Snow Chains

In regions with frequent harsh winters it is common to fit winter tires, but in Spain, for occasional spells of intense cold, the most common choice is to carry snow chains.

Driving on icy or snowy roads without snow chains can cause a loss of tire grip, resulting in a lack of steering and braking.

Where should snow chains be fitted?

Whatever type of snow chain you are going to fit, remember that they must always be fitted to the drive wheels.

Front-wheel-drive vehicles : since the drive wheels are on the front axle, this is where the chains must be fitted.
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles: If the drive wheels are on the rear axle, this is where the chains must be fitted.
4×4 or all-wheel-drive vehicles: ideally, fit chains on all four tires, but if that is not possible, fit them on the front axle.

Another important detail to bear in mind is that snow chains must only be fitted when the road is covered with snow or ice, to prevent the chains from damaging the tire and the wheel. Don't forget to keep a pair of gloves in the car! Your hands will thank you.

How to fit snow chains?

If you are going to travel and expect snow, we recommend practicing fitting the snow chains beforehand so you are not caught off guard.

Inexperience, nerves and the cold can make fitting them much harder.

In this video you can see how to fit them:

Types of snow chains.

There are several options for setting off on icy or snowy roads. Let's review each one so you can choose the most suitable.

Fabric snow socks.

Fabric snow socks take up little space in the trunk, are useful for short trips and can be washed and dried.

Fabric snow socks offer high abrasion resistance even on minivans and extra driving comfort, as they avoid vibrations.

They do not damage the wheel, but on the downside they wear out faster. Do not exceed the speed recommended by the manufacturer so as not to reduce their durability.

Metal or semi-metal chains.

These are the most widely used, the classic ones with metal or plastic links, as they offer the best effectiveness-to-price ratio.

They provide safe driving on snow or ice and are the most affordable, but on the downside they are harder to fit, heavy, noisy on the road and not compatible with the correct use of stability control (ESP). Driving with them without snow is not recommended, as they damage the tire and the wheel.