FAQ - Frequently asked questions and answers

Textiles have a tendency to stick to snow an ice: When driving on non-dry surfaces, there is a thin film of water between the tire and the surface. SnowGecko has tiny “hairs” that penetrate the film and connect the tires directly to the surface. With correct use, SnowGecko becomes hairier and improves performance over time.

Yes, absolutely! AutoSock increases grip even with winter tires on steeper roads, covered with snow. In case it is mandatory to carry or even mount snow chains, AutoSock is a legal alternative to snow chains in the EU (except Austria). In Switzerland, SnowGecko has been a legal snow chain alternative since 2020.

SnowGecko is a legal alternative to snow chains (tire chains) for cars Europe (except Austria). SnowGecko is certified according to the latest standards such as the new European winter traction standard EN16662-1:2020 for passenger cars and is a legal alternative to snow chains in any EU member state (except Austria). As from October 2020, SnowGecko is a legally accepted alternative to snow chains in Switzerland.

Yes, SnowGecko works well on ice. Depending on the conditions, SnowGecko works even better than snow chains.

SnowGecko is tested and certified according to strict standards for operational safety, performance and durability. We initiate and support testing both in-house and through third-parties on a regular basis. In order to obtain certification according to new EN16662-1:2020, AutoSock must pass at least 120km on dry asphalt without any safety relevant damages. In addition, durablity is tested on snow-covered test tracks for several hundred kilometers. SnowGecko warrants proper use and we highly recommend reading the included instructions before use. By avoiding unnecessary wheelspin and longer distances on clear roads, SnowGecko will last a long time.

To find the right SnowGecko model for your vehicle, use our online size finder to make sure that SnowGecko fits your specific tire dimensions. Select the tire width, profile and diameter and search for the corresponding SnowGecko model.
Find the tire dimensions on the side wall of your tires.

As with snow chains, SnowGecko is installed on the driving wheels of your vehicle. Your vehicle owner's manual has information about fitting of snow chains that you should refer to.

Install SnowGecko on the driving wheels of the vehicle. Stretch the black elastic band over the top half of your tire and pull the SnowGecko down, covering as much of the tire as possible. Move the vehicle until the top half is under the wheel... ...then pull the SnowGecko over the remaining part of the tire. SnowGecko will automatically self-center when you start driving. Gloves and instructions are included, and the bag doubles as knee-support to keep you dry. Remove SnowGecko before driving on cleared roads.

Yes, it does. The SnowGecko traction fabric evenly covers the whole surface of the tire, there is no change in traction level as experienced with most snow chains. This means SnowGecko works perfectly with any electronic safety system and you can keep them activated while driving with SnowGecko.

SnowGecko creates traction on the surface of the ice or snow layer. This is a key difference from traditional snow chains, which must "dig" into the snow or ice to generate traction.
SnowGecko should be driven slowly, carefully and without spinning tires. Avoid sudden, unnecessarily hard braking and speeding. Please disassemble SnowGecko as soon as cleared roads are reached.

SnowGecko for cars should not be driven faster than 50 km/h. This is comparable to the maximum speed of conventional snow chains. Please adjust your speed to current road and weather conditions. Even 30 km/h can be too fast on a slippery road.

No, please disassamble SnowGecko overnight. SnowGecko absorbs a lot of moisture while driving. If SnowGecko is mounted on the tire overnight, the water can freeze. This could affect the dynamic behavior of the tire socks. We therefore recommend that you have SnowGecko disassembled and dry after use.

A pair of SnowGecko contains two snow socks, a pair of longer gloves to protect clothes and hands during installation and instructions of use in different languages.

All SnowGecko components are designed and tested for longevity and repeated use. SnowGecko can be installed and disassembled many times without any problems.

For all questions about Snowgecko:
Contact:
Alpauto SA
Chêne-Bourg
2, Route de Jussy
1225 Chêne - Bourg
Geneve - Suisse
+41 (22) 349 33 22


Charmilles
12, rue du dauphiné
1203 Charmilles
Geneve - Suisse
+41 (22) 344 23 23


Opening hours:
Monday-Thursday: 7H30-12H00 ET 13H30-17H45
Friday: 7 a.m. 30-12H00 ET 13H30-17H00
Saturday: closed