In winter time, driving conditions can be snowier and icier, meaning it’s the time of the year to look out snow chains for cars. These devices add extra traction and are an essential part of winter life in certain areas, as well as for those visiting Andorra ski resorts such as Grandvalira by car.
In this guide, we outline the basics and essentials for winter driving and explain how to install a tyre chain for snow.
Snow chains: Types and features
To begin this guide, let’s answer the question of ‘What are snow chains?’ Put simply, snow chains are devices that add extra grip, to help a car move through icy surfaces in winter time. As for ‘How many types of snow chains are there?’, there are many different types, depending on budget and frequency of use, but there are four main types of snow chains. Below, we’ll go through each of these one by one.
Metal snow chains
Metal snow chains are the most common snow chains for cars, as they represent the best value for money and are the sturdiest. As the name suggests, these are chains made of metal, so they’re the ultimate type of snow chain.
Spider snow chains
It can be difficult to know when to put snow chains on your car, which is why the clip-on spider chains, with their install-once anchoring system, can be a good option.
Textile snow chains
Also known as snow socks, textile snow chains are made from specially designed fabric that wraps around the tyre to provide traction. These are recommended for more frequent use and we’ll break these down further below.
Hybrid snow chains
Hybrid snow chains are a mix between metal and textile snow chains. Some drivers prefer the hybrids because they’re easier to install than metal snow chains, but longer lasting than the textile ones.
How to fit snow chains?
If you’re a beginner or just learning how to drive with snow chains, it’s vitally important to practice installing them ahead of time. Most of the snow chains for tyres that were mentioned above are simple to install, as they either wrap around the tyre or are clipped across the tyre in the case of the spider snow chains.
However, metal snow chains for cars are the most complicated to put on. These are the six main steps to follow so that you can understand how to fit snow chains on a car.
1. Store your snow chains in an easy-to-access part of the vehicle and try to keep them untangled.
2. Once you have your snow chains out, lay them straight next to the tyres you’re installing them on.
3. Pull the far end of the chain over the top of the tyre, letting the metal rungs hang down both left and right.
4. Start to attach the chains using the clips.
5. Drive the car forwards or backwards a half metre to expose the quarter of the tyre that hasn’t been fitted yet. Attach the snow chains there too.
6. Add the tensioner, an essential part of any tyre chain for snow.
Once your snow chains of choice are attached, there are still some other things to keep in mind. Firstly, it’s a good idea to drive for around 10 to 20 metres and then stop, getting out the car to check nothing has come loose.
It’s also important to keep in mind that, in certain regions, there may be specific speed limits in terms of how fast can you drive with snow chains. It’s always advisable to drive slower when navigating snowy or icy conditions, but in certain places the law might actually set a new limit for anyone using snow chains for tyres.
Snow socks: A lightweight alternative
In the section above on the different types of snow chains, we brought up textile snow chains, which are also known as snow socks. Just like any kind of socks, the idea with these is that a piece of fabric acts as a covering, in this case a covering of the tyre. Given that they’re made from high-performance and lightweight fabric, these can be an effective and easier option.
How snow socks work: Traction through fabric technology
So, how exactly do snow socks work? Well, it’s all about friction and gaining traction through some smart fabric technology. Snow socks are designed with a special and intelligently arranged fabric to create dry friction. The snow socks have fibres which experts describe as being “hairy”, while they’re also placed at a 90-degree angle to maximise grip.
In terms of how to install snow socks, the process is much the same as that of any snow chain for a car. You can follow the same six-step process listed above, including the part where you drive the car forward slightly to then wrap the snow socks around the previously unexposed part of the tyre.
Benefits and drawbacks of snow socks
Among the main benefits of snow socks is the fact that they aren’t so bulky and thick as metal snow chains. That brings two advantages. One is that storage is easier. The other is that you won’t have such urgency to remove the snow socks once you pass through the snowy or icy conditions. On the other hand, with metal snow chains, you really do need to remove them ASAP once you’re back on normal ground.
As for the disadvantages of snow socks, there are two main ones. Firstly, the level of traction you gain might be slightly less than with other types of snow chains for cars. Secondly, snow socks are more likely to rip or suffer damage than metal snow chains.
Ultimately, it’s about working out which type of snow chains make the most sense for you, your budget, your style of driving and your likelihood of being in icy conditions. If you’re a regular visitor to Andorra ski resorts, for example, you’ll want to be prepared!