Snow Chains

Snow chains (also called tire chains) are an apparatus that help provide your vehicle with maximum traction when driving through ice or snow. Snow chains are attached to the “drive wheels” of your car. While they lower fuel efficiency and significantly reduce your speed, they do make it much easier, and safer, to drive in poor weather conditions. Many states in America actually enforce laws that require snow chains be used in certain conditions.

Brands

Snow chains can be purchased at various distributors such as auto garages or retail stores that specialize in auto parts and accessories. The two main types of snow chains are grip tire chains and square link tire chains. Grip chains are the traditional type, and are very easy to install and are usually very high-quality. The diamond pattern chains are the best-selling tire chains in North America, thanks to their smooth ride, durability, and affordability. Square link tire chains are made from high quality steel, and provide the best traction and grip on ice and snow. They are intended for highway use.

Safety

Snow chains help improve your traction during poor road conditions caused by snow and ice, and as such are one of the most popular safety additions to a vehicle during the winter months. They can prevent accidents and serious injury by allowing your vehicle to drive during snowstorms. By keeping snow chains in your trunk, you can be ready at all times in case the weather takes a sudden turn for the worse.

Benefits

While some people choose to purchase all-weather tires or snow tires, there are some benefits to using snow chains instead. For starters, chains are less expensive than tires. Chains are also very easy to install. They are a temporary solution during winter, and you can put them on right before or even during a snowstorm. You can also keep them in your trunk in case a situation arises where you need them (although some chains can be difficult to put on when your car is already in the snow).

Drawbacks

There are some drawbacks to snow chains, however, the biggest being driving speed. When using snow chains, the suggested maximum speed is 30 MPH. Driving any faster than that can cause the chains to fall off, which can potentially damage your vehicle or other vehicles. Driving on dry roads with chains can be unsafe, as it may cause the car to slide when braking. Driving with the chains on may also be unpleasant, as it may make the ride bumpy and noisy.

Cost

During snowstorm season, snow chains generally cost around $100. The best time to buy snow chains is during the summer, as most stores will sell a set of chains for somewhere between $30 and $50 when they are not in a season. SUV and truck chains, however, can cost anywhere between $115 and $200 for the set, depending on the brand and tire size. This is still cheaper than purchasing snow tires, however, which often costs around $100 a tire.