When Should You Use Tire Chains?

There's nothing like the panicked feeling when your vehicle loses traction on an icy, snowy road. You feel the lateral drift starting to affect the car. A trembling steering wheel makes you feel increasingly out of control. You feel the car fighting against it. You try your best to make amends and maybe make the right decision, maybe make the wrong decision. Your safety hangs in the balance at that moment. And thought just using tire chains would solve the problem.

Reduce winter driving risks
Most people who have experienced that moment also know that when it passes, you feel a sense of relief when you regain control of your vehicle. Even without thinking, you instinctively slow down. You become hypervigilant. Maybe even if it's daytime and the sun is out, you'll turn on the light. Whatever the smallest way to increase your security is crucial now.

Some people don’t know the feeling of relief because they never regain control. They end up in a car accident, maybe stranded in a snowstorm for a while, maybe injured or worse. The most important way to reduce this risk is to drive safely and cautiously in adverse conditions. It's also important to keep your car in good condition and well-maintained. The third element of safe winter driving is tires. Depending on state law, you must consider: winter tires, studded tires, and most effectively - use snow chains.

What are tire chains?
Tire chains are chains that are fixed around the tire. They are designed to use the weight of your car to dig through ice and snow while you drive. There is a learning curve when putting on chains for the first time, but once you master the process it becomes very easy.

To imagine how they work, imagine gardening. You pull up a weed with glossy leaves, but you lose your grip. The weed will slip from your hands. Now imagine pulling the same weeds while wearing garden gloves with a rough surface. This texture makes it easier for weeds to grow.

Or, imagine catching a football. Try it with your bare hands and a tough pass might slip through your fingers. With a textured wide receiver glove, the ball almost stops in your hands because you have more grip.

Use tire chains to increase grip. With them, you won't slip or slip on the road.

tire chain method
Laws regarding tire chains vary from state to state. If you're carrying snow chains from one state to the next, know the laws in both states. Certain highways may also have more precise tire chain laws, but this is rare. Just as tire chains can dig into ice and snow, they can dig into the road and damage it. A layer of ice and snow protects the road, but when that layer is gone, it's the road itself that you have to dig through. Doing so can also damage your tires.

North Carolina's tire chain law allows the use of tire chains "on any vehicle when safety is required due to snow, ice or other conditions liable to cause the vehicle to slip." Generally speaking, this means that when there are snow or ice conditions, driving can become dangerous because you risk losing control. If you're confused, ask a tire chain expert where you buy your chains and when to use them.

North Carolina's tire chain laws follow common sense. The benefit of using tire chains is that you can keep them in your car throughout the winter and use them whenever and wherever you need them.

If you need to pull over to install tire chains, it's a good idea to wear a safety vest so others can see you in low visibility conditions. It is usually recommended to drive into a safer area if possible.

Driving with snow chains
Snow chains should be used on all four tires of four-wheel drive vehicles. On two-wheel drive vehicles, tire chains must be used on the wheels on the drive axle, but it is safer and easier to control if you have chains on all four tires. If you only use them on the two transaxle tires, you will get oversteer on a front-wheel drive vehicle and understeer on a rear-wheel drive vehicle. Despite knowing this, it's hard to compensate, which is why it's almost always recommended to install tire chains on all four tires no matter what.

When using snow chains, keep driving speed below 30 mph. They provide you with greater safety in harsh conditions. They don't mean you can ignore all the other things you should do as a driver in inclement weather. They won't make your vehicle run the same way it does when there's no ice or snow on the road. It is dangerous to drive faster than 30 mph with tire chains on.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask the expert you purchased your snow chains from. Don't feel shy or shy. Many people ask, the more you know, the safer you are. They can give you excellent advice on tire chain selection and driving your specific vehicle with tire chains in the winter. For more information about snow chains and when to use them, contact Retro Lube Oil Change in Asheville.