An untouched layer of fresh snow is a dream come true for every winter sports enthusiast, at least on the piste. As a car driver, however, you are less likely to welcome such weather conditions on the road. Especially in the mountains, snow and ice on the tarmac push almost all winter tyres to their limits. In such cases, it is the good old snow chains that provide the necessary grip in alpine terrain or on snow-covered mountain passes and prevent skidding. But when and where do snow chains need to be fitted? How much time do drivers need to fit them and what is important when choosing the right driving aid? Questions upon questions that SnowTrex now answers.
The success story of snow chains
The US American Harry D. Weed is considered the inventor of modern snow chains. In August 1904, he applied for a patent for “tyre chains” in New York. However, his application did not even mention snow. Weed did not want to use his invention in winter, but all year round. In early 20th century America, horse-drawn carriages, carts and later the first cars had to battle with road conditions time and again. Asphalt surfaces were initially reserved for the big cities and so the unpaved roads in the countryside turned into muddy tracks after a short, heavy rain shower. The journeys through the terrain were correspondingly arduous. And this fact gave Harry Weed the idea for his “Tire Chains”.
After registering his patent, the New Yorker initially earned a lot of ridicule, but the great potential of his tyre chains quickly became apparent at various sales events. And as a monopolist, Weed’s company produced without competition until well into the 1950s. During this period, the product also reached snowy regions such as the Rocky Mountains in the USA, where the use of snow chains was ultimately much more in demand. Unlike on the barely slushy, tarmac roads in many other top-flat US states. Nevertheless, the snow chain business collapsed after Weed’s death in 1961. A few years later, the patent was even cancelled completely. It was an opportunity for other manufacturers to try their hand at producing snow chains, including some in Europe. They developed the snow chains, which were initially heavy and complicated to fit, so radically that today, in the 21st century, they are an essential part of any car’s winter equipment.
The right size: only a suitable snow chain will help
Drivers are completely free to choose which snow chains they want. The most important thing, however, is that they fit the tyres perfectly. If a snow chain is too small, drivers won’t be able to fit it on the tyre at all. A snow chain that is too large has several disadvantages. On the one hand, too loose a fit on the tyre results in a barely measurable improvement in traction in the snow. The reason for this is the fact that the snow chain slips off the tyre within the first few metres. As a result, they do not sit properly and cannot “claw” into the cold ground for support. In addition, the massive chain links can hit the bodywork or the wheel carrier due to the rotation of the tyre and quickly cause major damage.
The right snow chain can prevent this. And finding one is actually quite simple. Snow chains are available in many different sizes. However, this is due to the wide range of car tyres available. This is because the overall design of the tyre depends on many different parameters. For example, the size and width of the rim or the thickness of the tyre wall. All three dimensions can be easily read off the outside of the rubber rollers. The tyre size is stamped here in the form of a standardised combination of numbers and letters. The whole thing reads something like this: 205/55 R16.
Here, the first three digits describe the tyre width and thus effectively also the width of the rim of 205 millimetres. The second number after the slash shows the height and width ratio of the tyre as a percentage. In this case, this means that the height of the tyre sidewall is exactly 55% of the tyre width of 205 mm. The “R” is the only letter that stands for “Radial” and thus for the design of the tyre. Last but not least, the number after the “R” indicates the diameter of the rim in inches. And it is precisely this “code” that is ultimately decisive for the size of the snow chains. This is because the size of the tyre is also stated on the packaging of the metal driving aids. This information alone tells the driver at a glance whether they are holding the right size snow chains for their car.
Three different types of snow chains are generally sold. Their properties differ as follows:
| Snow chain type | Properties of the snow chain |
|---|---|
| Rope chains | Most favourable price, space-saving and light weight |
| Ring chains | Easy mounting on tyres, largest product selection and many branded products as bargains |
| Quick assembly chains | Uncomplicated installation on the tyre, often available as an optional extra and stable construction |
Cost of snow chains
Buying a new pair of snow chains today costs between 50 and 250 euros. Drivers should be aware that the price varies depending on the type of chain. Classic cable chains are traditionally inexpensive. Ring chains are next in the price table. They are now sold most frequently by manufacturers, which means that customers have the widest choice in the shops. The easy-to-install quick-assembly chains, on the other hand, are at the upper end of the price scale. This is due to the fact that adapters are supplied in addition to the chains themselves. They serve as a bracket and can also be mounted directly on aluminium rims. Drivers who don’t drive in the mountains that often in winter can also save money on snow chains. Car accessory dealers also offer snow chains for hire for your holiday.
Fitting the driving aids needs to be practised
Cold fingers, heavy snowfall, unfamiliar technology and perhaps even deep darkness. By nature, the conditions for fitting snow chains in the open air are anything but ideal. It is therefore advisable for every driver who wants to drive into the mountains in winter to literally carry out “dry runs” at home before setting off on holiday. Whether in the driveway, in the garage or on an empty building site or supermarket car park: fitting the snow chains completely without stress and studying the fitting instructions supplied intensively before or afterwards will help enormously if the worst comes to the worst on a snow-covered Alpine pass.
And if an “emergency” really does occur there, then it is absolutely advisable for drivers to have the right equipment with them. This includes warm gloves – lined work gloves if possible – a high-visibility waistcoat, a torch and a work mat. This serves to keep your knees reasonably dry in the snow. As it is almost impossible to fit snow chains to a car that is already stuck in the snow, the experts have one piece of advice: if the weather conditions require it, for example on a mountain pass road, pull over directly to the right on a flat area, switch on the hazard warning lights and put on the high-visibility waistcoat.
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However, before the chains are placed on the ground, the area around the stationary tyres should first be cleared of snow and the driving aid should then be fitted as prescribed in the fitting instructions. It is important that the pair of snow chains always sits on both wheels of the drive axle. Owners of four-wheel drive vehicles are also obliged to install the snow chains on the tyres of one and the same drive axle. The manufacturer will specify which ones exactly in the vehicle’s operating instructions. However, if the weather requires it, it is not forbidden to fit snow chains on all four tyres of a four-wheel drive vehicle. incidentally, 4×4 vehicles are not excluded from the snow chain requirement due to their drive system. An exception only applies here if there is an additional sign under the snow chain sign at the side of the road, which explicitly exempts all-wheel drive vehicles from the obligation to wear snow chains at this point.
The next step is to lock the snow chains and tighten them for optimum grip. The chains must not be too loose. This prevents them from damaging the bodywork or brake lines during the journey. However, they must not be too tight either, as there is a risk of the snow chains breaking. Drivers should therefore play it safe at this point and first drive a few hundred metres with the snow chains on. Then they should check the tension of the chains again. Once all these steps have been completed, your car is perfectly equipped for the journey through a snow-covered winter wonderland in the mountains.
Smooth ride, undamaged material
If you put on snow chains in winter, you must pay attention to one thing above all: with snow chains on the tyres, the maximum permitted speed everywhere – in built-up areas, on country roads and on motorways – is 50 km/h! Drivers should also always pay attention to driving noise. If they become too loud or unsteady, it is advisable to pull over to the side of the road and test the fit of the snow chains again. Overall, they are extremely helpful on roads covered in heavy snow, but they are not always a panacea. Mounted on the tyres of a front-wheel drive vehicle, snow chains greatly improve steering behaviour. On the other hand, the rear axle can quickly break free if the steering movements are too fast. In rear-wheel drive vehicles with snow chains, a “sporty” driving style means that the front wheels do not have enough traction and therefore do not react directly to steering movements.
In addition, fitted snow chains generally influence the driving behaviour of a car. For safety reasons, it is therefore advisable to switch off electronic aids such as the ESP stabilisation programme and the slip control, which normally prevent the wheels from spinning. This ensures that the snow chains grip the snow-covered road surface as intended when driving smoothly and do not slip over the snow.
However, as soon as the road is clear of snow and ice again, the snow chains must be removed as soon as the opportunity arises. This protects the material. On the bare tarmac, the chain links increase the braking distance many times over. Not to mention the fact that the snow chains heat up due to friction and can therefore damage the winter tyres. Contact with the hard road surface can also cause lasting damage to the chains themselves and the asphalt due to the pressure of the car weighing several tonnes.
Rules for snow chains at home and abroad
The most important snow chain rule first: in Germany and the countries of the Alpine region, snow chains are only compulsory in certain situations. A blue sign with a snow chain symbol usually indicates that drivers must fit snow chains. These signs are usually placed at the edge of high Alpine roads or pass routes. In Austria, it is also mandatory for drivers of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tonnes to carry a pair of snow chains at all times between 1 November and 15 April. Anyone who violates this regulation and is caught by the police without snow chains could face a fine of up to 5000 euros!
And while snow chains must also be in the car at all times in winter in Switzerland, this practice is not checked in Italy and France. However, here too, signs may occasionally require snow chains to be fitted on certain roads. It is therefore worthwhile for winter sports enthusiasts to always have snow chains in the car when travelling to these holiday regions. Just in case.
Drivers who pass a “snow chain sign” aka traffic sign 268, as it is called in the official language of the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO), can only continue on a road in winter with snow chains fitted. Violations of this regulation can result in a 20 euro fine from the police. The same can happen if the law enforcement officers discover a snow chain substitute such as polyester snow socks on the vehicle in these weather conditions. Textile snow chains are not classed as an equivalent alternative to traditional metal snow chains on mountain passes. Also not permitted: fitting snow chains on summer tyres. And there is a simple reason for this. Because regardless of whether you have snow chains or not, if you are caught by the police in snowy conditions without winter tyres, you will be fined at least 60 euros and given a point in Flensburg.
On the other hand, road users who are flashed by officers with snow chains fitted will have to dig much deeper into their pockets. Anyone travelling up to 10 km/h too fast outside built-up areas instead of the maximum permitted 50 km/h will initially “only” have to pay 30 euros. The end of the penalty range is reached if the driver is clocked travelling at over 60 km/h in built-up areas with snow chains on. This offence is even punishable with a fine of 760 euros, two points in Flensburg and a three-month driving ban.
Snow chains need to be looked after
Even a few hours of use in winter puts a lot of strain on snow chains. Road salt, cold and wet conditions damage every single one of the metal chain links. Drivers should therefore give the material a thorough clean, ideally after every journey, but at the latest after returning from the ski resort. This protects the driving aid from corrosion. The best way to do this is to first rinse the snow chains with tap water and dry them thoroughly. It is also a good idea to spray them lightly with oil afterwards. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when doing this. Until the next winter season, it is then a good idea to store this part of the winter equipment for the car in the packaging provided or in a plastic bag. In the event that the snow chains are too worn after cleaning, they should no longer be used on the car for safety reasons.
FAQs on snow chains
What are snow chains?
Snow chains are a driving aid for cars, lorries and other road vehicles. The chain links are usually made of hardened steel or now also plastic and ensure better traction on snow-covered or icy roads.
How fast can I drive with snow chains?
The maximum speed with snow chains fitted is 50 km/h. Experts advise drivers to listen for noises while driving. It is advisable to stop as soon as it becomes too noisy or unsteady to check the fit of the snow chains.
When are snow chains compulsory?
In Germany, there is no general obligation to wear snow chains, but rather a situational obligation. The same applies in Alpine countries such as Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland. In the mountains, however, drivers must still fit snow chains on certain roads or regions. At the latest when they drive past a sign with a snow chain on a blue background.
Where do I need snow chains?
Snow chains are required wherever conventional winter tyres lose traction on the road in the cold season. This means on closed snow cover or icy tarmac. In addition, signs on certain routes in the mountains, for example on high-altitude mountain passes, may indicate that these may only be travelled on with snow chains.
When and where are snow chains permitted?
Snow chains are generally permitted on all roads, including motorways. To increase general road safety, they must be fitted in winter if the tyres no longer have any grip on snow-covered or icy surfaces. This is usually the case in the mountains on steep or high roads. However, as soon as the road you are travelling on is free of snow or ice again, drivers must remove the snow chains to prevent damage to the asphalt surface.
How much do snow chains cost?
A new pair of snow chains costs between 50 and 250 euros. The price varies depending on the type of chain. Traditional cable chains are the cheapest, followed by the now most frequently sold ring chains and the expensive but easy-to-fit quick-fit chains. Drivers who don’t drive to the mountains that often in winter can also hire snow chains for their holidays and save money.
What size snow chains do I need?
The size of the snow chains is determined by the tyre fitted to the car. A combination of numbers and letters is stamped on the outer wall of each tyre. The pattern is as follows: 205/55 R16. The first three numbers describe the tyre width in millimetres, while the second number after the slash indicates the height and width ratio of the tyre as a percentage. Finally, the R stands for the type of tyre and the number behind it for the diameter of the rim in inches. This “code” is also decisive for the size of the snow chains, as it is also printed on the packaging and the driver knows immediately whether he is holding the right product for his vehicle.
How many snow chains do I need?
To drive a car safely over snow-covered or icy roads, you only need one pair of snow chains. The two driving aids are fitted to the two tyres on the drive axle. For four-wheel drive vehicles, on the other hand, four snow chains are recommended at both the front and rear to prevent the car from becoming unstable when driving. There are no clear regulations for SUVs, for example, which is why it is worth taking a look at the vehicle’s operating instructions before installing them.
How do I fit snow chains?
Cable chains, ring chains or quick-fit chains. All three types of snow chains are installed differently. Rope chains are first laid out in front of the tyres before the car is slowly driven onto the driving aid so that the driving aid can then be tensioned around the respective wheel. With ring chains, the rubber-coated wire is pulled around the tyre on the ground in the first assembly step before it is then connected behind the wheel. Once the chain links are on the tyre tread, they are joined together over the rim. As quick-fit chains and their installation mechanisms vary greatly depending on the manufacturer, it is always advisable to consult the operating instructions.
