Best Tire Chains for Trucks/Suv/Cars/ATVs
Snow days are always very challenging for vehicle owners because when you drive in ice or snow, you’re at the risk of having an accident due to the slick conditions and on top of that, your journey is slowed down significantly. During winter, if you live in a place with high snow intensity, then you know that being safe on the road goes beyond just driving safely and no matter you cars wheel system, be it a front, rear or 4 wheel drive.
To get necessary stability and make driving in snow as safe as possible, it’s very important to make use of tire chains at all times. To get a firm, secure and safer grip with tire chains you will need to know vital things about tire chains and that is exactly what this guide will do for you.
Top 5 Best Snow Tire Chains on the Market:
In as much as picking the right size of snow chain is important to get the additional traction needed for your vehicle, the multitude of tire chain brands and types on the market makes it all the more tedious than ever to get the right chains that’ll increase your overall driving safety around curves or hills. This guide will help you every step of the way starting with the five best tire chains.
If you don`t have time to read the whole article, Here are our top 5 picks:
What exactly is a Tire Chain?
A tire chain is a special type of metal chain designed to fit securely and neatly around tires of cars, trucks and almost any type of vehicle. These chains vary in types and design and although some high-speed tire chains can handle speeds as high as 90MPH but most of them work below 30MPH.
In as much as picking the right size of snow chain is important to get the additional traction needed for your vehicle, the multitude of tire chain brands and types on the market makes it all the more tedious than ever to get the right chains that’ll increase your overall driving safety around curves or hills. This guide will help you every step of the way starting with the five best tire chains.
5Thule K-Summit Low Profile Light Truck / SUV Snow Chain
As one of the easiest tire chains to install that’s currently available on the market, the Thule K-Summit is an external mounted snow chain that has quality and durable value as much as it has strength and traction. There’s only one pre-adjustment fitting needed after which fitting the tire chains take less than one minute no matter the weather conditions and it has a 30mph speed limit. The Thule k summit ensures that no matter the wheel well your vehicle has, you do not have suspension clearance problems.
Features
- Designed for cars and SUVs.
- Superlative performance in heavy snowstorms.
- Auto self-centering and tensioning.
- Steel quality provides smaller gauge and a comfortable ride.
- Comes with Thule’s 5 year warranty.
4Glacier 1046 Passenger Cable Tire Chain
The Glacier 1046 by Glacier cables features durable cross cable members and hardened steel rollers. This snow tire chain has a low-profile design that won’t cause harsh bumps while you drive or knock around on your wheels and it comes in a pair of type S chains that work perfectly on passenger vehicles. While you are assured that, it won’t void your car’s warranty, it will also not compromise your comfort and with its very notable versatility, the Glacier 1046 works well on both front and rear wheel vehicles. It meets all requirements for cable traction devices, has a 90-day warranty meaning you can count on it for mild snowstorms.
Features
- Durable and sturdy traction
- Low profile design
- 90-day warranty
3Peerless 0232605 auto trac traction chain
These peerless 0232605 auto-trac snow chains are designed for SUVs or light duty trucks. It has a self-centering and tightening ratchet that makes constantly re-tightening the chains easier. It has a diamond patterned cross chains that makes the ride smoother with great grip and low profile design unlike many others means it cannot be used at a speed above 30 miles an hour. With this chain, there’s no need for additional chain tensioner because of the manufacturers wonderful patented tensioning system and of course it meets the class S clearance requirements.
Features
- Features self-tightening and centering system
- Easy installation
- Easily stored in a nylon case
2Security Chain Company Super Z6 Tire Chain
This is one of the best snow chains for 4×4 trucks, cars, SUVs and virtually every type of car there is and it gives a satisfying blend of convenience and performance. The security chain company super z6 cable tire chain comes in a set of two, sturdy and durable design and an initial installation that takes about 6 minutes (per wheel) with no need to move the vehicle. It’s made with rubber tighteners which means there’s no need for re-tightening once installation is done and it has great traction in deep packed snow. It’s perfectly compatible all electronically monitored systems.
Features
- Features efficient rubber tighteners.
- Compact design for your wheel well.
- Auto adjusted chains.
1Thule 12mm XG12 Pro Deluxe
This is essentially a premium product with quality and innovative design from a top-notch brand. With this chain, the installation is precise and with a little practice, it’s easy to get on and off and you also get excellent grip that even 4 wheel drives won’t offer in severe weather conditions. These Thule tire chains can be fitted for tires of sizes ranging from 225 – 255 and all the clearance that’s needed to wear them is 12mm. It features anti-scratch bumpers that protect your alloy rims against damage and its double chains have a special pattern that helps to grab packed snow much more efficiently.
Features
- Comes with a 5 year warranty.
- Innovation design provides premium traction.
- Easy to put on and off.
Tire Chains Buying guide
When the time comes to choose which of these tire chains to purchase, here are a few things to consider.
Type:
Of the four types of snow chains, the entry-level, standard and premium tire chains are usually used for trucks, SUVs and passenger cars while the alternative traction chains are fit for passenger cars only. In factoring which snow chain to buy, you should know that
- Entry-level chains are recommended for areas with occasional snow.
- Standard snow chains are good for an area with more regular snow and ice.
- Premium snow chains do exceedingly well in traction and braking performance on ice, meaning they’re perfect for daily use.
Alternative traction devices work well if your car has a low profile or it’s relatively short exposure to snow and ice.
Ease of use:
Depending on which you’ll be choosing, the different types of tire chains vary in how easy they’re installed for use and how easy it is to take them off.
Link Pattern:
Part of the hallmark of any tire chain is its link patterns and use varies depending on vehicle type and driving surfaces.
- Diagonal link patterns work best for slippery surfaces,
- Square link patterns favor better grip and durability,
- Ladder-like link patterns work well in gripping both slippery, on and off-road surfaces.
- Link patterns are perfect driving surfaces and vehicles.
Price:
While prices are most times a reflection of quality, type and how many chains are been sold, you’ll find a wide range of prices with entry level chains generally being the cheapest.
Conclusion
If you’re here, it means you know about tire chains more than 90% of the world’s population, and you’re ready to conquer the snow.
Additional Buying Guides
You may also be interested in our Screwdriver Set Guide, Tire Inflator Guide, Tire Pressure Gauge Guide, Tire Shine Product Guide and Brake Controller Guide.
