The snow that stopped our trip to Cannon Beach was heavy over the hills and it required traction devices in order to be allowed on the road.  Since we didn’t have winter tires, I went shopping for some chains.  Unfortunately, they weren’t available in the size of my wheels and the clearances were not great.  However, I was introduced to something I had never heard of before.  They had chains, cables and socks.  I knew of chains, of course, and cables are just a version of chains but with (don’t be surprised) cables.  Socks are a more recent addition to the range.

They are a legal alternative and actually provide as good or better traction than chains.  They are a fabric covering for the tire.  One side has straps that go across the outside and an elasticated band is on the inside.  You hook them over the tire and pull down as much as you can and then roll the car forward half a turn to finish pulling them in to place.  Removal is the opposite.

They were actually pretty easy to use and, after a short bit of driving, I stopped to check them and they had actually self-aligned straightening out any unevenness.  They worked a treat.  Traction and braking were not a problem.  I was worried about their durability but maintaining the speed limit of 25mph for the 40 or so miles we drove caused no issues and they look just fine after removal.  I imagine that they don’t have the durability of chains so regular use would suggest chains as a better option but as an occasional requirement, they worked great.