Owning a car requires maintenance and safety measures, especially when you live in an area with harsh winters. Moreover, winters can be dangerous when the roads have sheets of slippery ice or snow covering them. In that case, snow chains will be your savior! But, how to put on snow chains?
All you have to do is lay the chains on the ground and drape it around your tires. Then, further, connecting the chain to secure it. First, however, you need to make sure that you have parked your car in a safe location.
If you want to understand better how to put on snow chains, make sure to read this article till the end.
What Are Snow Chains?
A snow chain is a physical pair of chains specially made for tires. Moreover, these are metal chains that make the set sturdier. Therefore, auto enthusiasts refer to them as tire chains, as well.
These unique sets of chains will improve your vehicle’s traction ability during the winter. Unfortunately, some tires cannot withstand the extremely snowy and slippery terrain during the winter. Therefore, making it a risk to drive your car through the ice.
To prevent that, people wrap snow chains around the tires. However, there are no specific tires to which these chains are compatible. You can use them on standard, winter, or even all-season tires.
The main motive is to boost the tire’s traction capacity. This way, your car can maneuver smoothly through the snowed-in roads or places. Further, you can buy the best tire chains for your vehicles to keep yourself safe while driving in the winter.
Steps Involved in Putting on Snow Chains
The question “how to put on snow chains” is a relevant one asked by people living through a harsh winter. Furthermore, during a stormy night, the roads cover themselves with sheets of unstable snow. It can contribute to many road accidents due to slipperiness.
What if you are on the road and it starts to snow? And, you have access to a snow chain but have no idea what to do with it. Therefore, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the process.
Pull Over in a Good Spot
Even if you are driving on an empty road, finding a parking spot off the road is sensible. Moreover, this process might take longer than expected, and there might be incoming traffic.
It would be best if you tried to get far away from the road. Further, parking in a road shoulder or an unoccupied parking lot is plausible. However, make sure to select a spot that has firm and flat ground.
Therefore, choosing a good parking spot is a necessary step both for safety and easy installation. At the same time, make sure that your tires are straight so that the snow chains perfectly align with them.
Know Your Car’s Drive Setup
There are some off-road wheels for trucks that might not require snow chains due to their traction capacity. However, most all-season tires will need the assistance of a snow chain to reduce slippage. Before putting on your snow chain, you need to know your car’s drive setup.
Does your vehicle drive on the front wheels or rear wheels? Once you figure it out, it is child’s play to understand which tires get the chain. For example, if your car has front-wheel drive, the snow chains go there!
In some cases, your car will have an all-wheel-drive setup. What to do then? Some auto enthusiasts believe that it is best to put them on all four. Moreover, it can give you maximum balance and traction in the winter.
Others believe that securing it to the front wheels is enough. However, ensure to read through your owner’s manual to get the precise answer!
Chaining Your Tire
Before you start putting the tire chains, get some snow goggles and preferably some gloves. Further, ensuring you stay safe from the cold. At the same time, you can put something on the ground to protect your clothes from wetness and dirt.
Once you prepped your scene, it is time to take out the snow chains. Every box will have a pair of snow chains. Moreover, it comes with an instruction manual that you can refer to.
You need to take it out and undo any twists on it. Further, ensuring that it hangs loose in a web form. You will witness two ends of different colors – blue and yellow.
With your right hand, you need to hold the blue end. Consequently, using your left hand to hold up the yellow end separating it. Further, you have to lay it on the ground beside the tire you will wrap it around.
Securing the Chains
Now, how to put on snow chains? Once you have laid the snow chains down, slip them behind your wheel from right to left. Moreover, the yellow end needs to stay behind the tire till the snow chain has a central positioning. Further, keeping the “pointy” parts of your snow chain facing out.
After that, you need to slide the blue into the yellow end to join them together at the top. Moreover, tugging them together to keep them secure. Finally, you will see the fastening system to be either hooks, clips, or loops.
Consequently, taking the red or green outer hook and connecting it to the opposite side’s chain link. This hook situates itself opposite the cable connection, which is at the top of your tire. Further, forming somewhat of a diamond shape.
Next, you need to find a red draw chain. Moreover, you will find it at the bottom with a bungee cord. Further, pull it to make it tighten and secure it through the guide loop on the opposite side.
Checking the Snow Chains
Drive forward fifteen feet by turning your steering wheel. Moreover, allowing the snow chain to settle on your tires. Further, this will ensure the tightness is perfect. If it is not, follow the step to tighten them for better functionality.
Final Words
Putting on snow chains on tires is relatively easy if you follow the steps properly. Moreover, snow chains will ensure that your tires have the best functionality during the winter. Going on a trip? Don’t forget to take a look at our Thule vs. Yakima cargo boxes review.
Now that you know how to put on snow chains, you can drive during a snowy winter!
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