Guide to Installing Snow Chains Like a Pro

With winter weather approaching, depending on where you reside, you may require tire chains this season. While chains are not often permitted in cities, on mountain routes, and in more remote locations, they may be lifesavers. Here’s a handy set of suggestions to get you started with your snow chains securely in place.

Find the appropriate size chains

The first step in using snow chains is determining the appropriate size. When there will be some difference, selecting the correct size for your vehicle’s tires is critical to ensuring they remain put when driving. To identify the size of your tire, check for a three-digit number, a slash, and a two-digit number on the sidewall. The first number indicates the width of your tire. The second figure is a percentage of the width and represents the tire’s depth. Chains are typically designed to accommodate a variety of tire sizes, so seek for a pair with your tire size listed on the package.

Do a dress rehearsal

To prepare for a successful snow-chain installation on the road—where it’s wet, cold, and perhaps dark—get your chains out and practice in your garage or driveway before trying a real-time installation. Although you should avoid driving on your chains if there isn’t snow on the road because they can damage the surface (as well as your driveway or garage floor), putting them on in a comfortable environment first before attempting to use them for the first time in a snowstorm—or on the side of a highway next to a mountain pass—will make your live-action installation go much more smoothly.

Lay down the chains for the driving tires

The chains go on the wheels that drive the car, thus on a front-wheel drive vehicle, they go on the front, and on a rear-wheel drive vehicle, they go on the back.  Before you install the chains, lay them out on the ground to ensure they are not twisted.  A cable or straight chain should be on one side, with a succession of crisscrossed chains connecting to it.  Place the chains so that the hooks tying them to the cable face outward from the tires. This will keep them from harming the sidewalls of the tires.  If your chains come with instructions, pull them out now because not all tire chains are the same.

Attach your snowchains

Once the chains are set out and untangled, drag them beneath the tire and drape them over the tire, open end facing the ground.  Next, link the two corners of the snow chains on the underside of the car.  There will be a hook or another mechanism to connect the two.  Then, attach the two corners of the snow chains on the side of the tires that faces the road.

Tension your chains

Tensioning the chains is the last step before driving.  Most individuals will find it easier to tighten their chains by driving ahead slightly and letting the chains fall beneath the tires.  A quarter to half revolution of the wheels should be enough.  Different chains have different sorts of tensioners, but in general, you’ll see another chain, a stretchy rope, some clips, or a mix of things.

The goal is to make the chains fit more snugly around the tires by drawing the outward-facing chain towards the center of the wheel, allowing the chain treads to be uniformly distributed throughout the tire’s surface.  If you’ve misplaced your tensioners, some folks will use zip ties (make sure you know how to cut them off to remove the chains), bungee cords, or quick links to tighten up their chains.  While these repairs may be acceptable as a last resort for getting out of a snowstorm, it is normally suggested to use a tensioner designed for tires.

Drive on your chains

Driving on snow chains is a little different from driving on ordinary tires. To avoid harming the road or the chains themselves, you should not drive faster than 25 mph while using snow chains, and you should avoid making quick stops and starts to protect the chains from sliding. If you notice bare pavement, it’s time to remove the chains because they can break if you drive too much on bare pavement; this is terrible for the roads, and a broken snow chain can cause tire damage.

Final Words!

With the proper snow chains, you can remain safe on the road in a variety of situations.  Fortunately, Lifton Chain & Tackles Pvt. Ltd. provides skilled tire chains that you can trust.  We’ll even help you select the ideal tire chain for your vehicle.  Don’t wait until the first snowfall—contact us to prepare your vehicle for winter today!