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AutoSock Gains Traction in Colorado, U.S.
Nov 25 2009 by Sara Lacey
Did I ever tell you all about the time I went to Norway? It was in 2006 for MotherProof.com; I went there to check out a cool new product called the AutoSock, a replacement for tire chains. It took a few years for the AutoSock to make its way to the U.S., but it’s finally here and has been approved as a replacement for tire chains on commercial trucks by the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The AutoSock is just what it sounds like: A little bootie for your tires. Specifically, the tires on what’s known as the “drive wheel,” which is the wheels that pushes the car forward.
Colorado has chain laws for commercial trucks and passenger vehicles. When they’re in effect (during blizzards and the like), truckers have to pull over and put chains on their vehicles for better traction in the ice and snow. This is a dangerous and time-consuming activity for truckers, and many have been injured and even killed when putting chains on.
With the AutoSock, you just slip the fabric “sock” over the tire, drive either backward or forward a couple feet and then put the rest of the AutoSock on. That’s it. This nifty gadget improves a car’s traction by about 30 percent compared to tires alone.
How do I know this? Because I got to ride in a test car outfitted with the AutoSock. I went out to a frozen airstrip in Dagali, Norway, where I was given a series of demonstrations of the AutoSock’s performance. There were turning, braking and acceleration exercises. I was stunned at the AutoSock’s performance during these tests, and I’m thrilled that they’re available here now.
There are some drawbacks to the AutoSock. You cannot drive faster than 30 mph with it on, and you must remove it when the road is free of snow and ice. The AutoSock is made of fibers that will tear on dry pavement.
While the AutoSock could be a boon to truckers, I think it’s a perfect device for getting to school on snowy days — not just for moms with kids but for teen drivers, too. AutoSocks cost $80-$100 for passenger vehicles, and you can get them at Amazon.com and at AutoSock.us.
User Comments
Our neighborhood doesn’t get plowed, so usually we have slick or snowy roads close to home. But out of the neighborhood it’s fine. And again, sometimes it’s just slick enough to be a hassle, which is where the AutoSock would be a gem.
If the snow is bad enough to mandate chains, wouldn’t school be closed for the day?