It’s not too often that we get snow here in the UK, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good idea to be prepared. If a heavy snowfall should arrive, snow chains fastened to your tyres, will increase your car’s traction on the road and allow you to drive safely and without trouble. In some areas of Europe, such as parts of France, Sweden, and Norway, snow chains are actually a legal requirement, so if you’re travelling soon now might be the time to shop around.
The trouble is, all snow chains look alike, and without actually testing them out, it’s difficult to know which one is better for your 4x4 truck, sports car or regular passenger car. Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you. Take a look through our guide for tips on how to select the right snow chain for you, and then have a look through our top 10 picks available from Amazon and eBay.
Quick List - Top Snow Chains
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The first consideration is the snow chain’s tyre width range. This figure, usually given in millimetres, describes the range of tyre widths upon which it can be safely installed. Try to fit a snow chain to a tyre that’s too big and you won’t be able to sufficiently cover the wheel; attach it to a tyre that’s too small and there’ll be too much slack for it to be of any use.
Luckily, the tyre width range for most snow chains is quite forgiving, meaning unless you have particularly large or small tyres, most snow chains should fit your vehicle. There are some, however, with narrower tyre width ranges that’ll require you to gather more specific measurements, including the tyre profile and diameter.
Fortunately, it’s a simple job that’s easily done with a tape measure, and many manufacturers include handy reference charts that outline what measurements you need to obtain.
The majority of snow chains require your car’s wheels to have spokes, through which the chain can be threaded. One problem you might encounter is finding you have insufficient space between the spokes of your car’s tyres.
The space required will differ between snow chains, so it is worth checking the product description as some manufacturers will include a minimum space requirement.
Unfortunately, where this isn’t the case, it’s up to you to estimate if a snow chain will fit between the spokes of your wheels. Thankfully, unless you have especially tight spokes, most snow chains should be fine.
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In order to endure the heavy weight placed upon them as they guide you across the ice, snow chains need to be highly durable, and this is reflected in the materials used to make them.
It's recommended to look for a combination of steel alloy and TPU – here, the reinforced alloy steel offers excellent durability, while the TPU provides a flexibility that is perfect for keeping your snow chain attached to your tyre.
Nylon snow chains (if you can really consider them ‘chains’!) do exist, though their lack of durability means they only serve as a temporary measure. However, as nylon is cheaper to produce, these chains are significantly cheaper – perfect for those who want to take snow chains for a test drive, or will only need them for a short time.
Take heed if your car’s wheels use steel or iron hubcaps: steer away from any snow chains that utilise nylon ribbons. This is because, through regular use, the metal hubcaps can begin to wear away at the ribbon, eventually severing it completely.
Those with steel or iron hubcaps will instead need to find a snow chain that consists entirely of metal, or which utilises sturdy TPU plastic.
Seeing as their purpose is to give your car traction as it drives through snow, every snow chain can withstand sub-zero temperatures to some extent. But some can withstand colder temperatures than others.
A specification called ‘temperature resistance’ will inform you of the lowest temperature that a chain can withstand before it breaks. This is something that those driving in the UK will need to pay little mind to, as most chains are able to handle at least down to -30°C – a temperature lower than any on record in the UK.
On the other hand, those visiting places such as Mouthe in France, where temperatures can easily drop below this, will definitely want to make sure that their snow chain has strong temperature resistance.
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We don’t blame you if you take one look at a snow chain and shiver at the thought of how difficult they must be to install. Once you know what you’re doing, however, it's actually not that challenging, but that doesn’t mean some aren’t significantly easier, and less fiddly, to fit than others.
If you’re not a particularly adept mechanic, you may want to consider a snow chain that has been designed to be easy to fit. Luckily, there are plenty of manufacturers out there that place their snow chain’s ease of installation as a top priority.
There now exist models, such as those produced by Osaloe, that simply allow you to strap your snow chain in and tighten as necessary, while others, such as CICL’s Anti-Skid Snow Chains, utilise a design that simply allows you to ‘snap’ your snow chains into place.
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Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | König Snow Chains|CB-12 090 | ![]() | Durable Snow Chains From a Reputable Brand | |
2 | Sumex 4WD Husky Professional Snow Chains|HUPR247 | ![]() | TUV and GS Approved for Quality and Safety | |
3 | SCC Super Z6|SZ143 | ![]() | High-Performance Snow Chains That Are Easy to Install | |
4 | Zhina Snow Chain for Cars | ![]() | Resists Temperatures as Low as -50°C for Driving in Snow and Ice | |
5 | DATOUBOSS Anti-skid Snow Tyre Chains | ![]() | Simple to Fit and Quiet on the Road | |
6 | Goodyear GODKN110 Metal snow chains | ![]() | Reliable Snow Chains for Use While Driving Under 40 Miles Per hour | |
7 | Michelin Textile snow chains | ![]() | Innovative Textile Design That Reduces Noise and Slippage | |
8 | DEDC Universal Fit Anti-slip Car Chains | ![]() | Affordable Snow Chains for Use With Cars | |
9 | MASO Emergency Anti-Skid Chain | ![]() | Anti-skid Chains Suitable for Ice, Sand and Mud | |
10 | Oziral Portable Car Anti-skid Emergency Snow Tyre Chains | ![]() | Cheap Single-Use Chains for Winter Emergencies |
König are one of the most well-established snow chain companies, with positive reviews across the internet, and for good reason. Their snow chains are made from highly durable, top quality materials, including alloy steel, and a thoroughly-tested D-shackle chain made of hardened manganese nickel.
They're also affordable, incredibly easy to install in a matter of minutes, and compatible with a wide variety of vehicles. Like most snow chains, they'll need retightening every now and then, but when it comes to overall quality, nothing comes close to König.
The excellence of Sumex's Husky Snow Chains is immediately attested to by their TUV and GS approvals – both of which demonstrate quality and safety. This is, at least in part, due to the premium alloy steel used to construct them, and how easy they are to fit.
They're a little on the pricey side, particularly considering that you only get a pair of chains, but it's hard to deny such quality, and these are highly durable chains that'll last for many winters to come.
The majority of snow chains are difficult to fit, and the designers at SCC must have known this, as the Super Z6 is incredibly easy to install. There's even a rubber tightener that prevents the need to stop and retighten after installation.
The chain itself isn't bad, either, performing well in even the snowiest of conditions. The main disadvantage here is the hefty price tag, but if you drive in the snow often the Super Z6's ease of use makes spending those extra few pounds more than worth it.
With their offering, LANCO have struck that admirable balance between price and quality. These snow chains that are easy to mount and made with high-quality TPU and zinc alloy.
There's more: these snow chains are also highly compatible with a wide variety of vehicles, and temperature-resistant down to very low temperatures of -50°C. Those with steel and iron wheel hubs will need to steer clear, but for everyone else, this is a snow chain that'll keep you covered even in the deepest of winters.
When compared to the majority, DATOUBOSS's snow chains are incredibly simple to fit. Their snap-fit design and adjustable straps mean you can easily install and remove them in a matter of minutes.
They do come with quite a few restrictions however: they'll require you to drive no faster than 31 mph and restrict any slam braking or sharp turning. On the other hand, they're made from high-quality TPU material with steel studs, and as a nice bonus, they run noticeably quieter than other snow chains.
These chains from Goodyear come in multiple different sizes so they're great for ensuring you get the perfect fit for your specific tyre. They're relatively simple to put on, and come with step by step instructions.
The safety limitations specify that you can only drive a maximum of 40mph with these chains on, tough, so if you know you'll be frequenting any higher speed limit areas, these are best avoided!
It's their innovative design that immediately sets Michelin's snow chains apart from the rest of the pack. The unique textile net design allows your snow chain to traverse the road with uniform force, meaning less noise as you drive, and the holes allow water to drain quickly, rather than gather and cause slippage.
It comes in a variety of sizes and the listing includes a size guide for your tyres in case you're unsure. The most popular size is the H12, as listed here, but make sure to double check your tyre measurements before ordering!
With their snow chains, DEDC prove that it's all in the quality of the material. The strong iron buckles are easy to fasten but highly resistant to pressure, and the snow chains themselves are made from high-quality TPU.
Their simple design makes them easy to mount, but they do require spoked tyres and are recommended only for use with cars, rather than with other types of vehicles, making them a little less versatile than some of the other snow chains on this list.
MASO's Emergency Anti-Skid Chains are so uncomplicated to fit that it's possible to mount them in minutes, and with such a wide tyre width range, they'll fit most vehicles with ease.
They're highly resistant to cold too, and the fact that you get 8 chains in a single pack means you'll be covered for winters to come. Be aware, however, that these chains require spokes, with a space of at least 3 cm between them, to be fitted.
These snow 'chains' differ quite significantly from the others on this list in the fact they're made from nylon rather than metal. This brings a number of significant benefits, including the fact that they're very affordable and lightweight.
However, the lack of metal does come with some drawbacks, and these snow chains are significantly less durable and resistant to cold temperatures than their metal counterparts. It's also important to note that they are intended as single-use. They're so inexpensive though, that they're perfect to have in your car in case of an emergency.
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/photo/man-checks-car-snow-chains-during-fresh-snowfall-royalty-free-image/924947856
For the safest driving experience while out in the snow, fit snow chains to all four tyres on the vehicle. If you only fit chains on the front or back tyres and fail to cover all four, the steering can be thrown off-balance and this could cause serious accidents!
Heavy snowfall might be uncommon in the UK, but cold winters certainly aren’t, and it’s always sensible to be prepared for the cold. Snow chains are permitted on UK roads, but it's important that they are only used on snow-covered roads and removed when driving over tarmac, so as not to damage the road surface.
It's unlikely that snow chains will cause damage to your tyres, but you must ensure that they are correctly fitted in order to avoid potential damage or slippage. Also, the chains must only be used in the correct conditions in order to avoid unnecessary strain on tires and road surfaces.
Written and researched by Ben Willimett
No. 1: König|Snow Chains|CB-12 090
No. 2: Sumex|4WD Husky Professional Snow Chains|HUPR247
No. 3: SCC|Super Z6|SZ143
No. 4: Zhina|Snow Chain for Cars
No. 5: DATOUBOSS|Anti-skid Snow Tyre Chains
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