The Best Tire Chains for Snow (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023 | Autance

We like to keep you on your toes here at Car Autance, so without very first product, we’re going to throw you a bit of a curveball. This snow chain you see is not actually a chain at all – it instead uses a kind of metal cable design.

That unique design and construction is not the end to the list of features of this product, however, oh no it is in fact merely the beginning! The first thing to note is that this is a phenomenally versatile chain. What you’ll see as you make your way down our list is that many chains are specific to a certain vehicle type.

That does not apply to this product, however. That cable-style design means it has very, very low clearance, making it suitable for more types of vehicles. It’s also designed to be incredibly easy to fit, with no need to actually move the vehicle during installation. It also has a better level of compatibility with Anti-Lock brake system sensors than many other types of chain. 

Don’t be worried that grip has been sacrificed either, as the cable element of the chain has been designed to give better all round traction than conventional chains. This is a phenomenally well-designed snow chain, with a very reasonable mid-range price tag too.

Well-respected German accessories manufacturer Konig is behind the second item to make our list. These chains are specifically designed with SUV style vehicles in mind and are very much at the premium end of the market, with a price tag a little under 300 bucks making them easily the most expensive on the list.

For that price though you are getting a lot of top quality features. Perhaps the stand out is the patented, built-in self-tensioning system. This makes installation very easy, with the tire chain itself effectively regulating the pressure it requires between links for optimum performance. In practical terms, that means once you have the chain on, your work is done – no on the fly adjustments required as with some cheaper, less premium models.

Another cool feature is Nylon bumpers – you should be able to see them as small red balls on the image of the chains. They are designed to keep the abrasive metal surface of the chain out of contact with your alloy wheels, protecting them from damage.

Finally, in use, these chains boast a unique chain pattern plus welded double traction plates designed to give excellent grip and performance in snowy conditions. These car tire chains are not cheap – but they certainly have the features to live up to that lofty price tag.

Another different design, this one from Sanku is certainly eye-catching and not just because they are bright yellow. This is a pretty interesting design that is different from a traditional snow tire chain in just about every way possible.

What we essentially have here are 8 sets of pads that strap onto the tire, passing through the wheel itself. This makes them very easy to get on, with no need to move the vehicle – simply strap them on and away you go. That also makes them a universal sized product, in that it can be easily used on a variety of tire sizes.

Traction is not provided by a traditional chain either, but instead by anti-slip studs (called “nails”) which extend from each pad and help them to dig into the snow and ice.

These are kind of a strange design compared to most of the products on this list. The easy install, small size, low weight and the very (very!) low price though combine to make what could be a good chain to keep in the trunk for emergencies and occasional use.

These TerraGrips from TerraKing are Terrifying – at least in terms of their size. They are not really designed for use on typical passenger vehicles – instead, they are made for vehicles like lawn tractors.

So if you’re looking for chains to use on a passenger car on the road then skip on to the next entry. If you’re looking for something a little more… well, let’s say agricultural, however, this could be a product that interests you.

The first feature to notice is that this product is not your typical chain design. Whilst it does boast a chain to its edges, this is merely to hold the product together and in place. The tough, rubber slats that sit on the tire surface provide the actual traction. They provide sufficient traction to make them useful on a range of surfaces such as snow, gravel, mud, and mulch. At the same time, their rubber construction makes them soft enough to be deployed on a range of road surfaces without fear of damage.

These are not a product for everyone, but if you need a chain for a tractor or similar sized vehicle, you should take a closer look at this one.

Our second entry here from Security Chain and this entry is quite a bit different from the snow chain we looked at already from this manufacturer. The first thing to take note of here is the fact that this model is a far more traditional design. That means that this chain is not a universal fit, but instead is specifically designed for SUV and light truck sized vehicles.

Whilst the design is traditional though, we still have some excellent stand out features on this product. For example, this chain is very easy to install and remove, and furthermore, it does not require the vehicle to move during installation, a very welcome feature.

In addition to that, the product boasts built-in self-tightening ratchets. This is both part of the easy installation we mentioned above, as well as being a great design feature when on the move, ensuring that the appropriate pressure is held at all times.

The cross chain is scored with a diamond pattern for extra traction whilst in motion – this particular design also provides a smoother ride. All in all, then, this is a pretty well-designed tire chain with a lot of useful features. Add in the fact that it boasts a price tag of around 100 bucks and it should be very appealing to all SUV and truck owners. 

So far on this list then we’ve taken in some various designs of snow tire chains. We’ve had some designs like the first model from Security Chain that took the established design of a snow chain and added a bit of a tweak to the classic design. Then we’ve had products like the yellow pad style design from Sanku, which completely twists the notion of what snow chains for cars even look like.

This entry, our second from Konig, is different, however. This is your classic, standard snow chain here. At the same time, the fact it is made by a reputable company like Konig means that whilst this is a simple design, it has very good build quality.

There are no features here that are particularly outstanding. Instead, what you are getting is a simple and effective product designed to do exactly what you need time and time again. A price tag well below 200 bucks is pretty impressive too, meaning you are getting serious value for money for a very well made car tire chain.

You may well recognize this item from way back at the top of our list, as this is essentially the big brother of the SZ143 model by Security Chain. That particular set of tire chains was designed for typical passenger cars and SUV vehicles. This is exactly the same product, except scaled up for light trucks and larger wheel SUV’s.

So that means you are going to get all of the stand out features that made the smaller version one of the best tire chains we’ve seen so far. In case you missed that, this list of features starts with a very easy installation, with built-in rubber tensioners that are self-tightening. That means that you once you’ve got the chains installed they will maintain their own tension as you drive.

The metal cable design we saw before has also been used here, replacing the typical chain design seen on traditional products. That cable has a very low clearance (perfect for SUV’s), whilst also being designed to generate phenomenal grip and traction. It also plays well with Anti-Lock Brake System sensors.

As a large version, it naturally has a slightly higher price tag, but it is still excellent value for a very well designed product.

This is another simple but efficient design from Konig. It’s no coincidence by the way that this is the third appearance of Konig products on this list – they simply make some of the best tire chains on the market right now.

This is another simple but effective design in the same mold as the model we took a look at above. Again, no bells and whistles are present on this design, it is pretty much the most basic, traditional style of snow chain. However once again it is that simplicity that is one of the key selling points – the other of course is the high-quality build from Konig.

So again, nothing of earth-shattering innovation to report with this product. But also, once again, we have a very good value, very well made product that will simply do what it’s designed to do.

It’s worth pointing out too that with 12mm of clearance this product sits lower and closer to the tire than the previous Konig model, potentially making it a better option for vehicles with low clearance like SUV’s.

Our final product is called the Cobra Cable, which may sound like the name of a male porn star but is actually a pretty innovative chain design. What we’re looking at here is a chain that incorporates the cable-style design that we saw on the two Security Chain products we looked at earlier. That is going to help to provide good traction in the snow, whilst keeping the overall clearance nice and low.

You’ll also see that this model lacks a securing chain, instead of being held in place by a pretty thin wire. On the one hand, that may not provide the strength of some of the more rugged models on this list. It will, however, protect your alloys from being scratched up by big chains, so it’s a bit off a trade-off really.

It’s worth noting too that the price is phenomenally low on this product – you’ll be getting a fistful of change from a 50 dollar bill, so this is one of the best tire chains on the list from a pure value for money point of view.

In summary, it’s a pretty basic product, probably lacking the strength for heavier vehicles or tougher winter conditions. But for occasional use on lighter passenger cars, it has a number of good design features and a very attractive price tag.