Last updated: 1 September 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Automotive Wheels Ltd, trading as SnowChainsandSocks.co.uk, collects and uses personal information when you visit the website, create an account, make an enquiry, place an order, request support, make a return or subscribe to communications.
1. Who we are
Automotive Wheels Ltd is the controller responsible for the personal information described in this policy. We are registered in England and Wales under company number 04633696. Our registered office is A3 Saxon Place, Medway Valley Park, Rochester, Kent, United Kingdom, ME2 2NW.
Data protection contact: info@automotivewheels.co.uk; telephone +44 (0) 1634 914400; postal address: Data Protection Contact, Automotive Wheels Ltd, A3 Saxon Place, Medway Valley Park, Rochester, Kent, United Kingdom, ME2 2NW.
2. Information we may collect
Identity and contact information, such as your name, company name, billing and delivery address, email address and telephone number.
Order and transaction information, such as products ordered, tyre size, vehicle or compatibility information you submit, basket and order history, delivery details, payment status, invoices, returns, refunds and warranty or complaint records.
Account information, such as login details, saved addresses, order history and account preferences.
Payment-related information. Card or other payment details are normally entered into the secure systems of the payment provider. We do not ordinarily retain complete card numbers, although we receive payment confirmation, transaction references and limited details needed to manage the order or refund.
Communications, such as emails, telephone notes, contact-form submissions, fitting questions, product reviews and other correspondence.
Technical and usage information, such as IP address, browser and device type, approximate location derived from IP address, pages viewed, referral source, website errors, security logs and cookie choices.
Marketing preferences, such as whether you have asked to receive an email newsletter and whether you have unsubscribed.
We do not intentionally collect special category information, such as health, biometric, religious or political information, through this website. Please do not send such information unless it is genuinely necessary for a specific enquiry.
3. How we collect information
Directly from you when you use the website, place an order, create an account, contact us, submit a tyre-size search, request a return, leave a review or subscribe to communications.
Automatically through the website, server logs, security tools and cookies or similar technologies, subject to the choices described in our Cookie Policy.
From service providers involved in a transaction, such as payment processors, couriers, suppliers making a direct delivery, fraud-prevention providers and customer-service platforms.
From publicly available business sources where relevant to a trade account, such as Companies House or a business website.
4. Why we use personal information and our lawful bases
| Purpose | Typical information | Lawful basis |
|---|---|---|
| Process, take payment for, deliver and administer an order; provide tracking; manage returns and refunds | Identity, contact, order, tyre/vehicle details, payment status, delivery and correspondence | Performance of a contract; steps requested before entering a contract |
| Answer enquiries, provide fitting or compatibility support, manage accounts and customer service | Identity, contact, account, tyre/vehicle details and correspondence | Contract; legitimate interests in providing support and administering the business |
| Keep invoices, tax and accounting records and respond to lawful authorities | Identity, contact, order, payment and invoice records | Legal obligation |
| Prevent fraud, misuse and security incidents; protect the website, customers and business | Technical, device, IP, account, order and payment-reference data | Legitimate interests in security and fraud prevention; legal obligation where applicable |
| Manage product safety, recalls, complaints, disputes and legal claims | Identity, contact, order, product, fitting, images and correspondence | Legal obligation; legitimate interests in safety, resolving disputes and establishing or defending legal claims |
| Operate necessary website functions and remember cookie choices | Session, basket, login, security and consent-preference data | Legitimate interests and/or necessity to provide the service requested; applicable cookie-law exemptions |
| Measure website use and improve performance where optional analytics is enabled | Cookie identifiers, IP/device and usage data | Consent, where required |
| Send newsletters or other optional marketing communications | Name, email address and marketing preferences | Consent, or another lawful basis only where permitted and documented |
| Invite or publish product/service feedback where this feature is used | Name or display name, contact/order reference, review and preferences | Legitimate interests in obtaining genuine feedback, consent where required, and contract where responding to a service issue |
5. No behavioural advertising or remarketing
We do not currently use personal information collected through this website for behavioural advertising, advertising profiling or remarketing, and we do not intentionally set advertising cookies.
If this changes, we will update this policy and our Cookie Policy and obtain any consent required before non-essential advertising technologies are activated.
6. Who we share information with
Payment processors and banks, to authorise payments, detect fraud, process refunds and manage disputes.
Couriers, postal operators and fulfilment partners, to deliver orders and provide tracking or delivery support.
Suppliers or manufacturers, where an item is dispatched directly, technical assistance is needed, or a warranty or product-safety issue must be investigated.
Website hosting, email, database, backup, security, support and other IT service providers that process information for us.
Analytics providers, but only where analytics is enabled and the required cookie choice has been made.
Newsletter or review-service providers, where we use them and the relevant communication is lawful. We share only the information reasonably needed for the service.
Professional advisers, insurers, auditors and debt-recovery providers where necessary for advice, claims, accounting, insurance or recovery of sums due.
Police, regulators, courts, tax authorities and other public bodies where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
A buyer, seller or adviser involved in a proposed sale, merger or reorganisation of all or part of our business, subject to appropriate confidentiality and data-protection safeguards.
We do not sell personal information.
7. International transfers
Some service providers may process personal information outside the United Kingdom. Where a transfer is subject to UK international-transfer rules, we will use an approved transfer mechanism, such as UK adequacy regulations, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement, the UK Addendum to approved contractual clauses, or another lawful safeguard or exception.
You may contact us for further information about the safeguards used for a particular transfer.
8. How long we keep information
| Record type | Typical retention approach |
|---|---|
| Orders, invoices, payment records, delivery, returns and related accounting information | Normally six years after the end of the financial year to which the record relates, or longer where needed for an unresolved claim, investigation or legal requirement. |
| Product-safety, warranty, complaint and fitting correspondence linked to an order | For the order-record period or longer where reasonably needed for safety, a recall, an ongoing dispute or legal claim. |
| Customer account information | While the account is active and then for a reasonable period after inactivity. Transaction records may be retained separately for the periods above. |
| Enquiries that do not lead to an order | Normally up to 24 months after the last meaningful contact, unless a longer period is needed for a complaint or claim. |
| Security and server logs | Normally up to 12 months, but longer where needed to investigate a security event, fraud or misuse. |
| Newsletter information | Until you unsubscribe or consent is withdrawn, with a minimal suppression record retained as needed to honour the opt-out. |
| Cookie-choice and consent records | For the period reasonably needed to remember and demonstrate the choice, according to the configured cookie-management settings. |
| Analytics information | According to the periods displayed in the Cookie Settings panel and the relevant analytics configuration. |
9. Cookies and similar technologies
The website uses cookies and similar technologies for functions such as the shopping basket, checkout, account login, security, remembering cookie choices and, where accepted, website analytics or embedded content.
Non-essential cookie choices are managed through the on-site Cookie Settings panel. Please see our separate Cookie Policy for categories, purposes and how to change or withdraw a choice.
We do not currently use advertising or remarketing cookies.
10. Email communications
We send an email newsletter only where we have an appropriate lawful basis, normally because you have subscribed or otherwise asked to receive it. Every marketing email will include an unsubscribe method.
Unsubscribing from marketing does not stop service messages that are necessary for an order, delivery, refund, account-security issue or response to an enquiry.
We may keep a minimal suppression record after you unsubscribe so that we can respect the request and avoid adding the address back to a marketing list by mistake.
11. Your data protection rights
Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to be informed, obtain access to your personal information, correct inaccurate information, request erasure, restrict processing, object to processing, receive certain information in a portable format, and withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
These rights are not absolute. For example, we may need to retain order and invoice information for tax, accounting, fraud-prevention or legal-claim purposes even after an erasure request.
To exercise a right, contact info@automotivewheels.co.uk. We may ask for information needed to confirm identity and locate the relevant records. We normally respond within one month, although the law may allow an extension for a complex request or multiple requests.
12. Automated decision-making
Our tyre-size and product-selection tools may automatically filter or display products based on information you enter. They are guidance tools and do not make decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects about you.
We do not currently carry out solely automated decision-making about customers that produces legal or similarly significant effects.
13. Data protection complaints
You can make a data protection complaint by emailing info@automotivewheels.co.uk or writing to the Data Protection Contact at the address in section 1. Please explain what has happened and what outcome you are seeking.
We will acknowledge a data protection complaint within 30 days, investigate it appropriately, keep you informed where necessary and provide an outcome without undue delay.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. We would appreciate the opportunity to address the concern first, but this does not limit your right to contact the regulator.
14. Security
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure. Access is limited to people and service providers who need it for legitimate purposes.
No internet transmission or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. Please use a strong, unique password for any account and contact us if you suspect unauthorised access.
15. Children
The website and products are intended for adults purchasing vehicle equipment. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through the checkout. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact us so that we can review and, where appropriate, delete it.
16. Links and embedded content
The website may link to or embed content from other websites. Those organisations may collect information under their own privacy notices and cookie controls. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of an external website.
17. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy when our services, providers or legal obligations change. The latest version and update date will be published on the website. Where a change materially affects how existing personal information is used, we will take reasonable steps to provide additional notice.