires. Chains just tear up the roads.
We use the socks on our 23 hybrid here in the West for emergencies when the mountain road require chains at times. Work fine short term and when snow is light. Carry them for the times when roads are " chain only" or you would be stuck buying chains at a exorbitant price from the road guys selling peeps that were unprepared. Cheap and handy. Not a long term solution if you are weeks in the snow.
That is when the roads require "4 wheel/awd or chains". Socks qualify.
I’ve been through mountain passes in winter in WA, ID, MT, OR, UT and CA….. but not Colorado. With that said, what I have seen is highway patrols will set up check points when conditions are bad, on heavily traveled roads. On the less travelled roads and in remote areas, there is usually no one checking up on you at all. So back at the check point, most people, like trucks, will chain up (or cables or socks because they are approved as alternate traction devices) directly before hitting the checkpoint. But if you’re in car that is running summer tires, and you pull up without chaining up, they are going to tell you to pull over and chain up, or turn around and go back. If you’re in an awd with all season tires they will let you through. Or if you’re in a 2wd with “all weather” or “3 peak” rated tires, they will let your through without chaining up.
Thanks to everyone for the insight. We just don’t get snow like we used to in MO. Hoping we don’t get a snow event on our trip to CO, but better to be prepared. Thanks again everyone.
I just tried to fit a pair of S class cables on my 24 hybrid in y garage. They fit the tire but I felt around behind the wheel and there is some kind of protrusion from the strut assembly that barely left any room between the inner cable and strut base. I’m sending the chains back, as I think they’ll tear up the suspension or shred the chain cables. These were SCC Super Z6 SZ143, Any chain or socks that people have used successfully out there?
Are you driving to the mountains to go skiing or boarding?
That is really bad feedback to give someone from Missouri who is driving in Colorado in December. People who have history driving in the snow may get away with it, though at least snow tires would be preferable over All Season. The "All Season" rating doesn't really cover freezing temperatures as well as snow tires do as the A/S compounds tend to get much firmer and lose traction.
