Where to Buy Easy Use Tire Chains Seattle
Staff, Courtesy of Konig
If you regularly drive in snow and ice, a set of winter tires is a wise investment and suffices for most situations. But for more treacherous cold weather driving, adding chains to winter tires increases the friction coefficient between the tire and the ground, providing an extra layer of traction, especially for turning and inclines.
For those who live in temperate winter zones like Southern California and low-lying areas of the Pacific Northwest, and only occasionally drive to ski areas or through winter passes, buying snow tires—and the time and expense of swapping them for regular tires—isn't worth the cost and hassle. Snow chains are a much cheaper and easier option, and they're required in several Western states in certain areas and weather conditions.
Of course, tire chains can be a hassle to install, and you can't use them on regular pavement, which means you usually have to install them in cold, wintry conditions. And with chains you can't drive more than about 25 mph.
The Expert: Having lived in Los Angeles for close to two decades while making several annual treks to nearby ski areas, and also as a resident of Oregon for another 15-plus years, I've had to throw chains on my tires—and detest it so much that I invested in snow tires after moving to Oregon. To test these snow tire chains , I enlisted the help of my friend Francois Pelletier, who literally grew up on skis, ski slopes and winter mountains since his family ran resort restaurants (and his sister Monique is a two-time Olympic skier). We met at Oregon's Mt. Hood Meadows and together put several traction devices through their paces in a 2017 Honda CR-V.I've been writing about technology and cars for more than 30 years for Wired , Rolling Stone, Road & Track, Automobile, PCMag.com, Playboy and numerous other publications. I cofounded the C3 Group in 2013 to produce automotive industry events in New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and at SXSW in Austin. C3 Group was acquired by Informa in 2018. I split my time now between Hood River, Ore. and Todos Santos, Mexico. When I'm not writing, I'm riding a surfboard.
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What to Consider
First and foremost, snow chains have to fit your specific tire: too small and they won't fit over your tire, too large and they'll be loose and could damage your vehicle. It's also important to check your vehicle owner's manual since some automakers state that chains should not be used on their vehicles, and most warn that damage from improper or poorly installed chains can void the car's warranty.
Also consider what type of chains you want to use. "Snow chains" is a catchall term for both chains and cables. The latter is a more wire than chain and can provide a quick and less expensive solution than chains. Even shorter-term solutions are tire socks and cleats.
Snow chains also come with and without tensioners. Some we tested were quick-fit self-tensioning snow chains and came with spring-loaded arms or plastic clips. Otherwise, spider-style tensioners need to be purchased separately.
Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/g38911494/best-tire-chains/
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