Common Mistakes People Make with Tire Chains
Tire chains, or snow chains, are used on roads in slippery conditions involving snow or ice on the road. Under extreme conditions, tires may lose their gripping ability on the road, requiring additional friction. Tire chains are a way to add friction so that the vehicle can move.
In some areas, the use of tire chains may be required under certain conditions and prohibited under others, so checking with the local authorities is a must. Local regulations may also dictate the number of chains to be used on a given type of vehicle.
Normally, tire chains are used only a vehicle’s drive wheels. It is important to know whether the vehicle is front or rear drive. If the vehicle is four-wheel drive, it is less likely to require chains for on-road operations. However, in areas of the world where the roads are steep or the road surface is slippery (say, of cobblestone or brick rather than asphalt), then chains may be required even on four-wheel drive vehicles. If being used in four-wheel operation, then all four tires should use chains. Otherwise, the vehicle needs to be forced into two-wheel operation.
One of the biggest mistakes people make in using chains is not trying them out before needing them. This is needed if the driver has used chains before because they come in different varieties, each with their own idiosyncrasies. Chains often come with at least minimal instructions that should be read, and the operations of putting on and taking off the chains should be done in dry conditions to test them out. Learning how to put on a particular type of chain in one foot of snow at 5 degrees Fahrenheit is not the most efficient way to learn how to use that particular type of chain.
After putting on the chains, they need to be checked and then rechecked to ensure nothing is too loose. Driving with chains that do not have all ends properly secured can allow them to strike the wheel well, causing damage to the automobile. In addition, movement of the wheels will cause realignment of the chains, which can lead to additional slack being found. The friction of rolling on pavement also causes heat, which can expand the chains outward. Therefore under conditions requiring chains, the vehicle should be driven a short distance and the chains rechecked and tightened if necessary.
Chains are designed to operate under snowy or icy conditions. Chains are not designed for high speeds, nor are they designed for driving on dry roads for very long. Damage to the roads, the chains or the vehicle may result if these are violated.
Chains are metal. Snow chains are usually coated, but the coating will begin to wear even after the first use. Thus, after the coating wears, the bare metal may be exposed to moisture and road salt, both of which will cause corrosion. Tire chains need to be cleaned and dried off thoroughly between operations.WD-40is a good lubricant to put on snow chains to prohibit rust, and it is light enough to not interfere with operation of the chains.
Being sure to know which wheels on the vehicle are the drive wheels, testing out the use of the tire chains in dry conditions, testing and retesting for looseness of the chains during operation, driving slowly and not driving for long periods of time on dry roads will help ensure safe and adequate operation of the vehicle while using the tire chains. Keeping the snow chains clean and dry in between operations will ensure longer life for the chains as well.
