Self tensioning, self centering install. (Buy from Amazon)
When it snows and you have to face the snow covered streets you really want to make sure your car or truck is equipped with the best tire chains to keep you safe, and in control of your vehicle. We review many of the best tire chains for snow for cars, SUVs, light trucks and even snow blowers and garden tractors. There’s something here for everyone.
We hope you find this buying guide helpful.
Intro | Best Tire Chains for Snow
If you’re smart you’ll begin to prepare for winter ahead of time. Sadly, most people wait until a major snowstorm arrives before deciding to put on their winter tires, or investing in tire chains for their car or truck. I’m happy to conclude that you’re one of the intelligent ones if you’re reading this. Our ability to plan and prepare is what separates us from other animals. Planning ahead will bring you peace of mind, and in my opinion, is the most proactive thing you can do to combat unpredictable winter weather.
The Fury of Winter
We truly hope you find this guide useful. Choosing the best tire chains for your car, SUV or truck can be a little confusing if you’re not sure what to look for. Our goal is help you make an intelligent decision. We review several of the best tire chains on the market. Let’s get started…
Now that the days are growing shorter and the cold weather is starting to set in, it’s time prepare for winter. Driving safely in snow and ice takes some getting used to. You may have been doing it for years or you might be a newbie to these situations. Either way, you may need a set of reliable and safe snow chains if you live in an area where snow and ice are prevalent. In some states, it’s mandatory to have snow chains with you during icy weather and in others, the use of snow chains is prohibited. So it’s important to check the legal requirements for your area.
Innovative Design | High-Quality : Best Tire Chains for Cars | Konig K-Summit
Engineered to be ultra-convenient. Tightens as you drive. (Buy from Amazon)
With an endless range of products, at prices ranging from under $40 to well over $100, it’s not all that easy to be sure that you’re getting the right product for your vehicle and the conditions that you’re going to be using them in. Then there’s the ever important question, are you getting the quality that you desire?
The last thing you need is to be stranded on a desolate highway in the grips of an icy storm, all because you tried to save a few bucks on your snow chains. This is why it’s a good idea to read this article carefully. We’re not only going to suggest some of the best tire chains on the market but also cover every aspect of driving on the icy roads this winter. Be prepared, be safe and, of course, don’t waste your money on the wrong product. We’ll help you with your decision and offer you all the advice you could possibly wish for.
How to Choose the Right Tire Chains for Snow?
Here are some important considerations that you’ll need to take into account before choosing the best tire chains for your vehicle and your driving conditions.
Driving conditions — are going to affect how you choose the best tire chains. There are four basic categories of tire chains for snow and ice – entry-level; standard; premium and alternative traction snow chains. If you live in an area where you only experience snow and icy conditions occasionally, entry-level snow chains will probably suit you fine (though you’ll also need to consider the type of vehicle that you drive).
Standard snow chains are better suited for regular snow fall. For most daily driving purposes, premium snow chains are a better option, as they provide superior performance and improve your braking on icy surfaces. Alternative traction devices are designed for occasional driving in snow or ice or for vehicles with low-profile tires.
Vehicle types — differ in their tire size and clearance, so this is an important consideration. Entry-level, standard and premium snow chains are more versatile, designed to fit passenger cars, SUVs, and trucks. Whereas alternative traction devices are for use on passenger vehicles only. There are two important factors here. You need to make sure that your snow chains are the correct size for your tires. This means choosing a size that will fit both the diameter and width of your tire.
The other important thing to look at is clearance. The snow chains fit over your tire and this increases both their width and profile (height). The sidewalls of your tire need to fit into the wheel arch as they move up and down with the road surface. The inner wall may also be affected by suspension parts and braking systems that are close to the tire. Height isn’t always that important because your suspension usually has good height clearance. Though, some cars, especially high-performance or modified vehicles may have limited height clearance. It’s a good idea to check your owner’s manual or consult your dealership to make sure that you get the right class of snow chain for your vehicle.
Chain types — also vary in their design and should be chosen in accordance with your vehicle specifications and driving conditions. The link patterns used for snow chains can be diamond, square, ladder, or diagonal and these will use a conventional chain or a cable If your vehicle has traction control or ABS, diamond link snow chains are the recommended design.
Square link snow chains are known to provide better traction and are generally more durable. Ladder style snow chains are not all the same – some perform better on snow and ice while others are designed to handle both on and off-road driving conditions. Diagonal link systems usually provide the best traction in both snow and ice and, in most cases, will work fine with ABS and traction control systems (or any electronic system designed to assist the driver by controlling the braking system).
Price — is always a factor but should be your last consideration. There’s no use buying something that is less suitable or, more importantly unsafe. Generally, entry-level snow chains will be cheaper.
Fitting snow chains — can be made easier, depending on their design. Many snow chains will require that you move the vehicle whilst fitting and often need to be tightened a second time (after driving a short distance). If all this seems like a hassle to you, there are snow chains that are designed with rubber tightening systems that won’t need to be checked. There are also some that won’t require you to move the vehicle whilst fitting the chains to your wheels. In general, entry-level and standard snow chains will take the most effort to install. Alternative traction systems, on the other hand, are usually the easiest to fit.
Okay, now that you have a basic idea of what to look for, let’s take a look at the best tire chains for snow. We’ve compiled a great list of top quality snow chains in a number of designs and different price ranges. We’ve checked which snow chains are considered to be the best by drivers who’ve used them and are impressed with the product. So you can be sure that you’re not going to be wasting your money on a piece of junk. All you need to do is apply the considerations that I’ve listed above to the tire chains in this review and then decide which tire chains will be the best for your needs.
Security Chain Company | Super Z6
Super Z6 has been developed to operate with only 6.3mm of clearance required at speeds of no greater than 30mph/50Kmh.
Designed for use on snow and ice-covered roads.
Features:
- Fast easy installation with no need to move the vehicle (similar to Super Z).
- “Designed-in” rubber tensioners means there is no need to stop and re-tighten after installation.
- Better all-around traction performance than conventional tire chains or cables.
- Greater durability than conventional tire chains or cables.
- Better compatibility with anti-lock brakes, traction control, all-wheel drive (AWD) and other electronically monitored control systems.
- EXCEEDS S.A.E. Class “S clearance requirements on vehicles with limited clearance.
- Low potential for damage to vehicle body and mechanical components, even when abused.
- Designed for tires sized from approximately 195 to 245 millimeters.
✓ View or download the INSTALLATION GUIDE for the Peerless Super Z6 .
Your purchase includes : Chains, plastic gloves, one pair of rubber tensioners, durable, re-usable nylon bag, and clear, illustrated step-by-step installation and removal instructions.
Overview | Super Z6
The number one reason why many will choose the SCC Super Z6 is that it’s designed for vehicles with limited clearance on the driving wheels. Whether you drive a passenger car, SUV or pickup, many won’t have the wheel arch clearance to accommodate snow chains. The Super Z6 will fit most of these vehicle types and will require a clearance of only ¼” for the side walls of the tire. This means that you may be able to use these chains on vehicles that are not usually capable of accommodating tire chains – though you must get professional advice from your dealership before fitting Super Z chains if the vehicle manufacturer doesn’t recommend the use of tire chains.
Installation VIDEO | Peerless Super Z6 & Super Z8
With a diagonal pattern, you get the best traction and excellent braking. The superior design of these snow chains also assists with ABS and other electronically controlled traction management systems. The alloy steel used in the coils offer enhanced durability, so the super Z6 chains can take a good deal of punishment and remain safe for a long time.
You get all the advantages of a premium tire chain and the ease of use that is associated with alternative traction chains. This means that they are easy to fit – there’s no need to move the vehicle when installing and the rubber tightening system means that there’s no need to re-tighten the snow chains after you’ve fitted them to the vehicle.
These snow chains have been engineered for modern vehicles with complicated suspension parts and alloy wheels. Many conventional tire chains will scratch or damage these components, whereas the SCC Super Z6 will not come into contact and scratch or damage your suspension or wheel rims. They will fit most tire sizes from 31 X 11 1.50-50LT up to 325 mm.
Security Chain Company | Radial Chain
✓ TIP : During installation of the chain, ensure that the chain drapes at least 3 inches over each side of the tire from the edge of the tread.
✓ Designed for : light trucks, vans and recreational vehicles.
Features:
- Simple mounting and removal, due to its low weight.
- Improved starting, stopping and cornering performance.
- All steel construction for long service life, featuring Peerless Industrial Group, Inc.’s traction coils instead of traditional steel rollers which flatten easily.
- Smooth ride.
- Application: Light truck
- Construction: Alloy cross member
- Cross member pattern: Ladder
- Tensioners required: No
- Meets Class “S”: No
- Type: Cable
✓ View or download the INSTALLATION GUIDE for the (SCC) radial chain
Overview | Security Chain Company (SCC) radial chain
For an entry-level snow chain cable, the SCC radial chain is a very affordable option and offers incredible durability for something this cheap. This is due to the fact that they are manufactured from stainless steel. You’ll need to check your tire size to see if they will fit – there’s quite a range and you should find a size to fit almost any vehicle. There are two options – one for passenger cars and one for trucks and SUVs.
These tire chains are designed for improved performance when used with radial tires. While they work fine for light snow and low speed (city) driving, don’t expect them to match the performance of high-priced premium snow chains. They’re great for general commuting in light to medium snow.
VIDEO | How to Install the SCC radial chain Tire Chains
They offer reasonable braking and fare well with ABS systems, as long as you’re not too aggressive on the brakes. They’re easy to install but you have to tighten them after driving a short distance. Some people who failed to do this ended up ripping the chains and had to replace them. Fortunately, in these cases, no damage was done to the vehicles.
So if you’re looking for durable snow chains but don’t drive enough on snow or ice to warrant to cost of expensive chains, these are great. If you live in an area where conditions are particularly bad or do a lot of driving in icy conditions, I’d recommend that you go for premium chains. Of course, this means spending quite a lot more.
Security Chain Company | Super Z Series
Shur-Grip (passenger cars) and LT (Light Trucks/SUVs). — Best tire chains.
Great performance from these affordable tire chains. A good value.
Built-in rubber tensioner means there is no need to stop and re-tighten after you’ve installed the tire chains.
Features:
- Fastest, easiest installation of any traction product.
- Better all-around traction performance than conventional tire chains or cables.
- Greater durability than conventional tire chains or cables.
- Better compatibility with anti-lock brakes, traction control, all-wheel drive (AWD) and other electronically monitored control systems.
- MEETS S.A.E. Class “S” clearance requirements or vehicles with limited clearance.
- Low potential for damage to vehicle body and mechanical components, even when abused.
- Application: Light truck
- Construction: Alloy cross member
- Cross member pattern: Diagonal
- Tensioners required: Yes
- Meets Class “S”: Yes
- Type: Cable
✓ View or download the INSTALLATION GUIDE for the SCC Super Z
Overview | Security Chain Company Super Z
The SCC Super Z range comes in two variations – the Shur-Grip series is designed to fit most passenger car tires and the Super Z LT series is designed for SUVs and trucks. While these two variations don’t offer the ultra-low clearance of the Super Z6, they are designed for most modern vehicles with low clearance levels and meet S.A.E Class “S” requirements.
As part of the Z range, you get all the advantages of the Z6 tire chains. They are designed for easy fitment, so there’s no need to move your car while installing and they also have rubber tighteners – you won’t have to adjust them after tightening the first time. They are made from the same durable alloy, so they’re made to last.
INSTALLATION VIDEO | Security Chain Company Super Z
The entire Z range of tire chain/cables offers excellent performance for all conditions. They are designed to assist ABS and electronic traction control systems and can handle aggressive braking. The SCC Super Z range are certainly some of the best tire chains for snow or ice, recommended for all types of vehicles, even those with low wheel clearance.
Peerless Auto-Trac
Impressive technology! Automatically tightens the chain while driving.
Features:
- Patented Automatic Tightening and Centering System: It automatically adjusts and tightens while you drive!
- Easy installation and removal in minutes
- Self-tightening ratchet system ensures a snug fit and eliminates the need to stop and retighten
- Do not exceed 30 MPH with these chains on
- Diamond pattern cross chain provides a smoother ride and superior traction
- Meet class ‘S’ clearance requirements
- Worry-free self-tightening ratchets provide automatic tightening and centering
- Easy installation and removal in minutes
- Application: Passenger/Light Truck
- Construction: Alloy diamond pattern link
- Cross member pattern:
- Tensioners required: No
- Meets Class “S”: Yes
- Type: Link
✓ Peerless TIRE APPLICATION GUIDE. Choose the right tire chains for your specific tires.
Overview | Peerless Auto-Trac
These are the easiest snow chains to install. If you’re not too technically minded or just want to save yourself the hassle of correctly tightening the chains, then the Peerless Auto-Trac is the best tire chain for you.
The Auto-track system will automatically tighten the chains as you drive. Peerless has designed an ingenious ratchet system that will tighten the chains to the perfect tension by using the motion of the wheels. In addition to this, you get all the advantages of the Super Z range. This means no moving or jacking up the car to install and S.A.E Class “S” clearance. They also offer the premium features like advanced traction, better braking, and compatibility with ABS and electronically managed traction control systems.
INSTALLATION VIDEO | Peerless Auto-Trac Tire Chains
There couldn’t be a more convenient way to ensure your safety when driving in snow or ice. The Peerless Auto-Trac tire chain design will ensure that they remain properly fixed to your tires without any effort on your part. You can install them in less than a minute per tire with the simplest procedure of any tire chain and you’ll be sure that they won’t rip loose as you drive.
Learn more about Peerless by visiting their site, a company that’s been around for over 100 years, established in 1917. They began as an automotive tire chain manufacturer and now they’re a highly reputable company officially titled : Peerless Industrial Group, Inc..
Also, you might be interested in viewing a comparison chart of all Peerless tire chains.
Konig | CB12 Passenger Car
Make sure you buy the right size to match your tires.
Features:
- 12 mm inside and on-the-tread clearance
- Manual tensioning system
- Locking device with wheel protections
- Closed shortening hooks
- Provides great traction for your snow blower or garden tractor
- Zinc plated chains for extra durability
- Two link chain spacing provides great traction
- One pair per package
- Chain tightener not included
Overview | Konig CB12
A highly durable tire chain that’s designed for maximum traction. While you don’t get any automatic tensioning, they are made really easy to fit with color coding on the links and a simple installation procedure. You will have to go back and re-tighten the chains after driving a short distance.
INSTALLATION VIDEO | Konig CB12 : Best tire chains
The D-shackle chains are a basic design that’s been tried and tested for many years. While your clearance isn’t too great (about ½”), they perform very well extremely harsh weather conditions. Most people feel that they out-perform the cable design that has become more popular with most manufacturers these days.
This is a reliable old-school technology that is designed with a sole purpose – durability and excellent traction. The 5-year warranty that comes with this product is a testament to their robust design.
König began in 1966 in Lecco, Italy. In 2004 König was acquired by the Swedish company THULE, a company who specializes in products that enable you to transport things you care about.
Security Chain Company | Max Trac
Best tire chains designed exclusively for Snow Blowers and Garden Tractors.
Stay safe and grounded in your snow blower or garden tractor.
Features:
- Provides great traction for your snow blower or garden tractor
- Zinc plated chains for extra durability
- Two link chain spacing provides great traction
- One pair per package
- Chain tightener not included
Overview | SCC Max Trac
If you need heavy duty snow chains for your garden tractor or snow blower, here’s on that will offer outstanding quality and very reasonable price.
The SCC Max Trac is made from highly durable zinc plated chains. For extra traction, two link spacing is used on this thick chain design. They give you that extra traction that you’ll need for these unique conditions.
The SCC Max Trac is designed to meet the specialized needs of these vehicles and come in many sizes to fit just about any wheel size for garden tractors and snow blowers.
Choosing the Correct Tire Chains for your vehicle
This is an area of confusion for many people because tire chains come in a huge variety of sizes. Each size tire chain will fit a number of different tire sizes but it’s very important to get the size that fits your wheels. First check if your vehicle is compatible for use with tire chains – you’ll get this information from your owner’s manual or you can inquire from your dealership. Some vehicles may not have the clearance required for chains.
You need to know your tire size before you can choose the correct tire chains for your car. Every tire has all the information that you’ll need, this is displayed on the side wall of the tire. Many people don’t understand how to use this information. It’s fairly basic, once you get to know what all that stuff stands for.
How to Read Your Tire Size —
Here’s an example of a typical passenger car tire. On the side wall, you will see the following information: P225/75R16. Your tire won’t necessarily have the same numbers and letters because there are so many different sizes when it comes wheel rims and tire sizes. However, the basic information is displayed the same way for all tires and this how you interpret that information.
- The first letter indicates the vehicle type that this tire is used for. In this case, the letter P refers to a passenger car tire.
- The number following this letter gives you the tire width in millimeters. This tire has a tread width of 225mm.
- The number following the slash (/) indicates the aspect ratio of the side wall, most people refer to this as the profile of the tire. In this example, the aspect ratio is 75%, this means that the side wall of the tire has a height that is 75% of the 225mm width (168.75mm).
- The letter following the tire’s aspect ratio describes the tire type. This tire is a radial tire – denoted by the letter R.
- Finally, you have the rim size in inches. This wheel rim has a diameter of 16”.
Most tire chain manufacturers have a list of their products and which tires each product will fit. To choose the correct tire chain for your vehicle you’ll need the width, aspect ratio, and rim size to find the right set of chains for your vehicle. The type of tire isn’t important for choosing the size. Though some chains may be recommended for a certain tire type, this means that if a particular range is recommended for radial tires, they are best suited for tires with the letter R before the rim size.
Regardless of which tire chain range you choose, you’ll still need to make sure that you select the correct size. So for the tire that we’ve used as an example, you’ll find it on the list looking something like this: 225/75-16. You’ll notice that there are no letters (only the relevant numbers). This is because, you’re choosing the chains according to the size of your tire, not the type. The numbers will always be in the same order as they are displayed on your tire – Width; Aspect Ratio; Wheel Rim.
How many snow chains do you need for your car?
Tire chains for snow will usually come in sets of two. For most cars, two chains are enough because you’ll be fitting one for each of the driving wheels. Front wheel drive cars will need one for each of the front wheels and rear wheel drive cars will need one for each of the rear wheels.
How to fit snow chains onto your tires
As you’ve seen in this review, some snow chains for tires are easier to fit than others. Those that automatically re-tighten and don’t require that you move the car or jack it up will be much easier to install than standard designs. This step-by-step guide to fitting snow chains will cover the more difficult option. You should check your instruction manual that comes with your tire chains to find more details for the particular snow chains that you’re using. You may be able to skip some of these steps, depending on the design of your snow chains.
VIDEO | Typical Installation for Winter Tire Chains
- Park your car on a flat surface that’s easy to work on and engage the parking brake.
- Unpack your tire chains and lay them flat with no kinks or tangles.
- You’ll be fitting the chains to the driving wheels of the vehicle. Front wheels for front wheel drive, rear wheels for rear wheel drive.
- Many snow chains have a ring that fits on the side wall of the inside section of the tire (the back of the tire inside the wheel arch). This means that you’ll need to reach around the back of tire and place this ring around the sidewall of the tire. When you place this ring around the tire, be sure to leave the open connection at the bottom of the tire. Once the ring is in the correct position, connect it at the bottom.
- Position the chain evenly around the wheel with the links evenly spaced. You’ll obviously not be able to do this on the portion of the tire that’s in contact with the ground. Make sure that the tire chain is properly fitted to the entire exposed tread of the tire.
- You’ll now repeat this procedure on the other driving wheel.
- Once all the chains are properly in position, only the bottom of the tire (where it makes contact with the road) still needs to be done. So you’ll need to drive the car forward slightly to enable you to cover this part of the tire.
- Now secure the chains onto the remaining part of the tire and connect the closing link to tighten the chains.
- Once the snow chains are properly tightened, drive for about fifty yards at low speed. Park the vehicle and re-tighten the chains once they have found their driving position on the tires.
- To remove the chains, you simply need to release the ring and lay the chains flat on the road. You then drive forward until your wheels are no longer on top of the chains. You can now freely pick them up and pack them away for the next time that you’ll need them.
Driving with snow chains
Fitting snow chains incorrectly or not using them correctly can result in damage to the chains or your vehicle and can also affect your safety. To ensure that you use your snow chains correctly, follow these few tips.
- Never drive too fast when using tire chains. Your owner’s manual will give you the maximum safe speed for driving with chains. The recommended safe speed for driving with snow chains is usually 30mph-50mph.
- It’s not advisable to drive on dry roads with snow chains. Doing this for any extended period will damage the chains. Snow chains will also negatively affect your braking performance on dry road surfaces.
- Rapid acceleration that causes the wheels to spin, may easily damage the chains and may also cause them to come loose.
- Always install snow chains on the driving wheels only.
- Fit the snow chains correctly and ensure that they are properly tightened.
Tips for driving in snow and ice
Preparing your vehicle for winter is always important. Have your car checked by a professional before winter sets in. Some automatic transmissions can slip in icy weather and there are additives to help prevent this. It’s important to consult a professional because not all transmission systems are able to use certain additives.
VIDEO | Tips for Winter Driving
Always try to keep your gas tank filled to at least half of its capacity during winter. This will help prevent your gas lines from freezing up. If you live in an area where snow chains are required, make sure that they are in your car and in good condition. Make sure your wiper blades are in good condition – poor visibility is a major cause of road accidents. Always make sure that your tires are in good condition with sufficient tread and never mix different tire types.
Getting your vehicle properly prepared is the first step in ensuring your safety this winter. Following proper driving procedures is the most important part of staying safe on the roads.
Your main aim when driving on a slippery road surface is controlling traction. Even if you’re using snow chains and your vehicle has traction control and ABS, you’ll need to adjust your driving style to the road conditions. When you accelerate too aggressively, the power to the driving wheels will easily cause the wheels to lose traction and start spinning. This means you should always apply the accelerator more gently when driving on snow or ice. If your wheels start to spin, slowly lift your foot from the accelerator until traction is restored. Accelerating up a hill or pulling away on a slope is often where most people run into trouble. Try to use the minimum amount power and go slower than you would when the road is dry.
You should also apply your brakes more gently to avoid going into a skid. Most modern cars are fitted with Anti-locking Braking Systems (ABS). This will prevent your brakes from locking up and thereby prevent you going into an uncontrollable skid. What you have to remember about ABS is that it works by stopping the flow of brake fluid to the wheel or wheels that lock up during braking. Sensors on the wheels detect when they stop turning (while the other wheels are turning). When this happens, a computerized system activates a valve to restrict the flow of brake fluid to the affected wheel. This means that your brakes will not function as well on slippery roads and your car will take longer to slow down. You should also try and avoid coming to a complete standstill unless you absolutely have you. You require much less traction to get moving from a rolling start.
You need to be patient in bad weather and allow for a longer traveling time. Driving slower will give you a longer reaction time. This will reduce the need to apply the brakes too hard or make any sudden turns that could easily send the car into an uncontrollable slide. Because you need a longer reaction time and your brakes are not as effective on slippery roads, always increase your following distance. You need twice as much space between yourself and the vehicle in front of you in adverse driving conditions.
Driving in bad weather requires you to be vigilant and aware of what other road users are doing. The sooner you react to a situation, the more time you have to take corrective action and get out of it safely. Being more visible to other drivers helps them to do the same, so remember to use your headlights and fog lights in bad weather.