saw a crazy thing at the nissan dealership - tire socks?

[Tripwire]

was there getting our fleet vehicle serviced, they have these " covers" that slip over the tires kinda like the spare tire covers you see on the back of baby jeeps.

i was baffled on how they would work? they looked just like a sock, with no traction ribbing or bumps... i suppose if you had racing tires with no tread they might help but really.....

steve

[rang-a-stang]

I saw some of those on cars crossing Donner pass around thanksgiving and thought the same thing. I kinda want to get a set just to try them...

[Tripwire]

Really? no one has any experience with these? i have all weather tires on the caddy but at a hundred bucks a set????????? i would need 2 sets as i have AWD

steve

[Bob Barry]

Huh; I never heard of them before

I had no idea what you were talking about, but apparently it's been a thing:

http://www.tractionnews.com/tire-socks-winter-test/

I guess it increases the coefficient of friction between the road surface and tire surface, like a vinyl glove can, and would be thin enough for the tread to still do some water-displacement.

You learn something new every day.

[rang-a-stang]

I wish they would have compared chains, cables, and those socks...

[letank]

Nothing crazy about socks... we usually wear some in the winter... very useful for those rear wheel drive german sportsmobile in the winter, IIRC there is a top speed limit to respect, otherwise the socks desintegrate

[rws31]

Nothing crazy about socks... we usually wear some in the winter... very useful for those rear wheel drive german sportsmobile in the winter, IIRC there is a top speed limit to respect, otherwise the socks desintegrate

Yea, I got the same problem. I get to going to fast and my socks just fly right off.