WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE A PAIR OF SOCKS IN YOUR TRUNK It looks like socks in the winter might not only be used to keep your feet warm and dry, but also to help you keep out of the ditch. We have all been there when you wish that you had a bit more traction, particularly when scaling a slippery hill or ascending an icy driveway. Beyond winter tires and all-wheel drive, there are aftermarket products that promise to provide added grip for occasional use. Consumer Reports recently evaluated three textile products that fit over tires to aid traction. Think of them as alternatives to clunky metal snow chains. Two of the products are AutoSock and ISSE, which resemble a cloth sock that slips over the tire. The Michelin Easy Grip looks and works more like a snow chain made out of rope. Like the “socks,” the Easy Grip slips over the tire. Installing these products is straightforward, but labour intensive as it takes some muscle and patience to slip one of these products over the tire. Yes they say they will increase tractions however, they are all intended for use on snow and icy roads only, and they have limited speed ranges of 25 mph (Michelin Easy Grip and ISSE) to 30 mph (AutoSock). You can purchase a pair for front wheel or rear wheel drive vechicles or they can paired up in a set of four for if you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle and want extra traction. Samples of Michelin Easy Grip cost approximately $140.00, the AutoSock wcan be purchased for approximately $110.00, and ISSE was the least expensive at approximately $80.00. Please keep in mind that prices will vary depending on retail outlets and sizes.
PAVEMENT THAT ACTS LIKE A SPONGE
We all know that you should not drink and drive, but soon the road will drink while you drive as interest in permeable concrete, pri- marily its ability to prevent devastating envi- ronmental damage caused by runoff is now being addressed. Topmix Permeable has been testing and dem- onstrating a product which is able to absorb more than 1,000 gallons of water in a minute in a paved parking lot. According to Lafarge Tarmac, manufacturer of Topmix Permeable, stormwater routinely overwhelms older U.S. wastewater systems, causing untreated sewage to be dumped into local waterways and onto public beaches and creating a significant source of pollution for rivers, streams and reservoirs. Products like Topmix Permeable are applied over a base layer of gravel and, depending on the permeability of the substrate, the water is allowed to either permeate the ground below or is diverted elsewhere, over a period of time, through a series of pipes which makes it an excellent solution for parking lots. However, the empty spaces in the permeable concrete that allow water to flow through have limited the product’s use in more rigorous applications, so more research and develop- ment is needed before testing will begin on heavily-traveled roadways, but all sign point that Lafarge Tarmac is heading in the right direction with this product.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SOCK MEETS THE SNOW?
The good news is all three products offer added grip on snow and ice. The bad news is installation can be tough, particularly when you factor in the cold. However if you need temporary traction to get out of a slick spot once in a while, these should be part of your winter emergency kit unless you have dedicated winter tires, which are more practical and versatile for the wide variety of winter conditions.
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APRIL 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
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