# Tell me about tire chains **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209 "2008-12-21T19:22:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/1 "2008-12-21T19:22:01Z")
I’ve never owned tire chains, but they seem to be reasonably common around here. I’d appreciate any commentary from folks who have used them. How useful are they in icy conditions? We have lots of hills and inadequate plowing, so the streets end up pretty icy. Should they be mounted _only_ on the drive wheels? For example, I have a rear-wheel-drive car; what would be the result if I were to mount them on the front wheels too? My car is a rear-wheel-drive Volvo station wagon, so it’s relatively light in the back even with a couple of sandbags in the cargo area. Would chains provide a significant benefit? Are there particular styles of chains that are more or less effective? I’ve seen some with a diamond pattern, while others have chains that go straight across the wheel. Anything else I should be aware of? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/2 "2008-12-21T19:30:56Z")
I am by no means an expert, but I’ve used them. To tell the truth, I wish I had some now. The chains go on your drive wheels. I don’t know what would happen if you put them on the other ones, and I’ve heard they shouldn’t be put on the front wheels of a 4WD. No explanation. ISTM that they would be useful on 4WD. Basically, you have chains or cables. I’ve only used chains, but I’m told cables are easier to put on. The last chains I used had a sort of cam lock. This was a flat piece that was hinged. The end og the chain would go into a slot and then the top was closed over it. Tension on the mechanism kept it shut. PITA to close or open when my fingers were frozen. I wore gloves of course, but sometimes they got in the way. I hate putting on chains. You have to get out of your nice warm car into the freezing weather and often with snow coming down so you get wet. They’re noisy, and the ride is rough. You have to (should) remove them on hard surfaces. They will help you in your Volvo. But remember to keep your speed down, as you should anyway in these conditions. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/3 "2008-12-21T19:45:06Z")
I hate them. They can be very hard to put on / take off. They will be bitterly cold and slushy when the time comes to remove them. You have to do this in the cold and snow. They break, and will ruin your fender. When they don’t break, they can still ruin your tire. People steal your chain tensioners, to replace their broken ones. Did I mention that I hate them? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/4 "2008-12-21T20:01:44Z")
They won’t help much on ice, but do help with snow. They tear up the pavement in pretty short order. Drive wheels only. If you’re in or near Oregon, buy them at Les Schwab Tires. They sell an easy-on, easy-off chain set, have video at the tore and online to show you how to put them on, and if you buy them and haven’t used them by spring, the store will take them back. Since a lot of the Pacific Northwest doesn’t do a great job with snow, they’re worth having in the car (plus sand or litter and a snow shovel). ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/5 "2008-12-21T22:14:34Z")
Thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/6 "2008-12-22T00:50:45Z")
You can chain all 4 tires on a 4wd. Here’s a link to an informative thread from 2006: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=353385&highlight=tire+chains](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=353385&highlight=tire+chains) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/7 "2008-12-22T15:46:53Z")
I chain up all 4 on my plow truck, but I only use it around my house and my road. I can go pretty much anywhere. And I just wanted to chime in that I disagree that chains do not help on ice. In fact, I would say that icy conditions are where they help the most. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/8 "2008-12-22T16:33:47Z")
Other than the problems mentioned, chains and studs tend to give drivers a false sense of control, particularly when braking. While they provide some slowing assistance, it’s not enough to warrant higher driving speeds. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/9 "2008-12-22T17:02:53Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Basically, you have chains or cables. The cable style are usually specified for vehicles where tire clearance is a problem. They certainly cause less of a rough ride as they have bands of steel floating on a cable. I have used both and the chains work better on ice than cables. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/10 "2008-12-22T19:35:43Z")
Practice putting them on and taking them off in the dark, in your garage, with someone holding a flashlight for you to see by. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/11 "2008-12-22T19:41:06Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I chain up all 4 on my plow truck, but I only use it around my house and my road. I can go pretty much anywhere. > > And I just wanted to chime in that I disagree that chains do not help on ice. In fact, I would say that icy conditions are where they help the most. I gotta agree here. Chains are most beneficial on ice. My dad had an old 4 cylinder, 2wd Datsun pickup with tire chains. I helped him pull my cousin out of the ditch after a severe ice storm. Her (my cousin’s) dad could not pull her out with his full sized 4WD truck, but the little Datsun with chains pulled her out easily. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/12 "2008-12-22T20:08:19Z")
I was told by a friend from New Mexico that if you’re driving on ice, you want chains with ice bars like [these.](http://tirechain.com/VBAR.htm) ---
**Author:** ![riff\_raff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/97f17d/32.png) [@riff\_raff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riff_raff)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/13 "2008-12-22T21:47:00Z")
I used to drive big truck in a former life. Mostly offroad, oilfield work in western Canada, so I chained up a lot. Comments on the questions posed: I must concur with the posters who say chains are very effective on ice. Nothing bites into an icy surface quite like a cleated chain with thousands of pounds pushing down on it. As far as chaining up the front of a four hweel drive - you would not want to chain up the front only. Reason for this is that the running gear on the front of the vehicle is not as robust as the running gear on the rear. If the front is chained, it will be bearing the majority of the stresses, and if you’re driving in conditions that require chains, that could be significant - leading to breaking something. If you’re going to chain up the front, chain up the rear first. On big trucks, we would chain up one axle with a set of triples for safety - on a road that was pretty good. Chain up both axles on a road you expected to spin out on and generally chain up one front wheel with a steering chain. On a big truck, there is lots of weight over the drive wheels pushing you striaght - the steering chain allows for greater steering ability. Oh yeah - always chain up the steering chain on the wheel that is farthest from the steering box. If that baby comes loose, you don’t want it taking out your steering mechanism. Many nights I navigated the back roads of the Canadian oilfields and there is a sense of security that comes from the sound of chains singing along at about 50 kph. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/14 "2008-12-23T02:10:54Z")
I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life, south of Detroit. I’ve never seen chains on tires, except in movies(Rocky 4 shows them). Where are they common? By the way, I’ve never seen snow tires either. We all just drive with regular tires on the snow and ice. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/15 "2008-12-23T03:25:52Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Where are they common? I’m in the Seattle area. We have a lot of hills and very few snowplows or salt trucks. ---
**Author:** ![Apex\_Rogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@Apex\_Rogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apex_Rogers)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/16 "2008-12-23T04:16:12Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life, south of Detroit. I’ve never seen chains on tires, except in movies(Rocky 4 shows them). > > Where are they common? > > By the way, I’ve never seen snow tires either. We all just drive with regular tires on the snow and ice. I grew up in Northern Michigan where snow tires were quite common. Chains on the other hand were foreign to me until moving out to California, where they seem to be used mostly on mountain roads. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/17 "2008-12-23T04:18:53Z")
> [@Apex\_Rogers](#): > > [Chains] seem to be used mostly on mountain roads. I was listening to the radio on the way to Seattle this morning, and they said that conditions were such that were it in the mountains chains would be required. Apparently they’re not required in the flatlands. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/18 "2008-12-23T04:28:12Z")
They’re required in Portland. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/19 "2008-12-23T08:06:36Z")
CA skiers know about chains - they (often) have no idea how to use them (yuppies) - there are folks aroud Auburn who make a tidy sum installing peoples’ chains when the “chains required” notice goes out. See [Content Not Available | Caltrans](http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist3/departments/mtce/controlmp.htm) I saw 15’ - 20’ high poles along some roads in the Sierras, with bright day-glo orange at the top 5’ or so. It turns out that those mark the roadway for the snowplows. Yes, chains ARE required from time to time up there ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209/20 "2008-12-23T09:32:41Z")
I am glad I live in an are that allows studs. Chains suck. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-tire-chains/478209.md?page=2)