How to put chains on wheels: tips and features of winter "shoes" of cars

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How to put chains on wheels: tips and features of winter "shoes" of cars
How to put chains on wheels: tips and features of winter "shoes" of cars
Anonim

In many European countries, in conditions of heavy snowfall, winter impassability and dangerous ice conditions, motorists use a variety of measures to ensure safe movement. When the best winter tires "studded" are powerless, pay attention to anti-skid chains. Important in this situation is not only the competent selection of a chain that best suits the size of the wheels, but also its thickness, alloy, and the required number of links. In our article, we will take a closer look at how to put chains on wheels.

Choosing the right wheels

Anti-skid chains
Anti-skid chains

Many car enthusiasts think that for greater confidence and safety, chains should be put on all four wheels, but as practical experience shows, it is enough to “shoe” only two wheels to protect yourself from snow drifts as much as possible. From this we can conclude that bracelets should be worn on the wheels of the car, which are located on the drive axle. If your car is all-wheel drive, then there is acontinuous transmission of torque to all four wheels at the same time, chains should be worn on all wheels.

Chain expansion and alignment

Before putting the chains on the wheels, it is important to carry out a number of preparatory work:

  1. For the layout of protective structures, it is necessary to choose a flat and solid surface.
  2. After that, the snow chains for cars should be laid out in front of the wheels and carefully smooth out all the links. This will allow when putting on the chains not to damage them. If a metal break occurs, then during the movement of the car, the chain may break, which will cause an accident.
  3. On the pavement or on the ground, you need to position the chain so that the locks are on the outside, and the fastening hooks on the inside.

Moving a car on a chain

Chains for trucks
Chains for trucks

In order to put on the protective chains, you must park directly on the structure and be sure to park the car using the parking brake. After that, you need to straighten the chains and carefully put them on over the wheels, securing them with internal hooks. Then straighten the chain assembly and snap in the outer mounting latches.

A common mistake many car owners make is to put snow chains on car tires not on a hard surface. For example, on snow, loose soil. This happens because the protective chain cuts into the tire, which quickly causes it to deform. As a rule, the situation described applies specifically to low-profile rubber. Therefore, beforeuse hard alloy chains, pay attention to what rubber your tires are made of. If you ignore such subtleties, you will have to completely change the tire or even a punctured wheel.

Tire break-in

How to put chains on wheels correctly? After you have put on the anti-skid device, it is important to drive about 50-60 meters to allow the entire protective structure to “lie down” and “hug” the tires over their entire surface. After your vehicle has traveled the correct distance, you should make a final tension adjustment by tightening the slip chain locks.

Features of using wheel chains

Large size chains
Large size chains

Putting snow chains for passenger cars is simple, quick and easy. The considered method of protection is considered one of the best, because it allows you to protect yourself and your car from skidding in harsh climatic conditions or in snowy weather. A broken chain leads to negative consequences, such as tire damage or chain winding on suspension components, which contributes to an accident on the road.

When riding with chains, follow these tips:

  1. Get up to speed and slow down slowly. Do not load the car if you plan to drive on snowy roads. Avoid driving at high speeds. If you decide to buy chains in a specialized store, be sure to read the instructions for them before use.
  2. Never operate faulty chains. If a breakdown occurs or the chain falls off the wheel, immediatelystop the car. Reattach store bought or homemade chains to the wheels. Otherwise, completely remove the chains and drive without them. If this is not done in time, broken or improperly installed protective structures can ruin tires.

Types of snow chains

Protective chains on equipment
Protective chains on equipment

Metal products differ by type of vehicle - for trucks and cars, for SUVs. Variants that are used for trucks are considered to be in demand in Russia, since lighter structures get stuck more often and are “stronger”. Further, the chains differ depending on the “pattern”. Popular can be called "ladder" and "honeycomb". Here everyone chooses the most suitable option for themselves.

Many experts do not recommend driving a car with chains on clean and snow-free roads, as this damages the wheels and the road surface. Before putting chains on the wheels, check the tire pressure, because snow chains put a lot of stress.

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