Put Snow Chains on Tires

• TASK: Put chains on the tires of your vehicle in order to ensure that your car has better grip on snowy & icy roads.
• CONDITIONS: Given a vehicle, a set of chains, and snow-covered roads.
• STANDARD: You must be able to correctly attach snow chains to the tires of your vehicle.

​If you travel through the mountains or in snowy areas, you’re going to need to put chains on your vehicle at some point. Chains provide your tires with additional bite to get a better grip on the road and keep you safe.

There are many different kinds of chains so be sure to keep the instruction manual that is unique to your particular set of chains. Also, some vehicle manufacturers recommend that you only use chains on two tires rather than all four. Be sure to consult the vehicle owner's manual and follow any specific guidance.

Regardless of specific techniques or requirements, there are some steps that are common to all makes, models, and style of chains that you should be able to perform when it’s time to put chains on your vehicle:

Secure
Make sure that you stay safe while you’re putting the chains on the tires.

• Pull over on the shoulder as far as you can.
• Turn on your hazard lights.
• Wear warm clothes.

Attach
Wrap and lock the chains on to the tires.

• Lay out all four chains in front of your tires. Make sure that connectors are facing away from the tire.
• Get back in the vehicle and roll it slightly forward so that the tires are resting on the chains.
• Follow the instructions that came with the chains to connect them to the tires.
• Make sure to take up as much slack as you can when tightening the chains to the tire.

Test
Make sure that the chains are securely attached before driving long distances.

• Drive a very short distance to test that the chains are connected securely.
• Check the chains on each tire to make sure that they’re still attached tightly. Tighten them down if there is any slack.

​Drive
Now that you’re ready, make sure to adjust your driving style to account for the chains and road conditions.

• You shouldn’t go over 30 mph with chains on your vehicle.
• If you hear any noises indicating that the chains are hitting the body of your vehicle, stop right away and try to fix the problem. If you don’t, the chains can seriously damage your vehicle.

Remove
Once you’re clear of the snow and ice, it’s time to take the chains off your vehicle. Driving with chains on bare pavement will damage the road and your vehicle.

• Follow the instructions from the Secure section above.
• Loosen and disconnect the chains.
• If the chains are trapped under the tires, simply roll the vehicle forward slightly to free the chains.
• When you get home, be sure to let the chains dry before storing them back in your trunk.

Sources

• Les Schwab