Of course, snow tires are always a good idea... but what if you're planning on venturing into the mountains for a little cold weather fun? Have you considered tire chains but thought they were over-kill?
If you're braver than I am and planning on heavy winter driving, our friends at the Department of Motor Vehicles have a few suggestions for you for chaining up this season:
1. The same way it is a good idea to test the braking and steering on a snowy or slippery road, you should test putting on the tire chains before you reach the mountain roads where they may be required.
2. Pick an open stretch of street, or a vacant parking lot. Take the chains out of their packaging or case, and untangle all of the links so they are hanging free in a web shape. Place the two separated chains by the tires to which you will apply them. For a front-wheel-drive vehicle, the chains should go on the front tires. For rear-wheel-drive vehicles, the chains should be applied to the rear wheels. Some trucks and extreme conditions may call for tire chains on all wheels, which is fine, but make sure you put the chains on the right tires when you only have two.
3. With the car parked, parking brake engaged, and car in gear, place the chain onto the tire, holding it from the top and ensuring that it is evenly placed over the wheel. Obviously, the bottom part of the chain cannot cover that portion of tire that is touching the road. Just fit the rest of the chain onto the wheel as best you can.
It should be noted that some chains have rings that go on the inside of the wheel, and help guide the chains into place. For these ring-type chains, be sure the open connection is on the bottom of the wheel. Once you place the chains on and the ring is going around the inside of the wheel, you can connect the bottom of the ring. This usually requires you to get right down under the car by the tire. You may need to change position to get the best angle on the connection.
4. Once the chain is evenly and securely on the three-quarters of the wheel that is not touching the road, repeat the process on the other side. When both chains are on, check to make sure the front of the car is clear, and drive forward a few feet. You only need to drive far enough to expose the rest of the wheels that were previously touching the ground. Put the car in gear or in park, engage the parking brake, and get out of the vehicle again. Now you can secure the chains squarely on the remaining wheel surfaces.
5. Next, tighten the chains by using a closer link on the chains. Now you are ready to drive, but only for a little bit. After you have driven 50 to 100 feet, you must get out and re-tighten the chains, which will likely have some slack from evening out across the tires.
Don't be alarmed by the bumpy ride. After all, you are driving with chains on your tires. For your practice run with the tire chains, you will likely be on a dry road, so limit the driving, but this is a good chance to get to know how they feel and how the car rides with the chains on.
Of course, we won't leave you stuck with chains on all the time, so let's review how to remove them:
Taking the chains off is much easier, once you have disconnected the inside rings or chains. This once again requires you to get right down to the lower inside of the wheel. (You may want to invest in some snow pants for all this snowy work!) However, once the inside ring or chain is disconnected, you can't simply pull the chains off! The chains will not disconnect on the bottom, where the tire is resting on the ground.
Simply lay the chains to the side of the tires as flat as possible, making sure that they are not still around the wheel or axle of the vehicle. Then you will drive forward a few feet, enough to get the car's tires clear from the chains. When putting the chains back in a bag or packaging, try to make sure they are not tangled together, and make sure they are dry.
You're ready to tackle the snow! And whether you chain up or stay in town, remember to drive safely this season!
