Tire winterization is an age-old process that vehicle owners have been performing on their tires since automobiles were invented. One of the most common forms of tire winterization to prevent car repair is tire chains or tire chaining.Tire chaining is a relatively simple process. Snow chains that look like netting are affixed to the front tires on a front-wheel drive vehicle or all tires on a four-wheel drive. Generally, the snow chains are sold in pairs and need to be purchased according to the size of the tire.
Snow chains are extremely helpful in winter weather conditions. When driving through snow and ice, tires without chains can slip and have difficulty finding traction. Once a vehicle owner puts chains on their tires, they will notice that the car will handle better in extreme conditions. The tires will immediately find traction.There are some common mistakes when it comes to snow chain installation and upkeep. Most vehicle owners do not understand that the tire chain will fail to work well if not affixed tightly. The chain should be checked occasionally to make sure it is the right tightness. If it is too loose, it could come off and damage your vehicle or wrap itself around your axle. Loose chains can cause you to require car repair.
Also, a common misunderstanding involves the driving speed. When your car is fitted with tire chains, or snow chains, you should not drive over 30 mph. The maximum speed the tire chains can manage varies from product to product. However, it is important to know that there is a maximum speed to follow when you have tire chains. For example, you will have to avoid highway speeds.
Owners should also avoid driving on dry roads with snow chains. Of course, it is not entirely possible to avoid dry road driving all together. It is merely ideal to only use the chains if you will be driving predominately on wet, snowy and icy roads.Research the different forms of tire chains. There are many different types from diamond and link chains to a type of fabric called a snow sock that fits over the tire. Do a little research to find out which style is best for your vehicle and the climate that you will be driving in. You may find that the traditional snow chain is not the best choice for you.
Tire chains aren’t the only way to prevent winter car repair. There are other choices when it comes to winterizing your tires for heavy snow driving or driving during inclement weather. You can have snow tires installed on your vehicle. Snow tires are tires with deep or heavy grooves built into the tire. These tires generally have better traction than regular tires because the deep grooves allow the tire to grab the snow.