If you find yourself trying to fit your chains in the dark, in a blizzard, you will thank yourself for having tried it in daylight before you left home.
Why is it so strongly recommended to try on snow chains or socks?
Tyre sizes are like shoe sizes - they are not exact measurements - due in part to variance from wear, but also between different models of tyre. So like with shoes, to not try them on is unwise. Doing so also addresses another big issue: understanding and practising how to fit the specific type you have bought. To re-cap: (a) Get suitable snow chains (b) trial fit to confirm they fit well (c) practise to be confident you know how to fit them.
How will I know if my chains or socks are not a good fit?
You trial fit them and if you are unsure of the result, send us a photo. (Assuming you bought them from us! Otherwise contact your retailer.)
What are the steps to trial fit my snow chains or socks?
The process to trial fit depends on the specific product, due to them having different fitting systems (see below). But note: you don’t need to drive on them to trial fit them! They are only meant to be driven on compacted snow or ice, so please don’t grind them against tarmac when they’re brand new.
The main advantage of socks is that they are intuitive to fit, so the only objective of a trial fit is to confirm you can do it and that they are a snug fit - tight enough to not be flapping around or come off, but not so tight that you can’t get them on.
Having fitted a sock over the top over the tyre, move the vehicle half a wheel rotation back or forth so you can get the other half on. This is the only product for which driving onto it is sensible in a trial fitting scenario, because they are made of textile not metal it will not cause damage or significant wear (but don’t drive around in them on tarmac willy-nilly as you will just wear them out).
View fitting video
- Konig K-Summit type (Regular, XL, XXL, & Vans)
These present the most problems for UK users trial fitting without snow, because you simply cannot fully test them without snow. The aim of trial fitting these, after adjusting for your tyre size as instructed, is to confirm that you understand how to attach them onto the wheel nuts, and the process to tighten and release them. Beyond that an element of trust or faith is required, for users without snow to trial them in.
For example, you cannot test them pulling onto the tyre - so do not get into the car to move it, or try driving on them - because to test their ability to self-centre requires driving at 30kph for 300 yards on snow. If you do that without snow, you will wear the product by grinding it into the tarmac, and they may not self-centre due to the friction of the tarmac relative to snow/ice. In snowy conditions the ice, snow or water on the tyre help the chains to slip on, and 30kph rotation of the tyre ‘throws’ the arms connected to the hub outwards, maximising the diameter of the chain also helping it to slip-on.
View fitting video
- Traditional Quick-Fit (Konig system) with or without auto-tensioning
Includes Polar 9mm & 16mm, Konig Zip-9, Zip-Ultra, XG-Cross, Zip Transport & XG-12 Pro
The aim with these is to practice the technique and confirm they fit your tyres well, which is achieved trial fitting (without driving on them!). Simply dress one of the chains on to a tyre, as per the instructions, this will be sufficient to assess the fit without moving the car.
Too large: the tensioner passes all the way through and ‘bottoms out’ against the ratchet mechanism at the bottom, meaning it cannot pull tighter to gain any more tension.
Too small: you can’t make one or more of the connections on the front, or having made all the connections the chain seems too ‘outboard’ such that that the ratchet or any part of the perimeter chain is too close to the road-surface (rather than on the sidewall of the tyre up away from the tarmac), and therefore risks being run-over as the tyre rotates.
In either case, if you suspect your chains are not a good fit please email us a photo to confirm and we will discuss sending a size down.
Pic of chain too small?
pic of chain too big?
- Konig Reflex Cross, Reflex Edge & Easy-Fit
These models have a fitting system which uses a steel-cable to pull them tight, as such trial fitting and assessing the fit is slightly different to the products above, but the principles are the same as with the quick-fit products in point 3. Follow the fitting instructions to dress a chain onto your tyre, confirming you understand how to get them on, check it appears to fit well based on the pictures in the instructions, or fitting videos on our website. Then follow the instructions to remove it, do not drive on them, and if you are unsure whether they are a good fit either pop-in with them or send us a picture or video.
Notice the thin red cable where the tyre meets the ground in the second photo, this shows the car has not moved. If the car had moved that red cable would be pulled tight to the back of the tyre, and then the only way to get them off would be to undo the chain and then drive off it, which is not necessary for a trial fitting, plus you might mark the chains thus rendering them un-exchangeable.
View fitting video
- Commercial / Drive-On Snow Chains
Includes the Konig Polar/TR range, Polar Commercial, and Konig TM-7 (and the majority of other Konig commercial or specialist vehicle chains).
These are the least commonly trial fitted, as they are relatively big and heavy. They are the only type of chain whereby you do need to drive onto them to fully check them, but for most users it’s sufficient to lay them out next to the tyre or drape them over the wheel without driving onto them.
Do!
- Watch our fitting videos for the product you bought
- Trial fit your chains - Check they fit, and you understand how to fit them.
- Trial fit them to the correct tyres (front vs rear)!
- Trial them on the actual tyres you will be using on your trip
Don’t!
- Drive on them, or move the car (in most cases).
- Try them on the wrong tyres (front/rear)
- Buy chains for one set of tyres and then change them (as they may not fit the new tyres)
- Trust answers given to you by AI about snow chains!