Functions and varieties of snow chains on wheels
Content
In certain road conditions, the car's own potential is not enough. Snow-covered section of the path, steep ascent covered with a crust of ice, mud section - in all these situations, snow chains installed on the wheels can help out. Such "accessories" for the wheels endow the vehicle with off-road properties. The main purpose of car snow chains is to improve the grip of the wheels on the road surface.
What are wheel chains and what are their functions
A snow chain is a structure that is put on the wheels of a vehicle in order to improve its cross-country ability. The main plus of the product is that the chains can only be used as needed.
The chains are fixed on the wheels along the width of the tire from the outside with a special belt with fasteners.
Wheel chains, due to improved traction with the road, perform the following functions:
- assistance when driving off-road;
- reduction of accidents on an icy road.
Types of snow chains
Chains can be conditionally divided into soft and hard. In the first case, plastic or rubber snow chains are located between the cables stretched around the circumference of the wheel. And in the second - cross chains.
They can also be classified according to the following criteria:
- to size;
- according to the picture.
Chain classification by size
Not every chain is compatible with all vehicle wheel sizes. Some of them can touch and damage the elements of the braking system, suspension and steering during movement. The operating instructions usually indicate which chains are permissible on a particular vehicle. Otherwise, you must independently measure the gap between the wheel, wheel arch liner, brake disc and other parts adjacent to the wheel.
The size of the passenger car snow chains depends on the parameters of the wheel. The larger its width and diameter, the longer the chains should be.
Classification by drawing
According to this parameter, the following types of circuits can be distinguished:
- "Ladder". The accessory is a tread braid with stripes located perpendicular to the wheel. This is the simplest and cheapest kind of "snake" that you can make yourself. It is preferable to use the "ladder" to overcome the mud areas, as it has the best raking properties. On the other hand, this device has a small contact area with the road and is prone to self-sealing. Therefore, in deep snow, such chains will be ineffective.
- "Honeycomb". In this case, the wheel is wrapped in crossed diagonal lines. These chains provide continuous contact with the road and good lateral stability, but limit the speed of the vehicle.
- "Triangles". This option implies longitudinal strips connected to each other by lateral rods, which form nodal points. The chains are pulled at an angle between the strips, forming zigzag lines. The device is effective for deep snow and not very effective for mud.
- "Diagonal". Here, strips pass through the tire that do not intersect with each other and deviate from the longitudinal axis. Chains perform well on snow, ice and mud.
Which snow chains are better
There is no definite answer to this question. It all depends on certain road conditions. For example, rigid chains are more suitable for heavy road conditions. And soft rubber or plastic devices are best used to overcome light off-road conditions.
Plastic chains are convenient in that they do not need to be removed immediately after overcoming the problem area. Rigid chains in this case can damage the tires.
When installing rigid chains on wheels, pay attention to the section and size of their links. The larger the links, the better the adhesion of the chains. But, on the other hand, the stronger the impact on the tires will be.
How to put chains on wheels
Fitting snow chains to wheels is possible in the following ways:
- we raise the car with a jack and put on a chain on the suspended wheel;
- we lay out the "snake" on the ground and run over it, leaving at least thirty centimeters to the end; we put the rest on the wheel, fasten the chain with a hook on the inside and straighten its links; we also fasten the outer part, and tighten the chain with an adjusting cable.
Having passed a little with the chain put on, you need to tighten it again. And if the car is not four-wheel drive, then you do not need to put on chains on all wheels. It is enough to put them on the drive wheels.
Disadvantages of snow chains
Yes, due to the chains, the vehicle's permeability increases, but the handling deteriorates. The machine becomes like a tractor, its permissible travel speed decreases. In addition, the vehicle gains noticeable oversteer. Therefore, before going off-road, it is recommended to adapt to new sensations in normal conditions.
Also, the following factors can be attributed to the disadvantages of chains:
- the use of chains affects tire wear;
- the chains create a lot of noise when driving.
If you choose between the types of snow chains, it is still worth staying at the rubber options. The road performance will be worse, but the impact on tires and other elements will not be so destructive. And the speed of movement remains comfortable.
Chains or bracelets: looking for the differences
Instead of chains, bracelets are sometimes used, which are attached to the disc with strong clips. In this case, it is recommended to use two or three bracelets per wheel. Otherwise, the efficiency will be low.
There are small, medium and large bracelets. Small bracelets are used for cars. The main advantage of bracelets over chains is ease of use and the ability to quickly release the wheels from the "shackles". You can install bracelets even when the wheel is already stuck.
Also, the advantages of bracelets over chains include:
- compactness;
- price factor (bracelets are cheaper);
- versatility (each dimension value is intended for several wheel diameters).
Conclusion
Does every car need snow chains and bracelets? It all depends on the conditions in which the owner is going to operate the car. Studded rubber is usually sufficient, which effectively resists both ice and light snow. However, in the most extreme conditions or when driving on heavy off-road terrain, chains will undoubtedly provide additional protection.
