How to Put on a Snow Chain

When those roads get slick and your four-wheel drive doesn't make you feel safe enough or your two-wheel drive won't move it's time to learn how to put on your snow chains. Most people are scared of the idea of putting on tire chains, but once you take the mystery out of it, you'll find it's really as easy as 1, 2, 3. And the time it takes will save you from the white knuckles and cold sweats when driving without chains.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hazardous Driving Conditions
• The right size snow chains for your tires
• A tightener tool

1. Place chains over each tire making sure they are square on the tire square means making sure they are even on each side of the tire and evenly placed 50% in front and 50% in back with the hooks hanging in toward opposing hooks. If you can you can try to toss the chain hooks or links in toward each other.

2. Get in and drive vehicle forward enough to have the front facing part of chain go under tire and come out on the back side of tire. You don't want to drive to far forward otherwise the chain will fall off the tire. So you just want to drive enough so that it's easy to pick the chain on the ground up and hook it easily to the end on the tire. Hook the inside hooks first and then work the outside. This makes it easier.

3. Get out and hook chain ends together use leverage tool to tighten binders. You will want to take extra slack out of chain by driving forward again getting out again loosening binders or buckles taking slack out of chain by trying to get the inside and outside hooks into a new links. Use your tool again to tighten buckles or binders and you should get a nice tight fit. I will usually drive about an mile or two before stopping and just making sure they are tight. Loose chains can do damage to your vehicle. Don't take the chance. Never go faster then between 30 and 45 miles an hour. If you become really good at getting them tight you can go 50, but just remember why you put them on in the first place. Be safe.

Tips & Warnings

• Chains are usually required in hazardous conditions so be sure to have some warm clothes and gloves to do the job.
• Make sure you are out of the way of traffic to avoid an accident
• Chains vary in design but they all have to be tightened in some way get familiar with your design.
• Have a few rubber bungee chords on hand because as you tighten the chains the links you bypass will hit or fender or the ground so hook them back to the chain and you're good to go!
• Chains break when they get hot so take them off when you think its safe to do so.
• It's a good idea to have an extra tightening tool cause sometimes they strip during the binding process.
• If you keep your chains from getting hot and and breaking and wash them after each use you will be able to use them again and again. Always check them for breaks in linkage before use.

[apalmer]

on 2/16/2009 I'm going to keep these instructions on hand for future reference. Knowing me the only thing that would get chained to the tire is me! 5*

[funkshun]

on 2/2/2009 Growing up in CO these were a requirement for the mountains. Well written!

[brantsbabe]

on 1/28/2009 I tried this once when I was in college and it was a disaster. I ended up with a bunch of broken fingernails and near frostbite. You make it sound so easy though. Thanks. 5*

[HouseofSimone]

on 1/27/2009 Thanks for the great info...as a single-mom, I feel more empowered with this knowledge :-)

[hellow99]

on 1/26/2009 You're kidding. I didn't know it was that easy. 5*