{"id":51204,"date":"2025-01-19T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-19T11:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snowtrex.de\/magazin\/?p=51204"},"modified":"2025-10-30T13:13:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T12:13:12","slug":"snow-chains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snowtrex.co.uk\/magazine\/equipment\/snow-chains\/","title":{"rendered":"Snow chains – driving aids that provide the right grip on snow and ice in winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

An untouched layer of fresh snow is a dream come true for every winter sports enthusiast, at least on the piste. As a car driver, however, you are less likely to welcome such weather conditions on the road. Especially in the mountains, snow and ice on the tarmac push almost all winter tyres to their limits. In such cases, it is the good old snow chains that provide the necessary grip in alpine terrain or on snow-covered mountain passes and prevent skidding. But when and where do snow chains need to be fitted? How much time do drivers need to fit them and what is important when choosing the right driving aid? Questions upon questions that SnowTrex<\/a> now answers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Tomasz Koryl\/Shutterstock<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
After heavy snowfall in winter, getting through on many roads in the mountains is often only possible with snow chains<\/div>\n <\/div > \n
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\n Index\n <\/div>\n
\n The success story of snow chains<\/span><\/a>The right size: only a suitable snow chain will help<\/span><\/a>Cost of snow chains<\/span><\/a>Fitting the driving aids needs to be practised<\/span><\/a>Smooth ride, undamaged material<\/span><\/a>Rules for snow chains at home and abroad<\/span><\/a>Snow chains need to be looked after<\/span><\/a>FAQs on snow chains<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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The success story of snow chains<\/h2>\n

The US American Harry D. Weed is considered the inventor of modern snow chains. In August 1904, he applied for a patent for “tyre chains” in New York. However, his application did not even mention snow. Weed did not want to use his invention in winter, but all year round. In early 20th century America, horse-drawn carriages, carts and later the first cars had to battle with road conditions time and again. Asphalt surfaces were initially reserved for the big cities and so the unpaved roads in the countryside turned into muddy tracks after a short, heavy rain shower. The journeys through the terrain were correspondingly arduous. And this fact gave Harry Weed the idea for his “Tire Chains”.<\/p>\n

After registering his patent, the New Yorker initially earned a lot of ridicule, but the great potential of his tyre chains quickly became apparent at various sales events. And as a monopolist, Weed’s company produced without competition until well into the 1950s. During this period, the product also reached snowy regions such as the Rocky Mountains in the USA, where the use of snow chains was ultimately much more in demand. Unlike on the barely slushy, tarmac roads in many other top-flat US states. Nevertheless, the snow chain business collapsed after Weed’s death in 1961. A few years later, the patent was even cancelled completely. It was an opportunity for other manufacturers to try their hand at producing snow chains, including some in Europe. They developed the snow chains, which were initially heavy and complicated to fit, so radically that today, in the 21st century, they are an essential part of any car’s winter equipment.<\/p>\n

The right size: only a suitable snow chain will help<\/h2>\n

Drivers are completely free to choose which snow chains they want. The most important thing, however, is that they fit the tyres perfectly. If a snow chain is too small, drivers won’t be able to fit it on the tyre at all. A snow chain that is too large has several disadvantages. On the one hand, too loose a fit on the tyre results in a barely measurable improvement in traction in the snow. The reason for this is the fact that the snow chain slips off the tyre within the first few metres. As a result, they do not sit properly and cannot “claw” into the cold ground for support. In addition, the massive chain links can hit the bodywork or the wheel carrier due to the rotation of the tyre and quickly cause major damage.<\/p>\n

The right snow chain can prevent this. And finding one is actually quite simple. Snow chains are available in many different sizes. However, this is due to the wide range of car tyres available. This is because the overall design of the tyre depends on many different parameters. For example, the size and width of the rim or the thickness of the tyre wall. All three dimensions can be easily read off the outside of the rubber rollers. The tyre size is stamped here in the form of a standardised combination of numbers and letters. The whole thing reads something like this: 205\/55 R16.<\/p>\n

Here, the first three digits describe the tyre width and thus effectively also the width of the rim of 205 millimetres. The second number after the slash shows the height and width ratio of the tyre as a percentage. In this case, this means that the height of the tyre sidewall is exactly 55% of the tyre width of 205 mm. The “R” is the only letter that stands for “Radial” and thus for the design of the tyre. Last but not least, the number after the “R” indicates the diameter of the rim in inches. And it is precisely this “code” that is ultimately decisive for the size of the snow chains. This is because the size of the tyre is also stated on the packaging of the metal driving aids. This information alone tells the driver at a glance whether they are holding the right size snow chains for their car.<\/p>\n

Three different types of snow chains are generally sold. Their properties differ as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
Snow chain type
\n<\/strong><\/th>		Properties of the snow chain
\n<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Rope chains
\n<\/td>		Most favourable price, space-saving and light weight
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ring chains
\n<\/td>		Easy mounting on tyres, largest product selection and many branded products as bargains
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Quick assembly chains
\n<\/td>		Uncomplicated installation on the tyre, often available as an optional extra and stable construction
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Cost of snow chains<\/h2>\n

Buying a new pair of snow chains today costs between 50 and 250 euros. Drivers should be aware that the price varies depending on the type of chain. Classic cable chains are traditionally inexpensive. Ring chains are next in the price table. They are now sold most frequently by manufacturers, which means that customers have the widest choice in the shops. The easy-to-install quick-assembly chains, on the other hand, are at the upper end of the price scale. This is due to the fact that adapters are supplied in addition to the chains themselves. They serve as a bracket and can also be mounted directly on aluminium rims. Drivers who don’t drive in the mountains that often in winter can also save money on snow chains. Car accessory dealers also offer snow chains for hire for your holiday.<\/p>\n

Fitting the driving aids needs to be practised<\/h2>\n

Cold fingers, heavy snowfall, unfamiliar technology and perhaps even deep darkness. By nature, the conditions for fitting snow chains in the open air are anything but ideal. It is therefore advisable for every driver who wants to drive into the mountains in winter to literally carry out “dry runs” at home before setting off on holiday. Whether in the driveway, in the garage or on an empty building site or supermarket car park: fitting the snow chains completely without stress and studying the fitting instructions supplied intensively before or afterwards will help enormously if the worst comes to the worst on a snow-covered Alpine pass.<\/p>\n

And if an “emergency” really does occur there, then it is absolutely advisable for drivers to have the right equipment with them. This includes warm gloves – lined work gloves if possible – a high-visibility waistcoat, a torch and a work mat. This serves to keep your knees reasonably dry in the snow. As it is almost impossible to fit snow chains to a car that is already stuck in the snow, the experts have one piece of advice: if the weather conditions require it, for example on a mountain pass road, pull over directly to the right on a flat area, switch on the hazard warning lights and put on the high-visibility waistcoat.<\/p>\n

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How to Install Quick-Fit Snow Chains - Les Schwab<\/div><\/div>
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