Dear friends, please read carefully my small experience with "La Pyloti" in Athens for a new pair of autoshock for my MERCEDES CLA (tires 225-40-18 with a small gap with the fenders):
- Before buying them, I watched 2-3 videos where everyone advised (VERY CORRECTLY!) to try putting on the snow chains at home before starting a trip where you might encounter snow.
- So, trying to put the new snow chains on my vehicle's tires at "La Pyloti," I realized that it is not at all a simple and easy task (at least if you don't know and haven't done it before), because the snow chains have rubber (to fit properly on the car's tires) and they don't allow the snow chain to spread easily on the tire. This, combined with the small distance between the tire and the fenders, which didn't allow me to reach my hand to the inner side of the tire to embrace the top part (according to the installation instructions), made it quite difficult for me until I thought of turning the steering wheel towards one side so that a larger part of the tire would be accessible (which I eventually did and succeeded). This way, I managed to initially place the snow chain on one side, then turned the steering wheel to the other side and put on the other one, and then I moved my vehicle about 1 meter forward for the lower parts to fit. The final result was not perfect (both snow chains were not perfectly aligned), but as the instruction booklet says, they align automatically while driving.
- They are very easy to remove.

Conclusions:
- TEST THEM AT HOME BEFORE YOU NEED TO PUT THEM ON!
- Have a flashlight with you in case you get stuck in a mountain or a dark place. It is necessary!
- Attention: in order to complete the installation of the snow chains, you MUST be able to move your vehicle 1-2 meters forward or backward. So, don't reach a point where you get stuck and can't move your vehicle at all, because then you won't be able to put on the snow chains. Be prepared to spend the night where you got stuck. Therefore, stop somewhere early before getting stuck in the snow, place the snow chains, and then continue.
- I don't want to think about the scenario of being in a snowy environment at night, in a dark place with -1 or -2 degrees, without any lighting, and having to put on and take off the snow chains 2 or 3 times (as you may have read in the instructions, every time there is a road section without snow, you have to remove the snow chains, otherwise they get damaged...)
That's all for now.

Nevertheless, I consider that I made a good purchase because with the snow chains, I won't damage my tires and the suspension of my car, and I won't risk breaking a chain and causing damage to my aluminum rims, fenders, and especially not getting tangled and breaking a brake hose next to the wheel, leading to a dangerous situation! I wish you all safe travels!

Pros:
1. They are very easy to install.
2. They do not cause any problems with the wheels.
3. They can help with traction in snow up to 10 centimeters.
4. They do not tangle like chains.
5. They do not take up much space in storage.
6. They are lightweight.
7. They are durable compared to other alternatives (but not compared to chains).
8. You can achieve higher speeds than with chains.

Cons:
1. They are more expensive than chains. Their price is double.
2. In more extreme conditions where chains can handle it, snow blankets cannot.
3. They are easily damaged. If you step on gravel or a sidewalk, they can tear.

There are also some misconceptions about snow blankets.
1. Some say that if you drive a few meters without snow, they will be destroyed. This is not true, as long as the speeds are within the limits and the road surface is in good condition.
2. Others suggest driving at 50 km/h. This will quickly wear them out. It is also dangerous.
3. In general, whether with or without snow blankets, with or without chains, driving in the snow is completely different from driving in normal conditions. The car can exhibit unpredictable behavior at any time.

Why did I give them 4 stars? Because their price is high, especially considering that someone who frequently uses snow blankets will definitely need to replace them soon, which means a lot of expenses.

It is an easy solution to move on snowy roads at low speeds. They are put on and taken off in record time, the quality of this particular brand is honest. They are quiet and do not hit the car like chains. They are not suitable for someone who wants to use them frequently or intensively off-road in snow with rocks, etc., they will wear out quickly!! Chains are better.

When there is no snow on the road anymore, you have to take them off, because they gradually start to wear out with friction on the asphalt. And when you park at night, it is good to take them off if they are in the melting snow because they freeze, stick, and in the morning as you start you may damage them. (It happened to me once on a mountain). Also, you should know that they wear out as you use them, depending on how you handle them, they do not like spinning and mishandling.

It is good to have a large bag in the trunk because when you take them off they will have dirty snow, you can also easily rinse them with water.

Instead of not having chains at all, and not knowing how to put them on, it is better to have these. I highly recommend them for someone who wants something easy, without demanding off-road requirements.

Already tested since 2006 in my previous car, back when the police didn't accept them as "anti-skid chains" in several cases. In motion on a national road (rapid snowfall at the exit of the bad staircase in Megara in January 2007), descending from Vasilitsa Ski Resort with fresh snow falling rapidly (when an evacuation recommendation was given from the parking lot of the ski resort due to dangerous weather conditions, some left without chains because they had 4x4 and of course "slid" on the first downhill turn while others were still figuring out how to put the traditional chains on the family sedan), on icy snow on an uphill road in Vradeto in Zagori where if you stopped with the brake, you would slide backward, even for exiting the open garage in Athens when it was snowing all night and the ground under the car was dry without even having enough time to put them on correctly due to the short distance.

The only thing that wears them out is the snow that immediately melts and turns into water, so you end up driving more on wet asphalt than on snow. In any case, I advise driving at a very low speed (below 50) and with great caution without activating ESP and ABS, and of course, putting them on and taking them off once on dry ground for testing. Personally, I consider them better than traditional chains, and I think they are the first of their kind to hit the market (I still remember the laughter of some people at the gas station in Grevena when I stopped to ask if I needed chains for Vasilitsa - "what are these, socks to keep warm?"). They are quieter, more effective, and easier to put on and take off than snow tires after them.