Vauxhall's 'snow socks' for cars

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29 November 2010 at 11:47

Vauxhall has come up with a clever new way of tackling damage to vehicles during heavy snow - a set of 'snow socks' for cars.

The car giant's new accessory is a pair of fabric snow chains for tyres designed to give the car wheels that extra grip required to drive over thick-laid snow.

The new product is expected to bring down the rising car insurance claims made due to snow-related damages.

Vauxhall says the innovation is better than winter tyres and less troublesome than the usual snow chains, as it is made from a fabric in which fibres are "arranged at right angles in the direction of travel", allowing them to plough through the snow more effectively.

Though the snow socks can be used at speeds of up to 50mph, Vauxhall has advised motorists to use it only for vital journeys and at "substantially lower" speeds.

The Association of British Insurers said that £395 million was paid out during December 2009 and January 2010, with the bulk of it caused by snow and ice-induced accidents.

The set of two snow socks, costing £49.99, can be obtained from any Vauxhall retailer, and can be used on any model of car.

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