Winter tire traction for the Oliver

[John and Debbie]

Hi all, my apologies if this is answered somewhere, but in doing a search , I couldn't find it.  I went to Les Schwab to get chains for our 2017 Ford Expedition and because our vehicle has 275/55R20, he recommended tire socks for the drive wheels instead of chains.  They go on fast and were developed in Norway.  He recommended the same for two tires of the four on an LE2.  I don't think we will need them this Fall coming back from the rally, but I was warned that if you don't have some traction devices for the trailer, you can get fined.  We will be coming back in November through Colorado and Wyoming.   My question is what are you all using?  Does anyone have experience with tire socks?  Thanks.

John

[Zodd]

First, I had never heard of snow socks. I did some research that you may find interesting as well. They seems like pretty good options. 
 

Compare different types

 

[routlaw]

I have lived in Montana for almost half a century, never used or owned chains and don't plan to. I rarely ever see them on the road either other than 18 wheeler which are required to do so on mountain passes when the snow is heavy. Winter snow tires are the go to situation around here with the Bridgestone Blizzaks usually at the top or Michelin equivalents. Some people will still use studded tires but the only they offer for better performance over the previously mentioned is on black ice. 

However I have never used the snow tires for towing either though no doubt many have. Not sure I would trust those socks while towing. Just make sure you have a good set or all weather tires if nothing else that also performs well in snow. FWIW there has been very little snow this year so far. Even here in Bozeman where we always seem to be in some sort of polar vortex there is barely any in town. Not a good ski year from what I've heard.

[John and Debbie]

13 hours ago, Zodd said:

First, I had never heard of snow socks. I did some research that you may find interesting as well. They seems like pretty good options. 
 

Compare different types

 

Based on that video testing, I will return the Autosock from Les Schwab and get the K&K.  Thanks for posting the videos.

John

[Mike and Carol]

2 hours ago, routlaw said:

I have lived in Montana for almost half a century, never used or owned chains and don't plan to.

Rob makes a good point, one that I see through my son who lives in Durango.  He does not use chains or socks and doesn’t own any.  He had business in Grand Junction for a couple of years that entailed driving there weekly from Durango up through Ouray on Hwy 550 (Million Dollar Highway).  During winter they drive our grandson to hockey games in cities north of Durango (Telluride, Vail, GJ, Gunnison, Montrose, Steamboat and Denver).  He’s got good tires on his Ram 2500 and has had no problems. I asked once if he thought I needed chains for our trips up to visit.  He looked at the tires (Nokian snow rated) on my truck and said, nope!  Mike

[jd1923]

4 hours ago, routlaw said:

Even here in Bozeman where we always seem to be in some sort of polar vortex there is barely any in town.

Got a whole 2" here in Prescott yesterday. Drove to pickleball on a neighborhood sideroad, down a 10% grade. I drove my truck like a baby (2WD TV not towing), about 5 MPH but only for a couple hundred yards until the road flattened out. I got a little used to it and was soon more relaxed.

I'm past winter weather after leaving Chicago in 1999. Loosing my nerve and likely some skill. We find snow traveling with the Oliver, we'll be boondocking right there, waiting out the weather.

During high school, we would practice how quickly we could slide through a snow-packed turn, handling the heavy 2WD cars of the day. I remember back in the 80s and 90s driving my 1967 Wildcat, trunk filled with tools and/or bags of water softening salt for rear-wheel drive weight, blasting down I-90 the Eisenhower Expressway at 70+ MPH in a BLIZZARD, not a worry in a young man's mind. That day is gone! But when it does snow here I try to get out some, so not to lose my winter driving skills.

Our snow generally melts next day and this is just what's left today. Got down in the mid 20s last night, 36F now so some snow is surviving. All roads that see sun are back to bone dry.

Edited Friday at 07:36 PM by jd1923

[routlaw]

One more thought on the subject. Understand that western snow is dry… normally. By that I mean it isn't usually the wet heavy icy stuff so prevalent back east or down south when they rarely get it. What this means is the driving conditions even with snow packed roads are a much different critter than wet ice packed roads. Not saying anyone shouldn't be cautious under these conditions but the differences in driving on dry snow roads is night and day different than back east… the vast majority of the time. 

It's not uncommon to be on the interstates with snow packed roads and people are still going 70+ MPH out here on the Montanabon. Wyoming is no different. All of the western states are very diligent about plowing too and what doesn't get scraped off either evaporates or melts in fairly short order. There will always be icy spots especially in the shade of cliffs, trees etc but it's truly amazing how fast the remnants after plowing evaporate even in cold temps. 

Just be cautious and take your time or grab a motel room for the night, or two