Do you have questions about GoSoft snow socks?
Frequently asked questions
Do you have questions about the GoSoft brand and products, or about current winter equipment legislation?
You can find below the most frequently asked questions we receive about GoSoft products, search the list for the topic you are interested in learning more about.
If you have a different question than the one listed, you can contact us by filling out the form at the end of the page.
GoSoft snow socks are additional grip devices that are fitted to car tyres to improve traction when driving on snow-covered or icy roads.
The operating principle of GoSoft snow socks is based on the friction created between snow molecules: the simple principle of snowball formation is at the heart of GoSoft technology.
The assembly of GoSoft snow socks is simple and intuitive. GoSoft snow socks are equipped with two elastic bands, one on the inner side and one on the outer side, which allow the sock to expand during fitting and removal.
First of all, it is necessary to open the inner elastic with your hands to stretch the upper part of the tyre as far as possible.
Move the vehicle as far as necessary to make the wheel rotate 180 degrees.
It is now sufficient to fit the remaining part of the wheel.
GoSoft socks are designed to be installed on the vehicle’s drive axle and each pack contains one pair of socks.
In the case of a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you may install GoSoft socks on both axles after checking the vehicle’s owner’s manual, as the manufacturer must authorise the installation of SGD (supplementary grip devices) on both axles.
In this case, if the manufacturer authorises the installation of the devices on both axles, you will have to purchase two packages of GoSoft.
The operating principle of GoSoft snow socks is based on the greater contact surface area offered by the sock compared to a summer tyre.
The fabric used to make the tread of the GoSoft snow socks is capable of adhering a surface layer of snow that offers better friction with the snow or ice on the ground.
Yes, thanks to the new European standard EN 16662-1:2020, which has imposed new evaluation criteria compared to the standards in place until now. In fact, the new standard does not set metal construction of the product as a basic prerequisite like the previous standards O-Norm V5117 and UNI 11313.
GoSoft snow socks are approved for road use thanks to the certifications obtained EN 16662-1:2020 and O-Norm V5121:2021. The latter in particular is not compulsory by law, but GoSoft has decided to subject its products to the tests provided for by the standard on a voluntary basis, testifying to the construction quality of the product.
The differences between the two types are substantial.
Snow chains are devices with a metal construction, the tread of which is derived from wire that is bent and welded. The tread components undergo heat treatment to achieve the hardness and tear resistance required to meet the standard. Chains are equipped with mechanisms to tension and adjust the chain to keep it adherent to the tyre while driving.
There are different types of snow chains, some specific models developed for cars with space limitations in the wheel arch (non catenable cars).
The operating principle of snow chains is purely mechanical: thanks to the links that are arranged with different geometries on the tyre tread, they are able to cut through the layer of snow or ice until they reach a hard substrate to generate traction
Snow socks, on the other hand, are products made exclusively of textile material and are equipped with two elastic bands, one sewn on the outer side and one on the inner side. The elastic bands replace the locking and tensioning mechanisms found on snow chains.
The operating principle of snow socks is also based on a mechanical principle, but different from snow chains. In fact, the tread of the snow socks offers a greater ground contact surface than the summer tyre. At the same time, FlowTex, the material from which the tread of the GoSoft snow socks is made, is able to adhere a surface layer of snow that bonds more easily with the snow or ice on the ground than the compound of the summer tyre.
GoSoft snow socks are available in 5 sizes covering a total of over 450 tyres.
To see the list of tyres that are compatible with each GoSoft size, check the tyre compatibility section on the product page by clicking here.
To find out if your vehicle can fit GoSoft snow socks, you can use the GoSoft Advisor, by entering the make and model of your vehicle and the tyre size you intend to fit the socks on.
GoSoft Urban socks are very light; the weight of the complete pack, depending on the size, ranges from 900 to 1100 grams.
On snow and ice, GoSoft snow socks offer superior performance to summer tyres due to their greater contact surface area and ability to grip low-grip surfaces.
At the same time, socks do not achieve the performance offered by winter tyres, especially if new or recently manufactured. In fact, these have a compound and tread pattern that allow better traction and control than snow socks.
Clearly there are differences in performance between different winter tyre models, some perform very well on snow and ice, others perform better on cold asphalt but do not excel on snowy or icy surfaces, and others perform well on both.
Snow chains, on the other hand, are at the top of the segment in terms of performance, and they also have a significantly longer lifespan than snow socks. These characteristics make snow chains the most popular accessory for drivers in mountainous areas, often in addition to winter tyres.
Technically speaking, GoSoft snow socks can be installed on car, SUV and commercial vehicle tyres of any profile.
At the same time, it must be considered that the performance of a winter tyre in good condition tends to be higher than that of textile devices such as GoSoft snow socks.
Therefore, if installed on a winter tyre, snow socks could worsen its performance by preventing the special compound of the winter tyre from coming into direct contact with the snow- or ice-covered road surface.
For this reason, unless the winter tyres are particularly old or worn (a situation in which replacement would be strongly recommended for safety reasons), GoSoft does not recommend the use of snow socks on winter tyres.
When fitted on summer tyres, on the other hand, GoSoft socks provide a higher level of traction and therefore bring with them the benefits of increased traction and control.
The lifespan of a textile device is primarily related to how far it is driven on asphalt or generally on snow- or ice-free ground.
Snow socks should only be used on snow-covered or frozen ground to ensure future uses of the product.
If you have any questions that are not included in the FAQ section above, please do not hesitate to contact us via the contact form below.