How to Install Snow Chains
With winter weather setting in, depending on where you live, you may need snow chains this season. Although chains are sometimes not allowed in cities, they can be a life saver on mountain roads and in rural areas. Here’s a helpful set of tips to help you drive properly with snow chains.
Find the right size chains
The first step to snow chains is choosing the right size. Although there are some differences, it is important to choose the correct size for your vehicle’s tires to ensure they stay in place while you drive. To determine your tire size, look for a label on the sidewall of the tire that has a three-digit number, then a slash, then a two-digit number. The first number refers to the width of your tire. The second number is a percentage of the width and refers to the depth of the tire. Chains are often made to fit different tire sizes, so you may want to look for a set that has your tire size listed on the label.
Organize a dress rehearsal
To prepare for successfully installing tire chains on roads where it’s wet, cold, and possibly dark, it’s a good idea to get the chains out and do a dress rehearsal in the garage or driveway before attempting live installation. While you should avoid riding on chains unless there is snow on the road, as they can damage the surface (as well as the driveway or garage floor), get the chains on comfortably first before attempting to use them for the first time. time in a snowstorm or on the side of a highway near a mountain pass will make your live installation run much smoother.
Lay out the chains for the drive bars.
The chains go to the pair of wheels that drive the car, so on a front-wheel drive car they go to the front; for rear wheel drive they go at the rear. Before installation, lay the chains on the ground to ensure they are untangled. There should be a cable or straight chain on one side and a series of intersecting chains attached to it. Position the chains so that the hooks holding them to the cable face outward from the tires. This will prevent them from damaging the sidewalls of the tires. If your chains came with instructions, now is the time to get them out, as not all snow chains are created equal.
Attach snow chains
Once you have the chains spread out and untangled, pull them behind the bar and then drape them over the bar with the open end facing the ground. Next, connect the two corners of the snow chains that are on the underside of the car together. To attach them you will need a hook or other device. You can then connect together the two corners of the snow chains that are on the side of the tires facing the road.
Pull your chains
Tensioning the chains is the last step before the trip. Most people will find it easier to tighten the chains if they drive forward a little, allowing the chains to fall under the tires. A quarter to a half turn of the wheels is all you need. Different chains have different types of tensioners, but usually you’ll need another chain , a bungee cord , some clamps, or some combination of these. The idea is to tighten the chains a little tighter around the tires, and this is achieved by pulling the outward-facing chain towards the center of the wheel, allowing it to distribute the chain tread evenly across the surface of the tire. If you’ve lost your tensioners, some people will use zip ties (make sure you can cut them to remove the chains), bungee cords, or quick links to tighten the chains. While these fixes may be appropriate as a last resort to get out of a snowstorm, it is generally recommended to use a tire tensioner designed for tires.
Race on your chains
Driving on snow chains is a little different from driving on regular tires. You should not drive faster than 25 mph on tire chains to avoid damaging the road or the chains, and avoid stopping and starting quickly to prevent the chains from slipping. If you see bare pavement, it’s time to remove the chains, as they can break if you drive with them on bare pavement for too long; it is harmful to the roads; and a broken snow chain can damage your tires.