This is how snow socks, snow chains and winter tires all compare and which is best

If you’ve experienced snowfall, you’ll have a choice to make for your car – snow socks, snow chains, or winter tires.

All three of them have their pros and cons, but which is the best bet for safe winter driving?

A journalist over at Jalopnik drew direct comparisons between them to see how they fared on factors like safety, installation, and performance.

Hopefully, the conclusion they reached will help you decide which is best for your car.

EXPLORE SBX CARS – Supercar auctions starting soon powered by Supercar Blondie

Comparing snow socks, snow chains, and winter tires

Let’s face it, driving in the winter is no picnic.

Whether in Siberia or in Ohio, the colder months present a whole array of challenges for car owners.

But there are some tips and tricks to learn if you want to save yourself some hassle, like the AA’s advice on stopping your car from freezing overnight.

In that vein, a journalist over at Jalopnik took a look at snow chains, snow socks, and winter tires.

Shane Schmid said winter tires were generally the best bet when it came to daily driving, but that snow socks and chains also had their uses in different circumstances.

Tire chains, for example, were particularly beneficial when driving at high elevations, making them a good bet for mountainous states like Colorado and California.

California’s Department of Transportation even recommends chain use over snow socks in some circumstances.

However, the biggest downside to chains is the time it takes to install them.

As you might imagine, a web of chains over a wheel is not a quick and easy fix.

That’s not forgetting that their addition makes for a bumpier ride and limits the car to driving under 30mph.

How about snow socks?

Much like the chains, snow socks limits the speed of cars to around 30mph, which does present an issue for drivers.

The sock material also has a harder time finding a ‘solid footing’ – not ideal on icy roads.

However, it’s easier to install than chains, works well in moderate snowfall, and is lightweight.

In packed snow scenario tests, it outperformed both chains and tires.

And finally, we have winter tires.

Designed with rubber compounds and tread patterns ideal for icy roads, these tires are always ready to go.

No need to stop and install traction devices with these.

Not only that, but they are judged to have the best performance across varied winter conditions.

As Schmid noted, not every snow tire is equal, with some being more suitable for extreme temperatures.

Which one was deemed to be best for your winter driving needs?

So with all of that in mind, which did Jalopnik recommend as the best go-to for winter driving?

As you might have guessed, it’s winter tires.

“For daily driving over the course of the season, tests have shown the superior performance of winter tires over the all-season variety,” Schmid wrote.

So there you have it.

But whichever you opt to use, it’s always important to drive safely in the winter months and take necessary precautions.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie