A big shout out to "
Autosocks" for getting me to work this morning (sorting me out after I couldn't get up a steep hill), and for saving me a three mile walk home this evening in the snow!
If you've not heard of them before, Autosocks are basically fabric snow chains that fit over your tyres. To fit them, you put them over the wheel as best you can, then roll forward or back half a turn so you can get them completely over (this is really easy). Once in place, there is some elastic around the open edge (against the back of the tyre) that keeps them in position.
A set costs about £50, and though I've had them in the boot of the car for seven or eight years, I'd never actually used them until today (I usually take the Landrover in dodgy weather, but badly misjudged things this morning).
I was absolutely amazed at how well they worked. I got up two hills tonight that had defeated several other cars. Actually, the first one defeated me too until I stopped to put the socks on.
Performance wise, they were very nearly as good as the winter tyres I had on my old car, and even though they were only on the front wheels, they gave the car a really nice 'planted' feel when driving on some very slippery surfaces.
The drawback with them is that you have to take them off again once you're back on cleared roads, or you'll wear them out very quickly. That means they're not going to help you for patches of black ice etc. However, as a 'get you home' solution in snowy weather, they worked perfectly for me today. In total, I've driven about eight miles with them on today, without causing any significant wear.
Needless to say, I have no connection with the manufacturers or sellers, but I'm one relieved and happy bunny tonight!