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Get Out Of A Rut With The Best Tire Chains For Snow And Winter Driving

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Last Updated: May 3, 2024, 1:20 p.m.

While snow days can be a fun and exciting time, driving in winter can be risky and unpredictable. Regardless of how well-planned your roadways are, most streets become treacherous under slippery layers of ice, and driving uphill with a set of standard vehicle tires can become fatally dangerous.

Although snow tires are designed to create traction on loose surfaces like snow, they are no match for extreme icy road conditions. To make your winter driving safer and easier, choose the winter-driving solution invented way back in 1904 – tire chains. Tire chains envelop your car tires to provide traction in the worst weather conditions.

Before hitting the snowy roads with your friends or family, make sure your tires are covered with a reliable set of snow chains. In case you are searching for the right pair, here’s a list of our choices for the quality tire chains in 2023 that you can buy.

Finding Your Next Tire Chains for Snow: A Buyer’s Guide

Considering how many states are enacting laws for tire chains, their use has become more of a necessity than a choice. It doesn’t matter if you have replaced your standard car tires with winter tires, you may have to buy a set of tire chains to cover you in case things get out of hand. While tire chains may not differ in terms of type or model, their quality or pattern is something you should pay attention to. If you’re a beginner who’s planning your first trip up north, make sure you have the gear ready to cruise on the icy roads.

Features to Consider When Buying a Tire Chain

Buying a pair of tire chains for the first time can be challenging. If you are having a hard time handling all the fuss, here are some features you should pay attention to when buying a tire chain for your vehicle.

Chain material

Although the first tire chains invented were made out of rope, innovation has come a long way since then. Even though the majority of tire chains are made out of iron or steel alloy, they are not the only type you will find. The recent addition of rubber tire chains into the industry has offered new options for car owners. These tire chains are an adaptive, convenient, and often cheaper substitute for steel chains. However, unlike their metallic counterparts, rubber tire chains may not be as effective on snow as they are on regular off-road tracks. Metal chains, on the other hand, while sometimes inconvenient, uncomfortable, and potentially damaging, are still your best option for finding traction on slippery ice terrain. Regular steel is prone to corrosion, which makes it perishable after a few days of driving. When choosing steel for a tire chain, make sure it is electro-galvanized or coated for protection against rust.

Chain classification

If you live in or are heading to a place where tire chains are mandatory by law, tire chain classification matters a lot. The classification of the chain determines the durability and performance value of a tire chain. Carried out by the SAE, or Society of Automotive Engineers, every tire chain is allotted a certain class regarded as the metric for choosing a tire chain. Class S tire chains are non-reinforced and may damage the wheels of vehicles that are not designed for them. Class U tire chains exhibit no clearance but are installed with lugs under normal circumstances. For domestic or individual use, Class S chains are normally the best option.

Tensioning setup

A tire chain should strictly adhere to your tires for enhanced grip on loose snowy surfaces. However, as the tires spin and roll on the surface, the tension between the chain and the tire usually decreases, meaning a loss of traction. This may damage the wheel well and put your life at risk. Although drivers have had to manually tighten the tire chains on older tire chains, innovations in the industry have automated the process. Most modern tire chains come with a self-tensioning mechanism. The technology uses rachets at regular intervals on the circumference of the chain, tightening the chain steadily as the car moves forward. Unlike the chains, ratchets aren’t made out of steel and may break with usage. Even though they are replaceable, it is difficult to find a quality tensioning setup that is compatible with the chain unit.

Disassembly mechanism

You aren’t just going to keep riding on snowy tracks, which means you’d need to take the chains off when you get to the clear patch of the road. While they enhance your control over the vehicle and grip on the road, tire chains can sometimes be a hassle to attach and detach. No one likes to wait on the side of the road while disengaging the chains. Fortunately, modern tire chains are equipped with an automatic quick-release functionality that removes the chains as soon as you press a button or pull a lever. What makes this technology reliable is that the automatic release does not engage unless you interact with it. The mechanism is intricately designed to make it less likely to engage itself due to an accident.

Types of Tire Chains

Apart from the construction material, one thing that distinguishes tire chains from each other is their design pattern. Based on their pattern design, tire chains can be categorized into three types:

Diamond chains

These are conventional tire chains with chain links laid out or connected in a diamond-shaped pattern. The chain acts as a loose mesh covering your tire. You can change the density of the diamond patches depending on the amount of snow you are expecting. The tire chain should have smaller gaps when faced with deep snowy tracks.

Cable chains

Inspired by the original tire chains, cable chains feature linked metal cables that run around the circumference of the tire. A streamlined and lightweight option, these chains can go with most cars. However, their lower profile makes it only suitable for low to medium amounts of snow.

Other alternatives

A recent innovation has become more sophisticated with the advent of rubber tire chains. Solving the issues people often faced with metal chains – a heavyweight, bulky design and difficult installation process – some tire grippers are not made out of thick fabric. Due to tiny protruding threads, they offer optimum road grip but can wear out much more easily than metal options.

Conclusion

Paired with careful driving, tire chains can keep you in control of your ride on icy smooth tracks. Before planning a winter trip with your friends and family, make sure to clad your tires with road chains for a safe, fun, and adventurous trip. We have curated a list of the five best tire chains for snow you should consider buying, along with a detailed guide to make the process easier. While they offer you better traction on snow, it’s up to you how you navigate your car in inclement weather. Drive safe!

Top Picks

Best Overall: Peerless 0232805 Auto-Trac Tire Chain
Highest-Rated: Security Chain Sz143 Super Z6 Cable Tire Chain
Quiet Option: Autosock 697 Snow Socks Tire Chains
Most Affordable: Glacier 1046 Passenger Cable Tire Chain
Also Consider: Fun-Driving 2021 Upgraded Tire Chains

Reviews

Best Overall

Peerless 0232805 Auto-Trac Tire Chain

Pros	Cons
Alloy-steel construction for enhanced durability Self-tightening technology for better grip Cleared for SUVs and light trucks	Size adjusting may be difficult

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Highest-Rated

Security Chain Sz143 Super Z6 Cable Tire Chain

Pros	Cons
Durable rubber construction design The in-built tensioner provides a reliable fit Low operating space inside the tire sidewall	May suffer performance loss in heavy snowfall

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Quiet Option

Autosock 697 Snow Socks Tire Chains

Pros	Cons
Won’t damage alloy rims Approved by USDOT and leading car manufacturers Lightweight and reusable design	Less durable than other tire chains

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Most Affordable

Glacier 1046 Passenger Cable Tire Chain

Pros	Cons
Sturdy alloy steel rollers for durable road grip Lightweight design with easy installation SAE approved for safety	May deteriorate with extended use

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Also Consider

Fun-Driving 2021 Upgraded Tire Chains

Pros	Cons
Chain links are coated for heavy-duty tasks Quick and easy assembly and disassembly Ratchet roll mechanism for convenient tensioning	Chains may damage the internal sidewalls of the wheels

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FAQs

Can chains damage my tires?

Chains do not damage your tires as long as you are driving on deep snow or icy tracks. However, if you keep driving with chained tires on paved roads, they can ruin your tires and the road surface over time.

What is the ideal speed when riding with chains on?

Even though chains provide a better grip on snow, be a cautious driver. The ideal speed when driving on snow with chains on is under 30 mph to prevent unnecessary accidents.

Do snow socks help in deep snow?

Although snow socks are a substitute for many tire chains, they remain ineffective in deep snow. While the tiny threads add grip on loose tracks, they remain inefficient in providing traction on piles of snow drift.