Introduction
Snow chains, also called tire chains, can improve traction on snow and ice when they are approved for the vehicle and fitted correctly. They do not make winter roads safe at normal speeds: drive gently, leave extra following distance, and remove them when they are no longer needed.
Start with the vehicle owner’s manual and the chain manufacturer’s instructions. They take priority over this general guide. They determine whether chains are allowed, the approved tire sizes and device type, required wheel-well clearance, designated axle or axles, and any lower speed limit. Some vehicles prohibit conventional chains, require low-clearance devices, or prohibit traction devices entirely.
Step 1: Choose the Right Snow Chains for Your Vehicle
Match the product to the exact tire size printed on the sidewall and to the vehicle’s clearance and application requirements. Tire size alone is not enough: check that the device is approved for your original wheel and tire combination. Peerless compatibility guidance notes that some vehicles lack clearance for conventional chains.
Step 2: Prepare to Install the Snow Chains
Practice fitting the chains in dry, level conditions before the trip. Carry the correctly sized pair, the product instructions, any supplied tensioners or tools, gloves, a flashlight, and a kneeling mat. Inspect the chains for broken, worn, twisted, or missing parts before each use.
Step 3: Install the Snow Chains
Install chains only on the manufacturer-designated axle or axles. On many two-wheel-drive vehicles this is the drive axle, but the manual controls. AWD and 4WD instructions vary; do not assume that one axle, either axle, or all four wheels is universally correct.
Step 4: Double-Check Your Work
Before driving, confirm that the chain is centered, untwisted, and secured; its hooks and connectors face the direction required by its instructions; and no loose links can strike the vehicle. Check clearance from brake lines, wiring, suspension, steering components, wheel wells, and bodywork.
Step 5: Drive Safely with Snow Chains
After fitting, move only as the product instructions direct—normally a short distance at very low speed—then stop in a safe place and recheck the fit. During use, never exceed the lower of the chain manufacturer’s maximum, the vehicle manufacturer’s limit, or the posted or legal limit. Use chains only on surfaces and in conditions approved by their manufacturer; avoid tire spin, curbs, and extended travel on bare pavement.
Understanding Snow Chains
Chains and cables wrap around the tire tread to provide additional grip on snow or ice. They can change ride, steering, braking, and handling, so they require lower speeds and smooth inputs. They are a temporary traction aid, not a replacement for appropriate tires, careful route planning, or winter driving judgment.
What Are Snow Chains?
Snow chains use metal links, cables, or another traction structure secured around a tire. Their fit and the vehicle clearance around them matter as much as the tread pattern. A loose, damaged, or incompatible device can damage both the tire and nearby vehicle components.
Types of Snow Chains
Traditional Ladder-Style Chains
These have cross chains running across the tread. Confirm that their link size and clearance requirements are permitted for your vehicle.
Cable Chains
Cable devices use steel cable and traction coils and may suit vehicles with limited clearance when the vehicle and device manufacturers approve them. Traction, durability, and clearance characteristics vary by product and conditions.
Diamond-Pattern Chains
These use a diamond-shaped traction pattern around the tread. They still must be selected for the tire size, clearance, vehicle, and intended use; pattern alone does not establish suitability.
Hybrid Chains
Hybrid devices may combine metal, cable, rubber, or other components. Follow the specific fitting, tensioning, cleaning, and storage instructions supplied with that product.
Installation Process of Snow Chains
Chain designs differ. Some are draped over the tire, while others are laid on the ground and driven onto or use an automatic tensioning system. Follow the sequence and connector orientation in your product instructions rather than forcing a generic method onto a different design.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Snow Chains
Consider Tire Size and Wheel Well Clearance
Read the tire size from the sidewall and match it to the manufacturer’s application chart. Then check the owner’s manual for clearance restrictions, approved traction-device class, and any limits on chain thickness. Do not use a device if you cannot confirm it will clear the wheel well and nearby components through steering and suspension movement.
Determine the Suitable Type for Your Driving Needs
Choose only a product listed for your vehicle, tire size, clearance requirements, and expected road conditions. Consider how the device installs in cold weather and whether its instructions require separate tensioners. Do not select solely on chain pattern or a general claim about terrain.
Legal Requirements and Regulations
Check local chain-control rules before travel and obey posted signs and instructions from road authorities. Rules can specify when traction devices are required, which devices are accepted, and a lower speed limit. For example, Caltrans chain requirements distinguish drive-axle requirements and accepted devices; those rules are jurisdiction-specific and do not override the vehicle manual. Related guidance: How Long Before You Can Drive on Resurfaced Asphalt Road.
Look for Durability and Ease of Installation
Use a complete, undamaged product with instructions you can follow. Practice with it before winter travel so you understand the connectors, tensioners, and correct orientation without working in traffic or severe weather.
Other Considerations
Keep the chains accessible rather than buried under luggage. If the manual prohibits chains, the fit is uncertain, or clearance cannot be confirmed, do not improvise. Ask the vehicle manufacturer, dealer, chain manufacturer, or a qualified technician for the approved alternative.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Put on Snow Chains Properly
General Preparation
Pull completely off the roadway into a designated chain-up area or other firm, level pull-off whenever possible. Do not install or remove chains in an exposed traffic lane. Set the parking brake, turn off the engine, use hazard flashers where appropriate, and keep hands, hair, and loose clothing clear of tires, chains, and tensioners. Never work beneath or immediately beside a vehicle that could move.
Installing Snow Chains on Cars
Use the same manufacturer-approved method for cars, trucks, and SUVs; vehicle size does not determine the installation sequence. Once you have identified the designated tires, proceed as follows:
- Lay out and orient the device. Spread one chain flat beside or around the tire as its instructions show. Remove twists and position hooks, cables, and tensioners in the required direction. Remove wheel covers only if the vehicle or device instructions require it.
- Make the inner connection. Reach behind the tire only with the engine off and the vehicle secured. Connect the inside cable or side chain as directed, then center the traction sections over the tread.
- Make the outer connection. Connect the outside fastener using the specified link, cam, ratchet, or tensioner. Pull out slack evenly. Fit supplied tensioners only as instructed.
- Inspect the fit. The device should sit centered on the tread, with connectors secure and no twisted sections or loose ends. Check visible clearance before moving the vehicle.
- Perform the product-specific settling check. Move the vehicle only as directed, at walking speed or similarly low speed, then stop, secure the vehicle again, and retighten if the instructions call for it.
Installing Snow Chains on Trucks and SUVs
Trucks and SUVs may use larger devices, but do not assume they have more wheel-well clearance or that all four tires need chains. Follow the vehicle manual for axle placement and clearance, and use the chain manufacturer’s exact installation method. If a chain rubs, cannot be centered, or cannot be tightened securely, remove it and do not drive on it.
Additional Tips
Wear warm, weather-appropriate clothing and gloves, and use a flashlight if visibility is poor. If it is unsafe to pull off fully, traffic is too close, or weather makes installation unsafe, continue only to a safer location if conditions allow or seek roadside assistance. Do not risk a roadside installation in moving traffic.
Tips for Ensuring Secure Attachment of Snow Chains
Ensure Correct Fit for Your Tires
Correct fit means more than a matching tire-size label. The chain must be approved for the vehicle and tire, fitted on the specified axle, centered on the tread, and clear of surrounding parts. Stop if any of those checks fails.
Tighten Connections Properly
Remove slack using the product’s prescribed fastener and tensioner. Chains should be snug and evenly distributed, not forced tighter than instructed. Over-tightening, improvised tie-downs, and loose spare links can all create damage or failure risks.
Regular Checks and Adjustments
Recheck after the short settling movement and thereafter at the interval or under the conditions stated by the manufacturer. Stop promptly for rubbing, ticking, banging, unusual vibration, a change in steering feel, or visible looseness.
Additional Securing Tips
If a chain breaks, loosens, rubs, ticks, or bangs, stop immediately in a safe location. Do not continue with a loose or damaged chain. With the engine off and parking brake set, inspect the tire and the surrounding brake lines, wiring, wheel well, splash shields, suspension, steering parts, and wheel for damage. Repair, remove, or replace the device only as its manufacturer permits. Do not resume driving if it cannot be secured correctly or vehicle damage is suspected.
Removing and Storing Snow Chains
Remove chains once you are beyond the required chain-control area or conditions for which they are approved, using a safe pull-off. Avoid extended driving on clear pavement.
Step-by-Step Process for Removing Snow Chains
- Secure the vehicle. Pull fully off the road, set the parking brake, switch off the engine, and use hazard flashers where appropriate.
- Release the system. Loosen tensioners and disconnect fasteners in the product’s specified order. Keep clear of parts under tension.
- Free the device. Follow the exact positioning and movement directions in the chain instructions. If movement is required, move only far enough to free the chain, at idle or walking speed, without spinning the tires.
- Inspect before packing. Check for broken links, damaged cables, worn tensioners, or missing parts. Do not store a damaged set as ready for use.
Cleaning and Drying Snow Chains
Remove salt, dirt, and debris as directed by the manufacturer, then dry the chains completely in a well-ventilated place. Avoid damaging heat and never pack them while damp. Lubricate metal components only if the product maintenance instructions recommend it; do not apply lubricant to rubber, textile, or other components unless approved.
Storing Snow Chains
Fold or coil the dry chains without kinks, place them in their bag or another suitable container, and store them in a dry location. Before the next trip, inspect them again and practice the installation if the system is unfamiliar.
Consulting the Vehicle Owner’s Manual
Importance of the Vehicle Owner’s Manual
The owner’s manual is the controlling source for whether chains may be used on your vehicle. It may specify a low-clearance device, a particular axle, tire-size limits, a speed limit, or a prohibition because chain contact could damage the vehicle.
Steps to Consult Your Vehicle Owner’s Manual
Search the manual for “tire chains,” “traction devices,” “winter driving,” and “tire equipment.” Record the approved tire size, device type or clearance class, axle placement, speed limit, and warnings. Compare those requirements with the chain manufacturer’s application chart and instructions before buying or installing anything.
Conclusion
Key Points for Safe Driving with Snow Chains
Use only a device approved for the vehicle, tire size, clearance, and designated axle. Fit it in a safe location, check it after the specified short settling movement, and drive at the lowest applicable speed limit. Stop immediately for a loose, broken, rubbing, or noisy chain. If compatibility, clearance, or safe roadside installation is uncertain, do not proceed—get vehicle-specific or professional help.
FAQ
Can I use snow chains on all types of tires?
No. The vehicle manual and chain manufacturer must approve the device for your exact tire size, wheel-well clearance, and vehicle. Some vehicles require low-clearance alternatives or prohibit chains.
What should I do if my snow chains break while driving?
Stop immediately in a safe location and do not continue with a broken or loose chain. Inspect the tire and nearby brake lines, wiring, wheel well, suspension, steering components, and wheel before removing, repairing, or replacing the chain as permitted by its manufacturer.
How often should I check my snow chains for wear and tear?
Inspect them before each use, after the initial settling check, and whenever you hear or feel rubbing, clanking, vibration, or a handling change. Follow the product instructions for any additional inspection interval.
Are there alternative traction devices to snow chains?
Some vehicles may use cables, low-clearance devices, or textile traction aids. Use only an option approved by the vehicle manufacturer and accepted where you are driving.