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This Is How to Easily Fit Snow Chains on Your Vehicle’s Tires

If you get a lot of snowfall in your area, don’t rely on your winter tires to get you out of trouble. Having a set of snow chains in your trunk is always a good idea but knowing how to put them on your vehicle’s tires is paramount.
Snow Chains 6 photos
Photo: S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay
Driving through SnowDriving through SnowDriving through SnowSnow-Covered RoadDriving through Snow
Winter can be a nightmare for some drivers, especially in those parts of the world where the weather is extremely harsh this time of the year.

Ice and heavy snow can be challenging even for capable vehicles equipped with winter tires, so if you can’t avoid driving through such conditions you might as well be prepared.

Those among us who are used to this kind of weather should at least be familiar with snow chains, but for the readers who aren’t and want to take a trip to one of these areas, these devices which wrap around the tires provide maximum traction through snow and ice.

Driving through Snow
Photo: Nowaja from Pixabay
They are usually sold in sets of two and have different sizes that correspond to those found on your tires' sidewalls.

There are various options out there with prices that range from $50 to $200, depending on the size and quality. Your choice should be primarily influenced by how often you will use them.

They come in sets of two because they are designed to be fitted to the driven wheels, so make sure you know exactly if your vehicle is front-wheel or rear-wheel drive. If power is transmitted to all four wheels, get two sets of chains to maximize traction.

Before you start fitting them to the wheels, arm yourself with patience because, in most cases, this process tends to be difficult the first time, especially if it’s done during a snowstorm.

Driving through Snow
Photo: Laurenz Heymann on Unsplash
Our advice is to practice in your garage, driveway, or parking lot so that you become familiar with the process and know exactly what to do when you actually need to put them on.

Contrary to what some might think, laying the chains in front of each tire and then driving the car on top of them won’t help. Instead, you should make sure the vehicle is on a level surface, and the parking brake is engaged.

Next, pull on each chain to make sure they are not tangled up, and no links are loose. Lay them in front of each wheel, then proceed to wrap them around each tire carefully. They should cover about three-quarters of the circumference.

Driving through Snow
Photo: Clément M. on Unsplash
Tuck the loose ends under each tire, then gently move the vehicle forward a few feet to gain access to the bottom area. If you’re fitting them to the front wheels, turn the steering wheel slightly to one side to gain more space.

Connect the two ends of the chains using the included anchor system and make sure that they aren’t loose or misaligned to avoid any damage.

Finally, drive slowly for five minutes to see if you did a good job and if further adjustments are needed. Of course, you should only do this on snow-covered roads since using chains on dry surfaces will most likely damage your tires. Not to mention that in many areas of the world, doing so results in a hefty fine. So, if you’re practicing in your garage, skip this final step.

Congratulations, you are now worthy of driving through harsh, snow-covered surfaces. Once you find yourself in such a situation, it's a good idea to fit the chains before you start to lose traction or get stuck to avoid unpleasant situations.

Keep in mind that in many areas where heavy snowfall is frequent, tire chains are not only recommended but mandatory.
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About the author: Vlad Radu
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Vlad's first car was custom coach built: an exotic he made out of wood, cardboard and a borrowed steering wheel at the age of five. Combining his previous experience in writing and car dealership years, his articles focus in depth on special cars of past and present times.
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