Safety First: 8 Steps to Installing Winter Tire Chains
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- čas přidán 16. 12. 2010
- www.tranbc.ca
CVSE provides general instructions on how to install winter tire chains. For more information, go to this link: www.th.gov.bc.ca/SeasonalDrivi...
Step 1 - Lay the chains out on the ground with the traction part of the crosslink facing the ground. Ensure the chains are free of twists and tangles.
Step 2 - Place the chain over the tire with the fastener on the outside and the traction part facing up, away from the tire. Ensure the side chains and fastener hooks are not under the tire. Place
excess loose crosslinks under the tire. Hook the inside fastener as tight as possible, followed by the outside fastener pulling as tight as possible.
Step 3 - Drive forwards or backwards over the chain until the hooks are at axle height, about halfway up the tire.
Step 4 - Hook the inner chain first, as tight as possible, leaving just enough room to hook the outer fastener.
Step 5 - First, hook the middle fastener tightly.
Step 6 - Next, hook up the inside rail as tight as possible.
Step 7 - Hook up the outside rail as tight as possible.
Step 8 - If chains are equipped with tightening device (d-cam tightener), tighten now. If not, use bungee cords to remove slack.
For further information on tips for winter driving and safety tips check out Shift Into Winter: www.th.gov.bc.ca/SeasonalDrivi...
Special thanks to our CVSE staff Steve Haywood, Bruce Calbick and Cole Delisle for creating the video.
Commercial Vehicle Safety & Enforcement : www.th.gov.bc.ca/cvse/index.htm - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Final Step. Drive forward about 20 feet and recheck for tightness. Adjust if necessary.
If you drive for an extended period of time with the chains over clear asphalt, you might risk damage to your tires. If the snow is intermittent, over short distances, you should keep them on. But otherwise it is not recommended to run the chains over bare ground.
I scratch my head in Arizona confusion.
There are many different types of chains available out there. The best thing to do would be to call your local tire store and see if they have any that would meet your needs. Glad you liked the video!
Thanks for your comment. I'm glad you found the video helpful.
Thanks for sharing, this looks as complicated as I was afraid it was, but maybe I can do it. LOL
You can do it Shirley! Maybe try a practice run in the driveway before you actually need them. Safe travels!
The basic answer is that there is no such thing as ‘too tight’, however too loose can lead to actually having the chain spin on the wheel, (meaning little or no traction) or worse, working itself loose and coming off and damaging your vehicle. As for the side chains, same thing, the inside chains should be as snug as possible.Keep in mind that tire pressures lower significantly in the cold, so keep an eye on them. You’ll be such a pro you can star in the next vid!
@herrerafour
The tire size was 245/75 R16 on a 2000 Police Package Tahoe. Though, keep in mind, the video and installation was for demonstration purposes only and we do not actually install chains on our Tahoes as winter tires are sufficient for CVSE's needs. It's just intended to show the general process. Very good point you mentioned and worth repeating: owners should always read and follow the user’s manual.
And by the time you finish, it's summer..
+PhantomTD Is there some running gag about installing tire chains? Are people just lazy or stupid? It doesn't take all that long, especially if you learn how to install them before even attempting it (which you should of done in the first place.)
Oh cool, I just searched how to put on tire chains and the first video is from B.C., where I live. Dope. Not that it matters at all.
Thanks for the helpful video. I just ordered a set of chains and they are just like the ones you demonstrated. You just made my life a lot easier. Much obliged!
I would put the bungee with on the hooks facing out, so that they are less likely to come loose. Also, it would help to have the hooks at 12/6, 9/3 o'clock, as you look at the wheel, for more uniform tensioning. It is far better to have too many bungees, than tire chains wrapped around the axle, because they got loose.
I'll go for 2 bungees so there is a back up if one breaks, or ever a 3rd if the chains are getting loose (they stretch with use and your tyres get smaller with wear).
Thanks for the tip this will help me when winter time come in a semi will be my first time driving a semi in winter
great demonstration only one thing to add if road condition is iced like a mirror add a chain to one of the tire in the front for rear wheel drive vehicle it help to keep your front end on the road and help to slow down also
it was looking so good...until the "bungee cord" part. There should be 6 hooks and they should be SMOOTH side towards the tire (if the hook faces the tire, it can damage the tire) and the hooks should be evenly spaced around the entire chain - start with one side, then do the hook on the opposite side and so on until all 6 hooks are evenly spaced
@TheOriginalBleachX Thanks for the comment. It is true, our CVSE officer does take his time to show exactly how the chains are to be installed, but after you have done it once, and become familiar with the process, we think the time involved beats being stuck in the snow hands down.
Thanks for the comment. I have driven in Ontario in the winter and can appreciate the volume of snow which you deal with, but I think the snow chain legislation in BC is due to the steep grade often involved in our winter travels. When combined with snow, steep inclines can make for very treacherous driving conditions. That is not to say that snow chains are a handy thing to have in your car or truck no matter where you live in the winter. It pays to be prepared. Hope this helps.
This was very helpful, thanks!
@zave1525 Most GMC's and Chevrolet fullsize's, didn't start using 265/75/16's off the production line until 2004. 1988-2004 came standard with 245/75/16's.
Thanks for the video - I've used it on my blog post about installing tire chains as a reference. Cheers Rick
good video, thanks. looks easier than laying them on the ground, and driving onto them. the rubber bugies are a lot harder to stretch in the winter, so i run it directly across first, then to the top and bottom, seems to work better for me.
question, is there such a thing as too tight? im going to be leaving them on for a couple weeks, and just driving around short distances.
how about having the inside (hard to reach) too tight or loose in comparison to the outside (easy to reach) ?
The video is good and I realize putting them on first before you hit snow is smart. However, putting them on in 6" of snow is much more time consuming then one would think. I've used cable chains and they seem to work just fine and much quicker to put on
Thank you.
Thank you!
We have these chains on our trucks but we dont have that extra "lane" he put on last after tighten the chains up.Every year there comes trucks from what we call the eastern block. They dont have the chains for the nordic-weather nor the tiers for it so every years theres atleast 30 trailers/trucks that is stopped by customs by the border of Norway/Sweden and they dont let them pass before getting atleast 3 sets of chains (min.) than they have too put them on (for testing if they can do it..)
very nice video.
Thank you !!
@BlazerVette my truck is a 2000 and it came with 265. i think z71 had that tire cuz it was off show room.
I lay the chains out and back over them 1/3rd of the way and tgwm pick up the long section and throw it over the tire. Makes it a breeze.
Hey thanks! I'm driving out west and needed to know how to put them on. I'm going to practice first! I have an all wheel drive Outback, do I need them on all four tires?
Thanks officer
Thanks for posting this, now maybe the next time road conditions necessitate chains I can just chain up my own truck and the guy in front of me will know how to chain his truck up by himself.
Also: Those chains look much more resilient than the ones I have, where do you get those? Those look similar to the kind you see on class 8 type trucks.
Thank you that was very helpful
@MinistryofTranBC but some have 265/75r16 not much. but every chevy/gmc i seen have 265.
good job cop
thank u so much this video is very helpfull
what manufacture of chains are those? I like the one with the cam device.
Murphy's Law would lean to that, but we are hoping that by using this video, more people will be driving safely in the winter.
Do you need to put them on all your tires? I live in CA where I don't need them, but I will move to NC where I may eventually need them. By the way, if I buy snow tires, will I not need these chains? Thanks for this video.
@lawrencekaori yeah thats true.
Will the chains damage the tire if once you get through the snow you drive on clear asphalt?
The type of chains you many need and how they should be installed, and whether you can get away with just driving snow tires will depend, but you can find out more at our site: th.gov.bc.ca/SeasonalDriving/winter_chains.html
Thanks:)
you are welcome baby
dose it works on black ice ?
what kind of chains do you have?
blazer vette the z71 is the off road suspension package gm and chevy use yess i know they are the same company but the z71 should not make a differince in tier size or snow chain application
I wish you CVSE folks would pull over more trucks at the scales and make the driver demonstrate how to install their chains. There are far too many morons closing down the Coq etc who have chains and no idea how to use them. Especially our "New" Canadians!
Mike S.
Professional Driver.
cheater method to driving forward: 2x4 or 4x4 wood block under tires just a hint from a truck driver can get equal tightness on chain at same time.
Chris S. Now that is a good idea.
it all looks easy guess i will find out i wonder back and front tires?
***** If you have front wheel drive, the chains should be on the front two wheels and on the rear wheels if rear wheel drive.
+Randy Kinser Even if you do not have 4x4, the front tires provide steering and braking. If the front fender does not permit chains, you can use cables, as they are more designed for front wheel drive vehicles.
I met a guy on a cruise who told me he had no idea what tire chains were and people didn't use them. He was from northern usa some where. At the time I felt like an idiot who had gotten some fantasy in his head from childhood that I had always believed.
I remember my mother putting tire chains on in the winter in Washington state during the 60's.
How many chains for a dually pick up truck? It's not 4X4. Also, where can I get them and best brands?
One set of chains for the outside tires are required. Unfortunately we can't recommend anywhere specifically to buy them, but a quick google search should help.
On the inside of the wheel, only one hook holding it in place? No locks nothing?
Watch carefully the video clip. You'll see the answer
the set our company bought doesn't have those spikes or that bungee thing, think we got ripped off and should get another set...
lol
my Nissan Sentra seems to only have the front passenger wheel that turns. Would it be okay to only put chains on what seems to be the only spinning Tire
It should be on both front wheels, i have never heard of a single wheel drive system. But even if, to avoid slides put it on both front tires ( You can get Snow chains only in pairs, at least where I live anyways)
Ryan Lehman you have a differential and it most likely delivers power to the wheel with least traction. chain them both
That's because you have an open differential in the front which does not allow both wheels to spin when there is a loss of traction. Both wheels have power coming from the engine through the transmission.
Why didn't he put the chains in front the tires with the V bar facing down and drive up on them, much easier!
yeah or... you install snow chains in your tires to drive safely and other driver crash on you because he didn´t LOL
Does an AWD need all tires chained?
Sorry we missed this comment during the winter season. Chains on all four is the best possible scenario, but if you only have one set, they are best on the front axle. Thanks for connecting with us here!
how many tire do i have to put the chains on? And if I need to put only 2 chains on and if my car is a Front-wheel-drive car, should i put the chains on front tires or rear tires? Thank you.
Tyler Ng If your car is a front wheel drive you should install the chains on the front two wheels.
+MinistryofTranBC I have all wheel drive- Rav4 2012. where do I put them on? Front? back?
+Gretchen Walz Consult your vehicle's driver manual to determine the drive power ratios for your vehicle. Typically an all wheel drive has a 60/40 ratio between the front wheels and rear wheels. 60 for the front and 40 to the back. Chains should be put on the tires receiving the greatest amount of power (typically the front wheels). Hope that this helps!
+Gretchen Walz On an AWD, if you plan to go over a slow pace, you would want to do all four to prevent drivetrain damage.
thank you!!!!
Improper installation can have adverse effects towards one's car and traction.
putting chains on should be a part of a truck driver course in BC.........and part of the exam too.............there is an easier way of doing it...........i drove throu bc for a last 16 winters................i can show you if you want..............good luck
installing chains front or back tires?
That depends on if your vehicle has front or rear wheel drive. The chains should go on the axle with the drive power. Hope that this helps!
You've got 2 choices : (1) Either chain up , No tickets , No accidents . (2) Or you can sit it out , wait until road clears while YOU hold up the customer & costing company money !!!
when is this going to become part of a commercial drivers Road test? it's unbelievable that's it's not already.
Peter Bilt Because it doesn't snow everywhere.
I want to be a bicycle cop.
Damn that's a LOT of work. There's got to be a better invention for this. I would put them on and leave them until spring haha. It would take you 2 hours to do on the side of the road in the snow and you would have hypothermia by the time you are done.
2 hours... I've done it in the snow and took me less than 10 minutes
+Double Red_Rolex there are a lot of designs. this particular design is almost obsolete in europe, no one is using them anymore.
i don't know if people actually still use them in US, i find it weird to get in all that trouble when there are so much better and easier solutions
It's Just Milk I Swear at least you tried...
+Double Red_Rolex You think so? It actually isn't that much work. You're probably only thinking of fitting your tires in the real shit of the winter and not in your garage or somewhere out of the elements.
Yes, we still use chains like these in the US :/ and I agree with you, I hate these chains!!
If anyone knows the tire size used on this police tahoe, please let me know. I have a 2004 tahoe and the owner's manual states that chains are no to be used with the oem tires.
I would love to know so I can get the same rim/tire size combo and finally get the chains I need. Thanks.
You were a cop you should know that those are legal now
I'd rather be stuck than to take an hour to do that for 4 tires. No thank you. LOL
obviously you don't live anywhere where chains are a necessity. come to the Rocky Mountains sometime.
xaxaxaxa ... try it on real snow ...
prefer to see it in real time rather than editing out the messing about.
Howdy I live in Alaska and normally we can get 24 - 30 inches of snow in a week sometimes less or more. I can on average install these type of chains in roughly 12 - 14 minutes depending the mood I am in. Some times I might go 3 - 4 weeks without removing them from my one truck but my other one I do not even bother to remove them. My cabin is 7 miles from the closest rd with my so called driveway being about 2 miles long. Yes at times one has to drive on dry pavement but this is nothing new. The links of the chains are made of hardened steel and last a long time if there tension is kept tight. On a 4 wheel drive truck you only need them on the front because front tires have most weight & you depend on them to steer other wise the rear tires try to push the fronts while steering. Pavement is not that big a deal just plan a head but this year they are needed more mud. Take care
Who has time for all that shit, what if its already snowing
***** wear gloves? also, the officer stated best to do it prior to snow... in the winter, you have a fairly good knowledge of how often it snows depending upon where you are, it's not difficult to check the weather every now and then throughout the weeks. And it doesn't take as long, he was explaining it so it took longer. you would probably want to align two at once