how tight snow chains should be?

Answer 1

Step 1 - Prepare Your Vehicle
Ideally, you will be installing or removing the chains in your driveway or some equally safe spot. However, should you need to attach or remove your chains while on the road, be sure to find a safe and level stretch on the side of the road or highway. Whatever the location, be certain to give yourself at least 4 metres of clearance in front of and behind your vehicle to allow you the space to move onto the chains. Also be certain to set your parking brake - before putting your hands anywhere near the tires - to guard against any accidental slippage. Bracing the tires with wooden blocks isn't a bad idea as an added precaution. Last but not least, clear any excess snow away from the tires.
Step 2 - Set Out the Chains
First, determine whether your vehicle is front- or rear-wheel drive, since the chains must be hooked up to the set of tires doing the bulk of the work. Once you know to which set of tires you want to apply the chains, clear away as much snow as possible from around the tires to create a level surface. Lay the chains out underneath the car, placing the first rung of the each chain against the tire where it comes into contact with ground. Be certain that the studded side of the chain faces the ground - this is the part of the chain that provides the most traction.
Step 3 - Drive Up (or Down!) Onto the Chains
If you are placing the chains on a rear-wheel drive vehicle, you will have to back up over the chains. With front-wheel drive vehicles, you will have to drive forward onto them. Check to make sure that each tire is set directly over the chains, each with a strand overlapping both sides. Then get in your vehicle, start up your engine and drive (slowly, mind you) up (or back) onto the chains for a distance of about 2 feet.
Step 4 - Fasten the Chains
Once your tires are squarely placed on the chains, pull the overlapping ends over the top of the tire. Each end should have a closing mechanism that will fit through a link on the chain. Give yourself 25 to 50 mm of slack, then fasten each closing mechanism through a link on the opposite side of the chain.
Step 5 - Secure the Chains
The rubber loops that came with the chains should each have 4 metal hooks evenly distributed along its circumference. On the hubcap side of the tire, attach each metal hook to a diagonal point on the tire in a crisscross pattern. This will ensure that your chains won't slip.
Step 7 - Start Driving!
That's it! The snow chains should be properly secure now, providing traction for you on snowy roads. However, don't think your chains are insurance against going too fast under poor driving conditions. Start out slowly, paying attention to any banging or knocking sounds that might indicate loose or poorly positioned tires [QUERY: chains?]. Regardless of how secure they are applied, however, it is unwise to drive over 60 kph with snow chains affixed to your tires.
Step 8 - Remove the Chains
The bad weather can't last forever, so when the snow begins to go, it's time for your snow chains to go with it. Do not - under any circumstances - drive with snow chains on bare pavement; it can seriously damage your tires.
Removing the chains is even more simple than applying them. Simply follow the steps in reverse, wipe the chains down, and store them in a dry place until next winter!

Answer 2

PAY SOMEONE: When in doubt, go to your tire store and have them install the chains onto your tires. FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF: Snow chains should fit snug, but not so tight that if a link came undone, it could puncture your tire. One way to test the fit, is after you have positioned the chain around one tire, have someone else drive your car either forward or backwards just a little. Should the chain stay positioned around the tire, then it is a good fit. However, if you see that the chain has started dragging loose from the tire, it will need to be tightened(removing several links). Consider the chains as you would a ski boot sitting inside a ski... or hand n' glove. Driving with chains on the pavement when there is no snow can also ruin your tires.

Answer 3

you can't get tire chains too tight the only way to do this is to let the air out of the tire and then put the chains on.You can't drive fast with chains because they upset the balance of your tire.Tire chains are used only when you need them,then taken off when you are done to eliminate damage to the body of the car should a cross link break.Anyone that runs tire chains all the time is someone that lives in town and never goes over 30 mph.

Answer 4

Tire chains should be tight enough so they don't fall off, but with a little slack to allow the individual cross links to move around a bit. If they are TOO tight they can damage your tire.

Answer 5

lots relies upon on the year, make and sort of your automobile besides because of the fact the automobile you're pulling out. With approximately 40 two years experience with 4WD's, i could use a nylon tow strap particularly than a chain, bot greater good cost and larger. you % to place the tow strap around the axle of the automobile to be towed and the different end of the strap on your tow hitch or re-enforced bumper. in case you have an 8 cylinder engine disconnect 2 of your plug wires, one on each financial employer. it will make your engine run inconsistently which will forestall wheel spin. Pull sluggish without spinning your wheels. Do it quickly you ought to do hundreds of greenbacks of harm. think of 4WD gets you out of something? Tink returned. I had a 1941 protection rigidity ton and 1 / 4. i actually enjoyed it whilst Jeep CJowners made relaxing of me. i could wager them $one hundred that i ought to place 2 of their wheels off the floor and that they could not pass. consistently took up my wager te fools. i could positioned the properly suited rear and left front off the floor. you spot the Jeep CJ's lacked positraction interior the axle. So mutually as technically four wheelcontinual, purely the properly suited rear and left front provided any traction by using itself. As to mt 4WD, it ought to pull over timber 3 ft in diameter and ought to bypass just about everywhere. it fairly is weak spot exchange into dirt. have been given it caught in a river crossing as quickly as. I spent 4 days wit a intense elevate jack planting logs under in and slowly raising it out. finally did it inspite of the incontrovertible fact that. And it took approximately 20 minutes to place it in or out of 4WD, had to bodily do away with and replace the hubs. besides the undeniable fact that it fairly is 6Glinder engine gave a surprisingly spectacular 24 miles to the gallon. i will fondly submit to in ideas the 55MPH spped shrink. it may try this. sixty 5 MPH could have made the engine and allcontinual prepare fly aside. 60 exchange into appropriate velocity.

Answer 6

it should be very tight