Snow Chains Ranked by Fit, Grip and Install Time
The Security Chain Company SZ143 Super Z6 is the best choice for most modern cars thanks to its low clearance design and self tensioning system. The Peerless Auto-Trac 0232605 suits SUVs and light trucks, while the Konig XG-12 Pro is the pick for quick roadside fitting.
For most modern cars the Security Chain Company SZ143 Super Z6 is the right snow chain, with the Peerless Auto-Trac 0232605 for SUVs and light trucks and the Konig XG-12 Pro when fast fitting matters most.
Snow chains are genuinely difficult to buy because fit is determined by your exact tyre size and by how much clearance sits between the tyre and the suspension, and getting either wrong can damage the vehicle. We compared clearance class, tensioning method, link pattern and published fitting procedures, then weighed those specifications against what owners report about installing chains in the dark with cold hands.
The shortlist, ranked
Security Chain Company SZ143 Super Z6 Cable Tire Chain
The Super Z6 is designed for vehicles with limited clearance, which covers most modern cars and crossovers where a traditional chain would contact the strut or brake line. Its rubber tensioner does the tightening automatically, removing the need to stop and retighten after a short distance. Owners report it is the set that most often fits when a conventional chain does not.
Pros
- Fits vehicles with tight wheel well clearance
- Self tensioning removes the retighten stop
- Relatively quick to fit
Cons
- Cable design wears faster than link chain on bare road
- Less bite in deep snow than heavy link chains
Peerless Auto-Trac 0232605 Light Truck and SUV Tire Chain
Peerless builds the Auto-Trac around an automatic tightening ratchet that pulls the chain snug as you drive off, which is what makes it so popular with people who fit chains rarely. The diamond pattern gives good lateral grip as well as forward traction. It is sized for light truck and SUV tyres, so check the fitment chart carefully against your exact size.
Pros
- Automatic tensioning simplifies fitting
- Diamond pattern grips laterally as well as forward
- Robust enough for repeated seasonal use
Cons
- Needs adequate clearance, not for tight wheel wells
- Heavy to handle and store
Konig XG-12 Pro Snow Chains
Konig designed the XG-12 Pro so it can be fitted from the outside of the wheel without reaching behind the tyre, which is the part everyone dreads in a snowbank. It self tensions and self centres as the wheel turns. Based on specifications it has one of the shortest fitting procedures here, at a premium price.
Pros
- Fitted entirely from outside the wheel
- Self centring and self tensioning
- Works on many low clearance vehicles
Cons
- Highest cost in this group
- Fitment sizes are specific and sell out
Thule Easy-fit CU-9 Snow Chains
Thule builds these around a one touch tensioning mechanism and a removable handle that does the work, making them among the easiest chains to fit and remove. Build quality and finish are a clear step above budget sets. They are aimed at drivers who want reliability on occasional alpine trips rather than daily winter use.
Pros
- Among the easiest chains to fit and remove
- High quality construction and finish
- Compact hard case for boot storage
Cons
- Expensive relative to cable chains
- Specific to a narrow tyre size range
Glacier Chains 1042 Passenger Cable Tire Chain
Glacier cable chains are light, easy to store and cheap enough to keep in the boot as insurance for the one snowy weekend a year. Cable designs give less bite than heavy link chains but need far less clearance and are gentler on the ride. Owners report they are best treated as a means of getting out of a situation rather than a set for sustained winter driving.
Pros
- Cheapest way to carry emergency traction
- Very compact in a boot
- Minimal clearance required
Cons
- Manual tensioning means stopping to retighten
- Wears quickly on cleared pavement
Security Chain Company SC1032 Radial Chain Cable Traction Tire Chain
The SC1032 is a straightforward cable traction set aimed at passenger cars driving occasional snowy roads rather than mountain passes. It fits easily in tight wheel wells and stows in a small bag. Traction in deep or packed snow is limited compared with link chains, which is the trade for that compactness.
Pros
- Fits vehicles with very tight clearance
- Small and light to keep in the car
- Simple design with few parts
Cons
- Limited grip in deep snow
- Manual retighten required after a short drive
Peerless 0231705 Auto-Trac Passenger Tire Chain
This is the passenger car version of the Auto-Trac system, bringing the same automatic tightening to smaller tyre sizes. It suits drivers who want the convenience of self tensioning without the bulk of a truck set. Clearance requirements are higher than pure cable chains, so verify before buying.
Pros
- Self tensioning on a passenger car set
- Good all round traction pattern
- Simple fitting sequence
Cons
- Needs more clearance than cable chains
- Bulkier to store than a cable set
How they compare
| # | Model | Clearance | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Security Chain Company SZ143 Super Z6 Cable Tire Chain | Rated for low clearance vehicles | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Peerless Auto-Trac 0232605 Light Truck and SUV Tire Chain | Light truck and SUV | Best for SUVs and trucks | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Konig XG-12 Pro Snow Chains | External fitting, no reaching behind the wheel | Best for quick fitting | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Thule Easy-fit CU-9 Snow Chains | One touch tensioning system | Best premium option | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | Glacier Chains 1042 Passenger Cable Tire Chain | Passenger cable chain | Best budget | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | Security Chain Company SC1032 Radial Chain Cable Traction Tire Chain | Radial cable traction chain | Best for light snow | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | Peerless 0231705 Auto-Trac Passenger Tire Chain | Passenger cars | Best for passenger cars | 8.0 | Check price |
How to choose
Check clearance before you check price The critical question is how much space sits between your tyre and the nearest suspension or brake component. Many modern cars have so little that a conventional link chain will contact and damage brake lines or struts. Vehicle handbooks often specify a clearance class, and manufacturers publish which chain classes suit which vehicles. If your handbook says chains are not approved for your car, take that seriously rather than buying a set and hoping.
Cable chains and link chains do different jobs Cable chains use steel cable with alloy rollers, need very little clearance and ride relatively smoothly, but they wear quickly on cleared road and give less bite in deep snow. Link chains use hardened steel links in diamond or ladder patterns, dig into packed snow and ice far better and last longer, but they need more clearance and are heavier to handle. Choose cables for occasional emergency use in a low clearance car and links for regular winter driving in a truck or SUV.
Self tensioning is worth paying for Traditional chains loosen as they settle onto the tyre, so the procedure is to fit them, drive a short distance, then stop and retighten. Self tensioning designs use a ratchet or rubber tensioner to take up that slack automatically, which is the difference between one stop and two in freezing conditions. A loose chain is also the main cause of chains flailing and damaging wheel arches, so the safety benefit is real.
Fit and drive them correctly Practise fitting the chains in your driveway before the trip, since the roadside in a blizzard is a terrible classroom. Fit chains to the drive wheels, or the front wheels on a front wheel drive car, and to all four if the vehicle permits and conditions demand. Keep speed below the manufacturer limit, typically around 30 miles per hour, avoid hard acceleration and braking, and remove chains as soon as you reach cleared road since bare tarmac destroys them quickly.
Questions worth asking
How do I know what size snow chains I need?
Read the tyre size from the sidewall, for example 225 slash 65 R17, and match it against the manufacturer fitment chart. Chains are sold by tyre size rather than vehicle model, and a set that fits one car will not necessarily fit another with different wheels.
Do chains go on the front or rear wheels?
On the drive wheels, so the front on a front wheel drive car and the rear on a rear wheel drive one. Four wheel drive vehicles vary, so check the handbook, since some manufacturers specify a particular axle or require chains on all four.
How fast can I drive with snow chains on?
Most manufacturers specify a maximum around 30 miles per hour. Exceeding it risks the chain breaking and flailing into the bodywork or brake lines. Slow, smooth driving is also what makes chains effective in the first place.
Can snow chains damage my car?
Yes, if they are the wrong clearance class, fitted loosely or driven at speed. That is why clearance class and correct tensioning matter more than any other consideration. Follow the handbook and check the chains after the first short drive.
Are cable chains as good as link chains?
For traction in deep snow, no. Cable chains give less bite and wear faster, but they need much less clearance and are far easier to handle. For a low clearance car making occasional winter trips they are usually the only practical option.
Do I still need chains with winter tyres?
Winter tyres transform grip and handle most conditions, but some mountain routes legally require chains regardless of tyre type when a chain control is in effect. Carrying a set that fits is the difference between continuing and turning back.
How long do snow chains last?
With correct use and prompt removal on clear road, several seasons of occasional use. Driving on bare pavement is what destroys them, sometimes within a few miles, so remove them as soon as the road clears.
How should chains be stored between trips?
Rinse off road salt, dry them thoroughly and store in the supplied case or bag. Salt corrosion seizes links and ratchets, and a seized tensioner is discovered at the worst possible moment.
Our pick
The Security Chain Company SZ143 Super Z6 is the set that fits the widest range of modern low clearance vehicles while tensioning itself as you drive. Choose the Peerless Auto-Trac 0232605 for an SUV or light truck that needs real link chain bite, or the Konig XG-12 Pro if fitting speed in bad conditions is what you value most.
