How to Put Chains on Your Tires

Rather than take your vehicle to a mechanic or an auto shop to have tire chains installed during icy or wintry conditions, you can save a good deal of time and money by taking up the project yourself. Although many people assume that installing tire chains can be a difficult and lengthy process, it's actually quite straightforward for nearly every vehicle. If you live in an area where there is ice on the roads or other potentially dangerous road conditions during the winter, tire chains are an invaluable addition for your vehicle.

Tools and Materials

• Tire chains
• Vehicle owner's manual

Step 1 - Check the Manual

Before you install tire chains on the tires of your vehicle, it's important that you first check on a few things about your car. You can do this by referencing the vehicle owner's manual, which most people keep in the glove box. This will allow you to be prepared to install tire chains at any point in time, whether you're at home or in the middle of a drive and you encounter rough conditions.

Specifically, check the manual to see whether your vehicle has front or rear wheel drive. You'll want to put the chains on the tires that control the motion of the car. Look in the manual to see if your vehicle has any "S class" restrictions or other warnings against using standard snow chains. These may require that you purchase specialty chains for your vehicle.

Step 2 - Set the Brake and Lay the Chains

When your car is parked in a safe place away from traffic and with several feet of space both in front and behind it, set the emergency brake. If there are other people in the car, they can wait inside or stand outside of the car. Lay the chains out flat on the ground and double check that there aren't any twists in the links.

Step 3 - Install the Back Chains

Drape the chains over the back tires. Ensure that the J-shaped hook portion of the chain is on the inside portion of the tire. You should also check to make sure the smoother side of the chains is resting against the tire as well. Have someone pull the vehicle forward by a few feet so that you can pull on the slack in the tire chains from behind the vehicle. Attach the chains by inserting the fasteners into the inner links of the chains and securing them in place according to the chain instructions. The chains should be attached as tightly as possible.

Step 4 - Install the Front Chains

If you're installing front tire chains as well, repeat the same process as Step 3. Instead of pulling the vehicle forward, however, you'll need to have someone move the car back by a few feet so that you can fasten the chains and tighten them sufficiently.