Tire chains???

[joemikeb]

Originally Posted by migriffin

Has anyone heard of Snow Socks?:

Seems like this might be a viable option for additional traction without the risk of doing harm to the wheel well. My question is whether they are just needed on two of the four rear tires to be effective?

My question is if they are effective at all, how effective are they? I would want to see some serious independent testing before placing any reliance on them.

[TinShack]

This new product looks interesting. Easy to install and remove and disposible. Can be used on many different tire sizes without having to have an exact fit like with chains or steel cables. I don't know how they would hold up driving with them though. Zip Grip Go - zipgripgo.com - ZipGripGo

[73shark]

Another question is would they satisfy "chain up" laws? I doubt they would.

[InterBlog]

I am ignorant of how an Interstate behaves in snow (and I aspire to stay that way), but I am in no way ignorant of snow itself, having spent my first 23 years in Canada.

My question is this: With all that motorhome crap slung beneath the Interstate chassis, who visualizes that the danged thing would be capable of actually getting through any kind of notable snow and/or ice accumulation unscathed? By the time you have to worry about chains, might you not have bigger issues? Like the fact that the gray water tank was not built to take the kind of pummelling that (for instance) the fuel tank was spec'd to withstand. Nor the generator, nor the water hose keeper, nor the pipes, would be my first bet. There might be a narrow window of opportunity where chains would be useful, but my instinct would be to avoid the scenario on general principle. There's too much too close to the ground.

[Boxster1971]

I drove mine to Minnesota last winter right after a major snow storm moved across our route. The highways were mostly cleared, but the rest stops along the way had not yet been plowed. The snow was 4-6 inches deep and my Interstate handled it OK. Of course the areas were flat. I grew up in Minnesota and have lots of snow driving experience, but if gravity is against you it will always cause the low traction effects of snow and ice to be a problem.

If you are traveling in the mountains where snow is possible I would think that chains would be required. They always were when I lived in California and Washington


- - Mike
2013 Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter

[joemikeb]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

My question is this: With all that motorhome crap slung beneath the Interstate chassis, who visualizes that the danged thing would be capable of actually getting through any kind of notable snow and/or ice accumulation unscathed? By the time you have to worry about chains, might you not have bigger issues? Like the fact that the gray water tank was not built to take the kind of pummelling that (for instance) the fuel tank was spec'd to withstand. Nor the generator, nor the water hose keeper, nor the pipes, would be my first bet. There might be a narrow window of opportunity where chains would be useful, but my instinct would be to avoid the scenario on general principle. There's too much too close to the ground.

Good point! We don't get much snow here in North Texas but we do get freezing rain, ice, and slush. I just drove through some of that freezing slush and the amount of ice that collected on the generator housing alone was daunting. Had the ruts been much deeper the housing could easily have been damaged, if not ripped off completely.

[k9jackie]

Last week, I drove my interstate in some pretty heavy snow conditions and it faired much better than the cars on the road. I felt very secure in it. I was on a flat highway in up state New York though... Not sure what would happen on an incline, especially Donner pass.

[paiceman]

I don't tow in the snow. If it is sticking on the road, we stop or better yet don't get started. And I've drove a taxi in Oswego New York while in college after the Air Force, look it up. It snows in Oswego. But no AS in snow for us.

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by migriffin

Has anyone heard of Snow Socks?: Autosock

Seems like this might be a viable option for additional traction without the risk of doing harm to the wheel well. My question is whether they are just needed on two of the four rear tires to be effective?

It looks like these are the right size for the LT215/85 R16 tires on the Interstate:
Amazon.com: AutoSock AS698 Winter Traction Device: Automotive

Big trucks often chain up rear out side tires only.