We’ve worked previously with K&K Snow Socks, showing their ability to provide superior traction on fresh snow, packed snow, and ice. We’ve tested them on a Toyota 4Runner and then against snow chains on a Honda Pilot. This time, K&K asked us to compare their product to a set of Goodyear Textile Snow Chains, ISSE Textile Snow Chains, and Autosock Snow Socks. And K&K asked us to add a durability test to the mix.
The team headed up to the Colorado high country to a remote valley near the Keystone ski area in a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Heritage with 4WD and outfitted with Falken WildPeak AT3W tires. From the factory, the Ford is already a snow-country machine. Could the traction aids make it even better? Let’s find out.
The Snow Socks Test
Our braking and acceleration tests were conducted on a slick stretch of hard-packed snow on a short but steep hill. We set cones roughly 75 yards apart to serve as our test track.
During our braking test, we accelerated to each sock’s max speed before reaching the brake test start line (The snow socks are rated to speeds no higher than 25-30 mph, depending upon the manufacturer.). Once we hit the brake line, we hit the pedal and let the car’s ABS system and snow socks do their thing. Then, we measured the distance from the start-line cone to the center hub of the Bronco Sport’s front tire.
On the acceleration test, we stopped at the cone marking the bottom of our test track. On the word, “Go!” we started a stopwatch and hit the gas, accelerating up the hill until we reached the snow sock’s max speed. We stopped the clock when the vehicle reached the finish line cone at the top of the course.
The durability test involved a 15-minute round-trip journey down the winding mountain road and back. Road surface conditions ranged from ice, slush, mud, wet and dry pavement. The posted speed limit was no faster than 30 mph. The idea was to replicate the type of mountain driving and conditions a person would likely experience when using snow socks on a day trip or overnight weekend escape to the mountains.
Snow Socks Results
TFL’s Take Away
Surprise, the snow socks were much better than the Wildpeak 3-peak-rated tires. We expected the tires to be good. We did not expect the snow socks to be exponentially superior.
You get what you pay for. Roughly $46 separated the worst performers, the Goodyears at $93, from the best, the K&K Snow Socks at $139. In our view, that extra $46 is money well spent.
So, who are snow socks for anyway? They’re ideal for drivers of front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive crossovers and cars or SUVs who don’t live in snow country but may head up into the mountains for a ski weekend. If a blizzard or snowstorm hits, it’s easy to slide them on and get through the snow and ice to drier, plowed pavement. You could leave them on your vehicle for a ski weekend, but the socks can freeze to your tire if left in above-freezing temps during the day. Once it turns freezing cold at night, those socks will be locked onto your tires. When that occurs, you may need a knife to cut them off your tires — or you’ll need to wait for the temperature to warm up.
Check out Tommy and Kase’s full snow sock test and report video below.
