Snow Socks vs Snow Chains: Which Do You Need?
3 lessons in this series, 10 min in total
- Snow Socks vs Snow Chains: Which Do You Need? 3 min read
- Are Snow Socks Legal Where Chains Are Required? 4 min read
- How Long Do Snow Socks Last, and How Fast Can You Drive? 3 min read
This lesson draws on Michelin’s chains and socks guide, a Consumer Reports traction test, AutoSock’s FAQ, a Michelin size chart and a Michelin-branded sock listing. How we research explains the method.
Grip: where chains pull ahead
The two work in different ways. Michelin explains that chains sit on top of the tread and grip together with the tire, while a sock covers the whole tire and its fabric does the gripping. AutoSock says its fabric holds grip because dry snow and ice stick to it, and the fibers soak up the film of water between tire and road.
Michelin’s verdict is that on hard-packed snow the two work about the same. On fresh snow and on black ice, chains are more effective. Michelin also says socks deprive winter and all-season tires of their natural grip on snow, so it suggests composite or metal chains for those tires.
What the Consumer Reports test found
Consumer Reports used a 2012 Toyota Camry on 215/60R16 Michelin all-season tires and measured how far it took to speed up from 5 to 20 mph (8 to 32 km/h) on snow. Shorter is better. The chain it used was the Michelin Easy Grip of that time, not the Easy Grip Evolution sold today, so its result may not carry over.
| Setup | Distance, 5-20 mph on snow |
|---|---|
| All-season tires, nothing fitted | 73 ft (22.3 m) |
| AutoSock or ISSE socks | 58 ft (17.7 m) |
| Dedicated winter tires | 57 ft (17.4 m) |
| Michelin Easy Grip composite chain | 49 ft (14.9 m) |
The test measured acceleration only, not braking, and nothing on ice. Even so, both sock brands nearly matched winter tires, and the composite chain beat all of them.
Fitting, wheel clearance and electronics
Socks win on fitting. Michelin calls them much easier and faster to put on, and the Michelin-branded Amazon listing for its SOS Grip Evolution socks says under 2 minutes. Consumer Reports found none of the three easy, though: you kneel by a wet wheel well and pull the product over the tire with some muscle, and the fabric socks were only a little easier than the composite chain.
Clearance matters for both. AutoSock says that if you can’t fit your forearms between the top of the wheel and the wheel arch, no snow sock will go on. Chains have their own clearance classes, covered in what size snow chains do I need.
AutoSock says its socks can be used with traction control and ABS left on, unlike most snow chains, and that Michelin listing calls its socks ESP and ABS compatible. Whichever you pick, check that your owner’s manual allows traction devices on your tire size.
Wear, speed and the law
Michelin says chains are more resistant and wear more slowly on roads cleared of snow. AutoSock says driving its socks on tarmac greatly increases fabric wear, and it gives their top speed as 30 mph (50 km/h). How long snow socks last covers wear and speed limits.
Legal status differs by place. Colorado lists AutoSock as an approved alternative traction device, but rules change by state and country, so read whether snow socks count where chains are required before a trip. Chains go on the drive wheels, or wherever an AWD manual says; see front or rear wheels.
Which one to buy
Socks for occasional city or light snow. If you need grip a few times a winter to reach a plowed road, socks are easier to carry and fit. AutoSock sells its socks by tire size, so pick the size for your tire with its size finder.
AutoSock HP snow socks
Textile snow socks for occasional snow and ice, sold by tire size: pick the size for your tire with AutoSock's size finder. Colorado DOT lists AutoSock as an approved alternative traction device.
Key specs
- Max 30 mph (50 km/h) per AutoSock
- Wear limit: half the white fabric gone
- On Colorado DOT's approved traction device list
- Usable with ABS and traction control on, per AutoSock
Paid link
View on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Low-profile cable chains for regular mountain driving. If you cross passes or drive in snow often, chains last longer on mixed roads and grip better on fresh snow and ice. Choose the part number for your exact tire size.
Security Chain Company Super Z6
Low-profile cable chain for cars, pickups and SUVs with tight wheel wells. Sold by tire size: pick the part number (SZ115 to SZ451) that lists your exact tire size.
Key specs
- Needs 0.25 in (6.3 mm) of sidewall space
- Exceeds SAE Class S clearance
- Max 30 mph (50 km/h) per SCC
- Rubber tensioners, no retightening stop
Paid link
View on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Composite chains as a middle option. Michelin’s Easy Grip Evolution is sold in numbered sizes from EVO 1 to EVO 19, so match your tire size on its chart: 205/55 R16 tires take EVO 7, for example.
Michelin Easy Grip Evolution
Composite snow chain sold in numbered sizes from EVO 1 to EVO 19. Pick the size for your tire on Michelin's chart and check that your manual allows chains.
Key specs
- Composite chain in numbered sizes, EVO 1 to EVO 19
- 205/55 R16 tires take EVO 7 (Michelin chart)
Paid link
View on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Keep whichever you choose with the other cold-weather gear in your roadside emergency kit.
Sources
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- Michelin UK: Snow chains and snow socks
- Consumer Reports: Tire socks, an alternative to snow tires?
- AutoSock UK: Frequently asked questions
- Michelin Easy Grip Evolution size chart (PDF)
- Michelin SOS Grip Evolution snow socks, Michelin-branded Amazon listing
- Colorado DOT: Passenger vehicle traction and chain laws
