Jack Williams

Snow Chains: A Primer

The snowy season is upon us, and if you've spent any time at all driving in heavily falling snow, you may be wondering whether it's time to invest in a set of tire chains before the next snowstorm.

Snow chains or cables will vary widely in cost, ranging anywhere from $30 - $200 per pair. As with most products, expect to get what you pay for.

Ideally, you should mount snow chains on all four of your wheels, but if budget considerations limit you to a single pair of chains, mount them on your vehicle's drive wheels. If you have an all-wheel drive vehicle, mount the chains on either the front or rear wheels.

Snow chains offer additional traction at low speeds when the road surface is covered in a layer of snow or ice. If the road surface is clear, however, snow chains can be problematic. Like anything that gets between your tire and the road surface, chains reduce the effective size of a tire's contact patch. Suspension, handling, and antilock braking performance can all be affected by the presence of snow chains.

If you buy snow chains, you don't want your first installation to take place on a dark roadside during a blizzard. Practice attaching them to your wheels in well-lit, dry conditions beforehand. If you know snow is on the way, attach the chains before the flakes start to fall.

In most states, tire chain use is permitted as long as the chains do not damage the surface of the roadway. In those states, a driver whose snow chains damage the roadway surface may potentially be held liable for any necessary repairs to the road. AAA maintains a list of state laws regarding snow chain use, which is available here. Check with your police department or municipal authorities to see if there are any local regulations governing your use of snow chains.

[Photo credit: Oregon Department of Transportation, used under CC-by-2.0 license]