The best of the snow chains of domestic and foreign manufacturers
Content
In order to choose the right snow chains for the wheels of a car or truck, it is important to determine the purpose and frequency of their operation. It is necessary to know what materials the lugs are made of, the service life of the device, dimensions, as well as the shape and type of fastening.
To choose the best snow chains for your car, you need to understand what types exist and how they differ, as well as know in what conditions the lugs will be used.
What are snow chains for car wheels?
No one is immune from the situation when the car can get stuck in a snowdrift, eroded ground, swampy soil. And often off-road conditions tightly immobilize the car, not allowing the car owner to cope with the problem on their own. In order to increase the cross-country ability of a car in difficult areas, special anti-skid chains have been developed. With their help, the car is able to overcome snowy winter roads, as well as mud, which is found year-round in forests and on country roads.
Grousers are important to use when traveling to ski resorts, winter fishing, hunting and other places where conventional spikes lose their grip.
Principle of operation and device
Grousers are reinforced longitudinal chains connected by transverse cables and links and evenly braiding the tire around the circumference. They are installed on the drive wheels, acting as an additional removable protector. Due to the contact of the chain links with the unfavorable road surface, the lugs seem to “bite” into the ice, mud, snow and paddle like the blades of a steamboat wheel.
Mounting chains on wheels
It is necessary to put on snow chains before starting a difficult section, since it will be difficult to equip the wheel of an already stuck car with a device.
In the case of driving on loose snow, it is recommended to turn off the automatic slip system so that a small slip clears the chain of adhering snow on its own.
Advantages and disadvantages
Many decades have passed since the invention of snow chains, and their design has been repeatedly modernized to achieve the maximum traction effect. Grousers are successfully used on any vehicles and have the following advantages:
- Versatility. Chains are used in winter, summer, and also in the off-season.
- Compactness. The device does not take up much space and fits easily in the trunk.
- Ease of installation. Grousers do not require effort during installation and are quickly put on and removed.
- High grip. Thanks to the chains, the car has easy handling on ice and excellent cross-country ability in mud and snowdrifts.
Despite the advantages, even the best snow chains have a number of disadvantages:
- Speed reduction. When driving a car equipped with chains, it becomes necessary to reduce speed.
- Tire wear. The use of lugs negatively affects tire tread wear. And in case of improper operation, the chain spoils the suspension and transmission elements of the car.
- Loud traffic noise.
Despite the existing shortcomings, chains are indispensable helpers when driving off-road.
What types of chains are
There are two types of anti-slip chains: soft and hard. Soft lugs are equipped with rubber, plastic or polyurethane lateral devices that connect chains that are tensioned around the circumference of the tire. They minimize tire wear, but create difficulties during installation in winter, as the rubber “hardens” in the cold.
Soft snow chains
Rigid grouser uses steel cross chains, which are classified by size and pattern.
What to look for when choosing chains
In order to choose the right snow chains for the wheels of a car or truck, it is important to determine the purpose and frequency of their operation. It is necessary to know what materials the lugs are made of, the service life of the device, dimensions, as well as the shape and type of fastening.
Material of manufacture
For the manufacture of lugs, plastic, polyurethane, rubber, aluminum alloys, steel are used. Rigid anti-skid chains are suitable for riding in extremely bad weather conditions and in icy conditions. In the case when snowy roads and mud are the main obstacle for the driver, rubber or plastic models should be chosen as the material.
Steel snow chains
When choosing an anti-skid chain, one should also take into account the method of processing its links during manufacture. Metal that has not been heat treated is more ductile and does not burst if the wheel hits a curb or a sharp stone. The service life of soft metal is short, as it wears out quickly. Hardened steel is excellent at resisting contact with gravel and asphalt, but does not last long due to its fragility.
Lifetime
Anti-skid chains have a service life that differs depending on the type of device. Steel lugs are used to overcome short distances, for example, when driving through a difficult area or when you need to pull a car out of a hole. Soft products can be worn when passing a long distance and used regularly, eliminating the need for tire studding.
Chain selection
An important aspect is the selection of the snow chain according to the size of the wheel. The modern market offers car owners a wide range of lugs, but most of them are developed for passenger cars with a standard wheel radius. Therefore, such devices are not suitable for large vehicles - they will not cope with their task and, in the process of movement, can move off the wheel, damaging the car. Snow chains are selected according to the parameters of a particular car: the wider the wheel, the longer the sheath should be.
Differences in shape and type of attachment
Grousers have significant differences in the form and type of fastening, which is reflected not only in the appearance of the wheel, but also in the additional characteristics of the device. According to this parameter, there are such varieties of chains as a triangle, honeycombs, ladder. And in order to understand which is better: anti-skid chains of a honeycomb or ladder, triangle or honeycomb lugs, you need to understand what properties they endow the car wheels with:
- The “triangle” fastening type consists in connecting the longitudinal strips with side rods that form the nodal points. The tension occurs at an angle, as a result of which zigzag lines are formed. Such a product has high efficiency when driving in deep snow, but the car may get stuck in the mud.
- In the case of the “honeycomb” mounting type, the wheel is wrapped with chain links that cross diagonally. This device is constantly in contact with the road, so that the car has high stability. But "cells" limit the speed of transport.
- "Ladder" is a tread braid with belts that are perpendicular to the wheel. This type of attachment has "raking" properties, which provides good flotation through muddy areas, but has ineffective properties when passing through deep snow. And due to the small area of contact with the wheel, the “ladder” lugs are capable of self-breaking. It is better to use these snow chains for winter.
Slip chain weaving - ladder and rhombus
It becomes clear that the choice of a particular variety is based on the purpose of using the lug.
The best snow chains of domestic production
When choosing snow chains for wheels from Russian manufacturers, many car owners prefer the Sorokin 28.4 kit. These lugs are suitable for cars of different sizes. Convenient fastening provides the ability to put the chain on the wheel even in confined spaces. And the presence of additional cables increases reliability, guaranteeing a long service life of the product.
Snow chains "Sorokin 28.4"
The best snow chains for passenger cars include Promstrop Medved 76 lugs. They consist of metal segments to which ladder chains are attached. The metal shaft serves as a fastening mechanism that is inserted into the disk of the machine and clamped on the outside and inside with nuts. "Medved 76" improves the controllability of the car, and also ensures driving safety.
The Russian-made Ladder LT lugs are designed for passenger cars with a partial drive. They are suitable for driving on ice, excellently cope with wetlands and easily overcome snowy terrain.
Foreign snow chains
The famous Italian brand Konig is a leader in the production of the best snow chains, characterized by high quality, reliability and ease of use. Konig ZIP Ultra lugs are made from hardened manganese-nickel alloy steel, which is characterized by high wear resistance. The diamond pattern of the chainring makes it easy for the car to take tight turns even off-road. The use of smaller links minimizes vibration feedback to the steering and suspension system. And the system of automatic tension on the wheel greatly simplifies the installation and dismantling of the product.
Snow chains Konig ZIP Ultra
The Austrian braid Pewag SXP 550 Snox PRO 88989 is popular due to the high quality of the product, excellent traction in areas with loose snow and deep mud, and easy installation. The manufacturer has developed a special profile that provides protection for the rim. In addition, the design of the device is suitable for driving even on hard road sections and does not harm the rubber of the car. According to car owners, this is the best solution for front-wheel drive cars.
One of the best snow chains for cars, according to car owners, is CarCommerce KN9-100, made in Poland. Grousers differ in inexpensive cost, universality and excellent characteristics.
They can be used year-round, as they perfectly cope with mud, clay, sand, snow. The difference from previous models is the absence of an automatic donning system. But with a little experience, the installation procedure takes no more than 15 minutes.
