Trash Your Chains, Put on Socks

Norway-based AutoSock says it is widening its product line of a textile cover � i.e., a sock for your car tires � that replaces chains to now accommodate the wheels of large sedans.

I haven't tried it, but I do know what it's like to buy a set of chains for my car, only to find out later in a snowstorm in the Alps that they are worthless because I can't fit them on my tires. I am willing to at least give AutoSock's material a try.

According to the company, you just slip the socks over your wheels like those foot covers they give out when you don't want to walk through the airport security checkpoint in your socks. Besides being easy to mount, the socks' fibers increase friction with the surface by reacting to water film on ice and snow.

Then, the company says:

The grooves and roughness given by the surface pattern exposes the sock to more snow under soft snow or ice conditions, and increases the totally exposed contact area to dry friction under wet snow or ice conditions. At the same time the totally exposed contact area to friction is larger under hard snow or ice conditions than the previous sock. The hairs between the contact points increase the totally exposed contact area under all snow and ice conditions.

When you come home and the socks are all dirty, you can put them in the washing machine so they will be clean and dry for your next trip.