Best Car Tire Snow Chains for Winter

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Get Your Car Tires Ready for Winter Weather

Before snow chains were invented, motorists used ropes and vines to track better on snowy and icy roads. However, chains give much better traction on frozen roads, especially for larger vehicles like pickups and larger trucks.

Snow chains can be purchased for motorcycles. This page only features chains for four-wheeled vehicles.

Safe winter driving is extremely important to those who live in areas of the country that get lots of snow and freezing rain. These areas require driving in all kinds of weather, and chains will get a vehicle through slippery, uphill driving in inclement weather.

When you take a look at the chains featured here, you can click through the links on this page to make sure the model that you have selected will fit on your model, make and year of your vehicle. Just plug in that information, and you can get the perfect fitting chains for your tires.

Most chains can be easily stored in your trunk for easy access in bad weather. These make wonderful gifts for anyone with a new car. The majority of snow chains come in pairs, but not all of them. Make sure that you order enough for all of your vehicle tires.

Security Chain Company Z-579 Z-Chain Extreme Performance Cable Tire Traction Chain – Set of 2

SCC Z-chain is the preferred choice for emergency vehicles for police, fire, ambulances throughout North America. Extremely durable, these chains will hold up under the most stressful road conditions. For more specifications, click through the link before.

Z-Chain Extreme Performance Cable Tire Traction Chain

High-End Thule K-Summit Low-Profile Passenger Car Snow Chain

These chains do look menacing? Don’t they? A premium set of snow chains for automobile owners who want the best. Handmade by expert technicians in Italy.

Thule K-Summit Low-Profile Passenger Car Snow Chain (Sold in pairs)

Checklist for Buying Tire Chains for Your Car or Truck

1. First of all check the laws for the districts where you plan to use them – they are not permitted everywhere because of the damage they cause to road surfaces.

2. Not all tires are the same! Be sure you check for the right chains for your vehicle – you will need to input the make and model of your car/truck and the date of manufacture to ensure you get the right fit.

3. Check in your owners manual if there is enough wheel clearance in the wheel arch to safely accommodate chains.

4. It will help to know the type of tire you are using – some vehicles need special snow tires over winter and they may have a different width and radial number than the ones you usually drive. Buy chains appropriate to that tire size.

5. It may sound stupid but make sure you know whether your tires need to be on the front or back wheels. This depends on whether your vehicle is front-wheel or rear-wheel drive.

How to Install Snow Tire Chains

If you have never put on snow tire chains before, this video is a great place to get started. However, each set of chains is a little bit different so make sure to read the instructions that come with each set of chains.

Security Chain Company SZ339 Shur Grip Z Passenger Car Traction Chain – Set of 2

Easy installation for passenger car vehicles.

Security Chain Company SZ339 Shur Grip Z Passenger Car Traction Chain – Set of 2

Security Chain Company TC2512MM Radial Chain LT Tire Chains, 1 Pair, For Select Light Trucks

Once you have installed this Snow Chain and start driving the vehicle – the self-centering and self-tensioning features of Thule CB12 take over. This quality product is hand crafted in Italy and is one of the best available in the market.

Security Chain Company TC2512MM Radial Chain LT Tire Chains, 1 Pair

Security Chain Company Super Z6, SZ441, Cable Chain for Pickups & SUVs – Set of 2

Security Chain Company Super Z6, Cable Chain for Pickups & SUVs – Set of 2

Security Chain Company Shur Grip Z Passenger Car Tire Traction Chain – Set of 2

More Varieties of Chains

Quik Grip Type LSH Light Truck Traction Chain – Set of 2 Michelin 9801000 Easy Grip Composite Tire Snow Chain – Pair Quik Grip V-Bar Light Truck Type LRS Tire Traction Chain – Set of 2 Glacier 1046 Passenger Cable Tire Chain – Set of 2 Thule 12mm XG12 Pro Deluxe SUV/Crossover Snow Chain (Sold in pairs) Glacier Chains H2828SC Light Truck V-Bar Twist Link Tire Chain Peerless 0232105 Auto-Trac Light Truck/SUV Tire Chain Michelin 9800300 Easy Grip Composite Tire Snow Chain – Pair Quality Chain 1142 Passenger Tire Link Chain BangTheory UniversalCar Snow Chain Tire Chain

AutoSocks: The Alternative to Snow Chains

Not every county allows the use of snow chains so here is a great alternative. AutoSocks are a fabric based alternative that fits over the wheel – use only one set per car even with a four wheel drive. You can fit them on in minutes, they are very light so you can take them off, throw them in the washing machine to clean them and once they are dry they are easy to store.

Unlike chains there are no loud rattles and vibrations when you are driving. Buyers recommend these highly and point out they won’t do well if used over the recommended 30 mile per hour speed limit but then if conditions warrant their use, you would be fool to be driving any faster than that. These are reusable.

AutoSock Winter Traction Aid

Click through for more size options

An easy to use self-centering Snow Traction Aid. It is easy to install and remove AutoSock. It folds for easy storage and is Machine Washable. Certainly a cool pick for the Winters this year.

Lifeline AS645 Autosock