When the slush and
snow turns to hard packed and slippery ice, it’s
time to bring out the snow chains.
Snow chains are not
terribly difficult to install on your vehicle,
but there are a few steps that you should follow
to ensure that you are installing them properly
and lessening the potential danger to you and
damage to your vehicle and tires.
You will need six to 10 feet of clearance in
front of, or behind, your vehicle to ensure you
have enough space to maneuver your vehicle onto
the chains—ensuring that the space you have
allocated is level and straight. If you are
installing your chains on the side of a highway,
ensure that you are out of the way and that you
are visible to other motorists. Make sure you
are protecting your hands and feet from rolling
vehicles—put your parking brake on, just to be
extra cautious.
Get your chains out and lay them in a line in
front of your car. The long strands on the
outside of each chain are designed to wrap
around your tire—one on the inside and one on
the outside. You want your chains hooked up to
the tires that do most of the work—front wheel
drive cars should be chained on the front tires,
rear wheel drives chained on the back tires.
Drive your vehicle forward or backward until
your tires are two feet onto the chains. Check
to make sure that each tire is sitting squarely
on the chain. Adjust until you have the chains
square on your tires. Lay the chain on the tire
as it is supposed to fit, trying to get as much
of the tire on the chain as possible.
Now you have to attach each end of the chain
together—drape them over the tire so that the
long side stands hang evenly.
Depending on the model of your chains, the
clasps will differ. Hook up the inside strand
first, then the outside strand, on each tire.
Attach one of the hooks to a strand midpoint
between two rungs on each tire.
The chains will distribute themselves evenly as
you begin to drive.
Drive slowly when you have installed your snow
chains, Listen to the sounds of your chains and
stop if you hear any banging or knocking
sounds—this can mean the chains are installed
improperly and could be damaging your vehicle.
You should never exceed 40 miles per hour with
snow chains on your vehicle.
