Details of using vehicle chains in winter

If you live in a place with heavy winters or regularly travel to areas with heavy snow, sooner or later you may have to use a vehicle chain .

In this article, we have compiled for you the details of using vehicle chains in winter . Let’s get started right away…

WHEELS OF CORRECT SIZE AND CHAIN TO BE FITTED

The right size is the first and arguably most important step in choosing and using a toolchain . Because if you buy a small size set you won’t be able to fit them to your tires. If you buy a chain that is too large, you will not be able to fit it to the tire properly, which will threaten your safety and cause your tires to wear out in a short time.

All you need to know here is your tire size. If you know what size your vehicle’s tire is, you can buy your chain set immediately. If you are not sure, the numbers on the side of your tire will inform you about this.

For example, let’s say your tire is marked 225/30R20. The number 225 refers to the tread width of the tire. 30 is the percentage ratio of the tire’s sidewall size to its base size. The letter R tells you that the tire type is Radial. The last 20 indicates the diameter of the tire and is expressed in inches.

INSTALLING CHAINS

After obtaining all this information, it is time to install the chains. First of all, if you are on the road, pull your vehicle to a safe place. Then take your chains out of the set bag and make sure they are not tangled and everything is straight.

Generally, chains have plastic-coated cables and they come in two different colors. Hold your chains with one cable in your left hand and the other in your right hand. The chains should hang loosely and the metal hooks should face away from you so they don’t damage your tires.

Lay your chains on the ground and push them behind the tire from right to left, with one cable end in front. Once the chains are centered behind the wheel, grab each end and pull them towards the top of the tire. Now that the cable is attached to the top, look for the hook directly opposite the cable connection. What we call a hook can be found in products in different ways, but it will be present in any case. Connect this hook to the other available port.

Push the attached chain towards the top of the tire. When you look against your tire you should see the diamond shape in the chains. Between each of these diamonds are chains that act as links, which must be placed in the middle of the tire’s tread. Connect the connection points together and then repeat the same process with the other tire or tires.

In the next step, get in your vehicle and drive approximately 10 meters. This gives the chains a chance to relax and settle into your tires. If there is any slack, tighten the chain firmly. The chains should be tight on the tire. Be sure to stop if you hear them making any contact with your vehicle.

THINGS TO PAY ATTENTION

First of all, no matter how well the chain is installed, do not exceed 40-50 kilometers per hour. The vehicle chain can create an imbalance in your wheels, which poses a serious safety risk and can lead to malfunctions.

Secondly, you should remove your chains immediately after passing the snowy part of your ride. On dry asphalt, vehicle chains damage the roads and seriously wear out your tires in a very short time. Avoid locking your wheels or skidding by taking off or braking suddenly.