I understand you gave the "expensive chains" an X on affordability because they are the most expensive of the products tested, but remember that getting stuck and calling a tow will already negate any savings from a cheaper, but much less effective product. Buy the right thing once instead of buying the cheap thing over and over!
@@lisalee2885 if you are someplace with a cell signal or with 2 hours of AAA. I am guessing this video isn’t the normal roads they you find yourself on either.
Yeah its really not worth risking your vehicle with a shitty product(and probably unlawful on many mountain passes)...its cheap when thinking about it as extra insurance.
A word of warning about any product where the fitting strap goes through the wheel. Check that the straps do not foul the brake callipers. Some cars have very little clearance between the calliper and the wheel.
Good point - I had to get larger wheels when I upgraded my brakes and the clearance is very tight. Also, the spacing of the spokes can make even spacing of these impossible, which will make durability even worse
Having spent a lot of my life off road in the snow, quality chains are a must. Also, it’s more work, but chain up all 4 and be in 4 wheel drive!! The heavier the vehicle with more ground clearance and narrower tires is also important. Too light of a vehicle, will stay on top of the snow and the chains will not dig into the ground.
Thank you for your sacrifice of enduring the cold and snow to review these products so we don’t have to waste our time and money! The content was clear, unbiased, entertaining to watch and very helpful! Thanks so much!
Bought this for my small back deck in the Eastern Sierra. ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxoHYZbq5g9fkcAtinlTqstNlje-UQkCHN We get A LOT of HEAVY snow so I was a bit skeptical but it was worth it! After the first storm of the year this has exceeded expectations! It throws snow very well, even 10-12” + that said the more it piles up the harder it is to maneuver the machine. It is exceptionally light weight and overall exactly what I was looking for. If you have a large amount of snow and a lot of area to clear, you may consider something with a drive engine to help maneuverability, but for decks, second stories, roofs etc, you can’t beat the light weight to great snow throwing ratio. Side note, the chute rotator is a bit flimsy and it initially didn’t seem to work, after a few uses it seems to have loosened up.
Yeah, theres a reason a lot of these easier solutions aren't listed as approved/legal for mountain passes; even studded tires on my pass don't count as replacements for chains in really severe conditions (all vehicles in winter going over the pass are required to have them in the trunk.) so for that reason I prefer studless snow tires for just snow and cables/chains for ice.
You will be even more surprised when you try them in person. Here is my video about chains in fairly deep snow on an old rear-wheel drive car: ua-cam.com/video/7qn-sLhCGgQ/v-deo.html Chains turn almost any car into a rather powerful all-terrain vehicle!
@@pihva_rusni Yep, used to take my 84 2WD Ford Ranger up hunting on the same back country sometimes snow or mud covered roads...throw the V-Bar chains on and that truck would go anywhere the guys in their jacked up 4x4s were going. Many of today's cars, SUV's, and pickups don't have space for true chains so you are stuck with lesser quality cables but those do work they just don't last as long.
I love your sense of humor! Your very practical tests were very informative. I hate metal tire chains, too, but it seems that’s what I’ll have to resort using on my ski trip.
Ok, Sergiu, few obs: 1. Not only steel wheels can cut that plastic, but also "diamond cut" can have sharp edges, depending on each style. 2. I will NOT recommend under no circumstances to have anything tied up to the rims - especially if you have some after market ones. Minimum contact with the alloy is best. 3. You did not include in the video "tyres socks" or "huse" (in romanian). It would have been very nice to have a comparison since they're kind of different approach. 4. It is worth to mention that no insurance company will cover damage caused while using snow chains. So choose wisely when you buy it.
Those "cheap chains" in a bag are truck style chains and are easy and quick to fit and removeand won't be as tangled as intimated. So long as they are kept tight (which is the secret of using any chains) they will out live and out perform any of the more fancy alternatives. Look for cam tensioners, but decent spider tensioners work fine and make sure of good steel quality (reputable manufacturers). They are also easy to repair - all chains eventually break. They weren't given enough attention here. Pity. As a former truck driver and UK resident of Scottish Highlands and used to working in the Lake District and Snowdonia, I speak with some experience. For more level terrain, socks and, even better, studded tyres (if legal) work very well. For UK residents, unfortunately, silly governmental capers have made obtaining decent chains more expensive, as European continental residents will be aware. Good video, though.
A few years ago I bought a Chinese copy of these pewag chains, and they are wonderful: cheap, reliable and durable. They are both suitable for my Lacetti with 185/65/14 tires and the lada with 175/70/13 tires. If necessary, riding on chains on a fairly deep snow is fun. Because without chains Lacetti still behaves quite well in the snow, but the old lada is completely hopeless.
You can also improve traction a bit by letting pressure out of the tires. Just make sure you have a way to reinflate once you're back to clear roads. 10-25 PSI is sufficient.
While this is true in snow, most of the time on the road you will be dealing with ice. Letting out air will actually worsen traction on ice, as you have a larger surface area and therefor less pressure on the ice. Basically the opposite of spiked tires.
The traditional snow chains that you did not install are a major PITA to install, especially in the dark in snow. But they are the best of all your options, because they give the best traction
This video stopped me from buying option 2 bracelets, which looked so great in the presentation. Thank you! Even though the fresh loose deep snow is not what you are going to face traveling through Alps in winter. I would like to see how they work on asphalt with 2-3 centimetres of snow just 20 minutes after the snowstorm started. Inclination like 10-20°.
I once had to go somewhere in my 4 wheel drive Ford Ranger in deep snow. I put bar reinforced tire chains on all four wheels. It would go in snow that was all the way to the tops of the fenders. There just is no substitute unless you go to some sort of tracks. In that case, get a Bombi or a Weasel.
I absolutely agree with others, "expensive" chains are always worth the price when you consider the alternative, which is getting stuck in snow... or worse! But honestly cheap snow chains aren't so difficult to install if you have the bare minimum of manual dexterity. Of course just reading the instructions for the first time once you're at -10° in a storm with knee-deep snow isn't the best policy... Try and install them beforehand in a dry and warm place, and you'll be so much better off 😉
Good video. I bought a pair of those yellow cinch strap snow chains for my wife and I. they do work but they are not designed for deep snow. they are more for a surprise snow to help you get home. I still need good tires and common sense. Once again, great video.
@@SergiuGabor the one thing that this ignores is that while they work and they aren't broke they are often difficult to install and often are damaged by use and living in an area with a lot of ice that requires you use them regularly. Something that lasts longer, works, and simplifies the installation, that would definitely be a good thing, for example what if you have an area where you go to bed and sometimes wake up it's snowing ice a wraparound may not work very well because your car cannot move well to install and drive over, so I sent style that will allow you to partially install, it's much nicer, however these styles often suffer from breaking much easier than the steel chains, as they are often flat with spikes or otherwise that breaks. I think a better approach is that if it isn't broken don't completely try to create something new but never stop improving
The great fact to remember is that you will rarely be putting chains on in good conditions. It will probably be dark, snowing and far from home, help or streetlights. You have a new subscriber.
Well if this isn't the most straight forward and convincing test/comparison video on a product I've ever seen. I was real close to get those yellow ones on Amazon but I'm gonna get some full on snow chains.
@@krisg822 8 bought similar ones in a shell station as I forgot my chains. 10€. But they feel more like rubber /soft plastic opposed to the hard plastic used here. I only put on one of them and got out. Sometimes you just need a little traction to get you going. It's similar to using a stick in your rims if you need to get out of mud. Not that I would advise that this is a full replacement for traditional chains.
Was in Russia in 2019 and saw a guy with rope tied around his wheels, about 5 ropes per tyre and he was making good progress thru deep snow (in a rwd Lada). Probably not great durability or high speed use but great ingenuity and free if you got old rope lying around!
There is a main road with a steep hill here, it's name is "Gunnybag hill" I got the name from all the gunnybags at the top of the hill. I seems that in the very early 1900's they would tie gunnybags around the tires to climb this hill. I found this humorous.
Good test definitely and now I feel I made a bad decision when I bought the second test you did with the Chinese product. Maybe those wrap around would work fine with less snow on the ground or when not going on a steep road. Thank you.
Wow. I’m sort of blown away. I’ve lived in snowy areas for about 12 years and never once had an issue. But I just bought a home in the mountains on a 20 degree road. First time I tried to get up in a 2wd van I couldn’t make it at all. I now know there is a solution other than buying a new 80k dollar 4wd work van.
Would love to see a test with snow socks too. They're lighter and easier to install so would be better for my wife and daughters, given that where we live this is only for emergency situations not long mountain drives
Problem with snowsocks is, if you're using them on a mountain pass entrance at a chain up area, you'll probably have to drive on them over dry pavement for a few miles which is probably gonna be hard on them; best compromise is probably cables. And I'm dubious of snowsocks on ice; I really doubt they perform better on actual ice.
I had bought those yellow ones on Amazon, but couldn't trust them so ended up getting a real snow chain. This video confirmed that I made the right decision. Thank you.
I was surprised as well, unexpectedly Austin Texas had snow and I went and found some snow chains put them on the front of my FWD car and they worked perfectly, didn’t get stuck at all
When i was little and it was snowing really hard while we were on a trip my dad got out the car and did this to the tires. All this time i thought i imagined what i saw or imagined/dreamed the whole trip since my father hasnt been in my life since i was 6. After searching "snow spikes for tires" this finally solidified the fact that i wasnt dreaming!
Just looking at those 1st two product makes me laugh so hard. I wouldn't even waste money on junk. Just by watching your video. It has given me a ton of product to steer clear away from at all cost. Really helps me narrow down to quality product over junk products
thank u so much 4 this video.....i wish u did this video back in december because i bought the TPU "snow chains" and not only did it damage my car bad but it barely worked they broke and snapped off the wheel and wrapped around my axle...very bad......i bought some peerless auto trac snow chains for $90 still kicking myself for wasting money on the TPU
Foarte educatv videoclip-ul. Mulțumesc pentru comparație. Chiar nu mă mai gândesc să probez altceva în loc de lanțuri. S-a dovedit eficiența lor, clar. Succes in continuare.
Ma bucur ca ai facut acest test, chiar ma intrebau diversi prieteni daca merita acele chinezarii din plastic si nu stiam ce sa le zic. Pentru mersul in zapada mai afanata, sunt mai potrivite niste cauciucuri de iarna cu mai multe crampoane, dar care s-ar putea sa nu aiba clasa A la franare pe ud, ci B (sunt placut surprins insa de all-seasonul de pe Duster). Sincer m-am asteptat sa poata urca fara probleme cu lanturile "clasice". Eu cu o masina cu tractiune fata, fara ESP insa cu anvelope de iarna noi si lanturi de metal reuseam sa ma tin dupa niste baieti cu masini de off road calumea fara lanturi, ba chiar sa ii depasesc. Pe partea de virare, raspuns al directiei si franare, lanturile sunt net superioare. Atunci cand intri pe un făgaș, nu 4x4-le te scoate, ci aderenta rotilor care vireaza si lanturile care "musca" din gheata. Un plastic doar se deformeaza impreuna cu anvelopa, pe cand profilul lantului de metal se infige in gheata/zapada. La cat mai multe astfel de teste, numai bine!
GREAT VIDEO!! For the harsh winters in canada I always buy great studed tires like nokian hakka, and drive an awd car. I never needed chans.. Some mornings I have to push 3-4 feet of snow just to get out of my driveway..
I was having doubts on buying the plastic "chains" or the cloth ones. But after this video, it's clear to me that the steel chains will always be the top choice. Thank you for such a Great video.
I remember seeing tire chains on a car for the first time back in the 80's in Rocky IV when the Russian agents drove Balboa to the cabin out in no mans land. There is no substitute for metal chains when it comes to adding snow traction to tires.
In Seattle we get infrequent snow, but we have HILLS! Also, there are mountains for snow trips. I found conventional snow chains the best choice. The keys to making them work well are: 1. Fit them properly when there is no snow, and learn how to install them. You need to cut and fit the chains! A hacksaw or bolt cutters are needed. Cut the chains to length so that you don't have excessive chain flopping around. Have extra cross links and a chain bending tool that allows cross links to be easily removed and replaced when they break. You should be able to buy this tool where you buy chains. If you have properly fitting chains and have learned how to install and remove them BEFORE it snows, then using them is only a moderate pain. And they are very effective in providing traction. Having a separate bag for each chain set also makes installation easier. Putting on chains is part of the ADVENTURE of winter driving, especially if you live where there are hills or mmountains. If you aren't prepared for that adventure, stay home. For the purist, the absolutely BEST way to install chains is to remove the tire and wheel and chain up the tire that way. You can get things nice 'n tight and properly adjusted,
I was raised in the mountains and we just let 1/2 the air out of the tires and the larger flat soft surface just walks right up , slow speed only ,allows better stopping ✋
You should have tried the zip tie traction devices by not cinching/tightening them too tight like you did because it makes them break easily . If you install them a bit loose they will last longer on the wheel.
Thanks for the video, we have a lot of snow here in Spain these days, so this comparison video is very useful. It was only missing in the video, the "blanket" or fabric style no chains. Thanks Sergiu! 😉👍👏👏
The plastic straps are obviously designed for less deep snow but shallower icy slippery roads. They simply do not provide enough bite for deep snow road.
Dude..... I'm really hoping your placing these on both front tires. The 2nd test chain. The yellow ones..... I use these every winter and they are great. Fast to install and quick and easy to remove clean and store. They are perfect for my wife to use in a pinch and perfect for the surprise city snow storm to get to and from work before snowblower is ran at home or roads get plowed
ALWAYS AND ONLY 4 CHAINS !!! Thanks for your test. When snow tires are not enough, even with a car with only 2WD traction, it is better to install all 4 chains (with rhomboidal design) to have the maximum possible stability and control in all conditions (uphill, downhill, hairpin bends). If you try them at home to learn, it takes just a few minutes to install them when needed on the road.
Snow chains make a huge difference. But so does good winter tyres. With those I usually dont lose traction unless my car floats on snow (18 cm ground clearance, fwd) . But for affordable snow chains, Biltema brand is good. If you can buy ones.
the snowchains at 130€ cost 20€ in France and you can fin them in the supermarket ! the best way to put them on is before you get in deep snow Don't keep them in the box and wear slim gloves
with any emergency device (and it says in the packaging for my chains) practice at home installing and removing so there are no surprises when its -30 and snowing.
Incredibil , esti baiat incredere si esti nota 10 , mam convins sa imi iau lanturi aia e aia e , sa mai faceti si comparatie cauciucuri de all season vs winter sunt tare curios care e cel mai tare pe zapada, multumesc!
For deep snow chains with cross bars on the links are much more effective and tend to last longer as the cross bar takes a lot of the wear. Taking them on and off is a job though as they just don't last on bare pavement and you need to remove them as soon as possible.
The video explanation is very good. I bought this renhotecic brand Tire chain not long ago. It is easy to install and has a good anti-skid effect. If you have troubles with your car, you can try it.
Thanks for this video - it was informative & amusing. I especially liked watching you try to catch increasingly heavy sets of chains. ;) To be fair, some TPU chains may be better made & from better materials than the specific brand you happened to have - but they would probably also be somewhat more expensive. I live in the US, & here I think most people would consider 130 Euros (about 150 USD at this writing) is about mid range for a reasonably set of snow chains. The cheapest chains I'd personally want to rely on run about $115 or so (roughly 100 Euro), and it's hard for most people who don't regularly drive in snow to justify spending much more than $200 (around 175 Euro) on a pair of chains. But then, the US and Romania are different places.
Nice video 👍 I can share another idea, all you need is a rope with diameter 10mm or over and just tight around the tyre like it’s a snow chain, works as good to get you out of deep snow. 👍❄️🚗
The Pewag "expensive chains" let me down the second time I used them. The auto tensioner would not release while I was dismounting the driver's side, and after 30 mins on the side of the highway trying everything, I had to pay $30 to have them cut off. I'm going with the Peerless brand that my son (who lives in snow country) is extremely happy with, which is half the price.
I live in a place where it snows only about two months out of the year. I recently bought tire socks and really like them for getting uphill. You really only need to put one on a single tire on a fwd. Super fast and easy to put on and to take off. Have you done a video on tire socks yet? Chains are far better fir long distance but for just climbing hills a few times a day, tire socks are really worth the price!
Hello M8 You are from Romania , and looks like I have some experience with winter in Romania. First of all everyone knows that the only solution for uphill is the snow chain and the Michelin net . Second, all season tyres have no use in a snow , are good one the low temperature but not on that snow you tried, not with AWD or 4x4 , and if you respect the laws of the country you should have winter tyres if you are going in the snow. M+S from the all-season tyres will send you directly in to the ditch uphill or downhill.
A lot dis the Duster. I hired one in Iceland in feb 2020 and it really did the business in 1 foot deep snow with snow tyres for many miles. I had the same Land Rover for 22 years so that's quite a compliment! I'd like you to include 12mm rope in the next vid? Great video!
If you drive in the snow regularly, its really worth it to get a second set of steelies with proper snow tires...nice rims are gonna get beat up at least a bit with all the debris and potholes around places like ski resort parking lots.
I bought the orange strap-on’s long before seeing this, fortunately I have not needed them, and tomorrow I will throw them in the can! Thank you Sergiu!
Studded winter tires is the best option, it´s not bulky and you can drive as fast you want on snow and icy roads, like people do in Scandinavia for example.
I have seen the cheep chains with rubber rope in action: after 20meters, they jumped off the wheel into the forest, where we could find them later in springtime. There is no way to put chains on without getting dirty hands.
People complain about putting little chains on a little car.. Try putting big chains on a commercial truck, and not just 2 to 4, but 6 of them. I've done it many times, and it's certainly no fun, and takes quite awhile.
Result is by a quality set of snow chains, might cost more money, but your going to get up the hill in the snow and not get stuck. Good video. Love the video edits and light humor. Good
I understand you gave the "expensive chains" an X on affordability because they are the most expensive of the products tested, but remember that getting stuck and calling a tow will already negate any savings from a cheaper, but much less effective product. Buy the right thing once instead of buying the cheap thing over and over!
Yup, like everything else.
Or AAA, Lol! Premier of course
@@lisalee2885 if you are someplace with a cell signal or with 2 hours of AAA.
I am guessing this video isn’t the normal roads they you find yourself on either.
Yeah its really not worth risking your vehicle with a shitty product(and probably unlawful on many mountain passes)...its cheap when thinking about it as extra insurance.
This just goes to prove the old saying so true: "There is no cheaper than the expensive".
A word of warning about any product where the fitting strap goes through the wheel. Check that the straps do not foul the brake callipers. Some cars have very little clearance between the calliper and the wheel.
Good point - I had to get larger wheels when I upgraded my brakes and the clearance is very tight. Also, the spacing of the spokes can make even spacing of these impossible, which will make durability even worse
Love the totally legit, profesionally made licence plates
Quality of production 10/10. Informative 10/10. Entertaining 10/10. Came here looking for copper and found gold!
Having spent a lot of my life off road in the snow, quality chains are a must. Also, it’s more work, but chain up all 4 and be in 4 wheel drive!! The heavier the vehicle with more ground clearance and narrower tires is also important. Too light of a vehicle, will stay on top of the snow and the chains will not dig into the ground.
whats the best for front drive sedan ?
Thank you for your sacrifice of enduring the cold and snow to review these products so we don’t have to waste our time and money! The content was clear, unbiased, entertaining to watch and very helpful! Thanks so much!
Bought this for my small back deck in the Eastern Sierra. ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxoHYZbq5g9fkcAtinlTqstNlje-UQkCHN We get A LOT of HEAVY snow so I was a bit skeptical but it was worth it! After the first storm of the year this has exceeded expectations! It throws snow very well, even 10-12” + that said the more it piles up the harder it is to maneuver the machine. It is exceptionally light weight and overall exactly what I was looking for. If you have a large amount of snow and a lot of area to clear, you may consider something with a drive engine to help maneuverability, but for decks, second stories, roofs etc, you can’t beat the light weight to great snow throwing ratio. Side note, the chute rotator is a bit flimsy and it initially didn’t seem to work, after a few uses it seems to have loosened up.
Foarte bine punctat. O singura data am folosit lanțuri de zăpadă și am rămas impresionat cât de bine a reușit sa urce mașina. Felicitari.
Yeah, theres a reason a lot of these easier solutions aren't listed as approved/legal for mountain passes; even studded tires on my pass don't count as replacements for chains in really severe conditions (all vehicles in winter going over the pass are required to have them in the trunk.) so for that reason I prefer studless snow tires for just snow and cables/chains for ice.
Studs belong on roads with packed down snow and ice not just mountain passes.
I'm surprised by the snow chains to be honest. I knew they were good, but i wasn't expecting such a big difference
You will be even more surprised when you try them in person. Here is my video about chains in fairly deep snow on an old rear-wheel drive car: ua-cam.com/video/7qn-sLhCGgQ/v-deo.html
Chains turn almost any car into a rather powerful all-terrain vehicle!
@@pihva_rusni Chains always worked!
@@pihva_rusni Yep, used to take my 84 2WD Ford Ranger up hunting on the same back country sometimes snow or mud covered roads...throw the V-Bar chains on and that truck would go anywhere the guys in their jacked up 4x4s were going.
Many of today's cars, SUV's, and pickups don't have space for true chains so you are stuck with lesser quality cables but those do work they just don't last as long.
@@wildbill23c And two sets of chains on a diff locked jacked up 4X4 work even better
@@pihva_rusni I wonder if Chains work in the Mud.
Love this guy. He's just happy to be in the middle of nowhere.
I love your sense of humor! Your very practical tests were very informative. I hate metal tire chains, too, but it seems that’s what I’ll have to resort using on my ski trip.
Ok, Sergiu, few obs:
1. Not only steel wheels can cut that plastic, but also "diamond cut" can have sharp edges, depending on each style.
2. I will NOT recommend under no circumstances to have anything tied up to the rims - especially if you have some after market ones. Minimum contact with the alloy is best.
3. You did not include in the video "tyres socks" or "huse" (in romanian). It would have been very nice to have a comparison since they're kind of different approach.
4. It is worth to mention that no insurance company will cover damage caused while using snow chains. So choose wisely when you buy it.
Tire socks are garbage. They have no traction on ice.
@@MG-ks1qg Depends on what sock you get, as multiple tests has shown.
This was great! Saved me money from buying the Chinese ones off of Amazon! The tried and true chains are the best! Thanks!👍
Those "cheap chains" in a bag are truck style chains and are easy and quick to fit and removeand won't be as tangled as intimated. So long as they are kept tight (which is the secret of using any chains) they will out live and out perform any of the more fancy alternatives. Look for cam tensioners, but decent spider tensioners work fine and make sure of good steel quality (reputable manufacturers). They are also easy to repair - all chains eventually break. They weren't given enough attention here. Pity. As a former truck driver and UK resident of Scottish Highlands and used to working in the Lake District and Snowdonia, I speak with some experience. For more level terrain, socks and, even better, studded tyres (if legal) work very well. For UK residents, unfortunately, silly governmental capers have made obtaining decent chains more expensive, as European continental residents will be aware. Good video, though.
A few years ago I bought a Chinese copy of these pewag chains, and they are wonderful: cheap, reliable and durable. They are both suitable for my Lacetti with 185/65/14 tires and the lada with 175/70/13 tires. If necessary, riding on chains on a fairly deep snow is fun. Because without chains Lacetti still behaves quite well in the snow,
but the old lada is completely hopeless.
You can also improve traction a bit by letting pressure out of the tires. Just make sure you have a way to reinflate once you're back to clear roads. 10-25 PSI is sufficient.
While this is true in snow, most of the time on the road you will be dealing with ice. Letting out air will actually worsen traction on ice, as you have a larger surface area and therefor less pressure on the ice. Basically the opposite of spiked tires.
@@yeetandskeet which was why I said you'd need to reinflate once you hit the roads again.
My truck is 2wd. I run goodyear durations and air them down if it snows. I also throw some weight in the bed I never have a problem in the snow
@@leadnsteel1428 Come to Wyoming for a true test!
The traditional snow chains that you did not install are a major PITA to install, especially in the dark in snow. But they are the best of all your options, because they give the best traction
in Russia they say: I go where wolves are afraid to shit.))))))))))))
Thanks for video!!!
😂😂😂
This video stopped me from buying option 2 bracelets, which looked so great in the presentation.
Thank you!
Even though the fresh loose deep snow is not what you are going to face traveling through Alps in winter.
I would like to see how they work on asphalt with 2-3 centimetres of snow just 20 minutes after the snowstorm started. Inclination like 10-20°.
I once had to go somewhere in my 4 wheel drive Ford Ranger in deep snow. I put bar reinforced tire chains on all four wheels. It would go in snow that was all the way to the tops of the fenders. There just is no substitute unless you go to some sort of tracks. In that case, get a Bombi or a Weasel.
I absolutely agree with others, "expensive" chains are always worth the price when you consider the alternative, which is getting stuck in snow... or worse!
But honestly cheap snow chains aren't so difficult to install if you have the bare minimum of manual dexterity. Of course just reading the instructions for the first time once you're at -10° in a storm with knee-deep snow isn't the best policy...
Try and install them beforehand in a dry and warm place, and you'll be so much better off 😉
Good video. I bought a pair of those yellow cinch strap snow chains for my wife and I. they do work but they are not designed for deep snow. they are more for a surprise snow to help you get home. I still need good tires and common sense. Once again, great video.
If snow chains haven't changed for so long its because they work like nothing else. If it aint broke and works well don't try to fix it.
Good point!
@@SergiuGabor the one thing that this ignores is that while they work and they aren't broke they are often difficult to install and often are damaged by use and living in an area with a lot of ice that requires you use them regularly. Something that lasts longer, works, and simplifies the installation, that would definitely be a good thing, for example what if you have an area where you go to bed and sometimes wake up it's snowing ice a wraparound may not work very well because your car cannot move well to install and drive over, so I sent style that will allow you to partially install, it's much nicer, however these styles often suffer from breaking much easier than the steel chains, as they are often flat with spikes or otherwise that breaks. I think a better approach is that if it isn't broken don't completely try to create something new but never stop improving
Your results were exactly what I was expecting you to find. Thanks for confirming my suspicions.
The great fact to remember is that you will rarely be putting chains on in good conditions. It will probably be dark, snowing and far from home, help or streetlights. You have a new subscriber.
Well if this isn't the most straight forward and convincing test/comparison video on a product I've ever seen. I was real close to get those yellow ones on Amazon but I'm gonna get some full on snow chains.
abia a inceput videoclipul dar ma bucur enorm ca ai testat asa ceva. nu exista niciun material pe tema asta. felicitari!
Great video. Actually, is so hard to find good independent reviews like this one!!! Thanks!!!
tire4coin is best for tires
Omg thank god I went with chains. We just got about 7” of snow
some time ago I was thinking about zip-ties, I am glad that I forgot about it :)) .Thanks for your video :)
@@krisg822 8 bought similar ones in a shell station as I forgot my chains. 10€. But they feel more like rubber /soft plastic opposed to the hard plastic used here. I only put on one of them and got out. Sometimes you just need a little traction to get you going. It's similar to using a stick in your rims if you need to get out of mud.
Not that I would advise that this is a full replacement for traditional chains.
Zip ties work on a packed road but will not tolerate the spinning. Nylon rope tied around rims will work too.
Was in Russia in 2019 and saw a guy with rope tied around his wheels, about 5 ropes per tyre and he was making good progress thru deep snow (in a rwd Lada). Probably not great durability or high speed use but great ingenuity and free if you got old rope lying around!
There is a main road with a steep hill here, it's name is "Gunnybag hill" I got the name from all the gunnybags at the top of the hill. I seems that in the very early 1900's they would tie gunnybags around the tires to climb this hill. I found this humorous.
Very helpful. I just returned from a 7,500 foot / six-inch snow event in which I got stuck. Never again, LOL, and you have helped.
Good test definitely and now I feel I made a bad decision when I bought the second test you did with the Chinese product. Maybe those wrap around would work fine with less snow on the ground or when not going on a steep road. Thank you.
Thanks for the great video. Real world tests like this are very useful. It was entertaining too!
Wow. I’m sort of blown away. I’ve lived in snowy areas for about 12 years and never once had an issue. But I just bought a home in the mountains on a 20 degree road. First time I tried to get up in a 2wd van I couldn’t make it at all. I now know there is a solution other than buying a new 80k dollar 4wd work van.
James May approves of the car lol, definitely buying the zip ties to be used as zip ties lol
What about different types of Snowsocks vs Snow chains?
For traction, there is nothing better than chains. The more expensive ones are quite easy to put on and pretty strong.
Would love to see a test with snow socks too. They're lighter and easier to install so would be better for my wife and daughters, given that where we live this is only for emergency situations not long mountain drives
Snow socks work some but dont last more than a few miles. Pricey for a one or two time use.
Oh this would be great
Problem with snowsocks is, if you're using them on a mountain pass entrance at a chain up area, you'll probably have to drive on them over dry pavement for a few miles which is probably gonna be hard on them; best compromise is probably cables. And I'm dubious of snowsocks on ice; I really doubt they perform better on actual ice.
I had bought those yellow ones on Amazon, but couldn't trust them so ended up getting a real snow chain. This video confirmed that I made the right decision. Thank you.
You should do a test with propper winter tyres,not all season ones.
Well done, I've been looking for this test for a long time. Very good review
I was surprised as well, unexpectedly Austin Texas had snow and I went and found some snow chains put them on the front of my FWD car and they worked perfectly, didn’t get stuck at all
You may need them again.
When i was little and it was snowing really hard while we were on a trip my dad got out the car and did this to the tires. All this time i thought i imagined what i saw or imagined/dreamed the whole trip since my father hasnt been in my life since i was 6. After searching "snow spikes for tires" this finally solidified the fact that i wasnt dreaming!
This was a great video, great quality picture, and great quality content(layout and whatnot). Very well done
Thank you for this test, i almost bought the zipties. U saved my money !
Just looking at those 1st two product makes me laugh so hard. I wouldn't even waste money on junk. Just by watching your video. It has given me a ton of product to steer clear away from at all cost. Really helps me narrow down to quality product over junk products
thank u so much 4 this video.....i wish u did this video back in december because i bought the TPU "snow chains" and not only did it damage my car bad but it barely worked they broke and snapped off the wheel and wrapped around my axle...very bad......i bought some peerless auto trac snow chains for $90 still kicking myself for wasting money on the TPU
Foarte educatv videoclip-ul. Mulțumesc pentru comparație. Chiar nu mă mai gândesc să probez altceva în loc de lanțuri. S-a dovedit eficiența lor, clar. Succes in continuare.
Thanks for the demonstrations. I need something for my Tacoma to get out on the logging roads to the natural hotsprings. Cheers from BC, Canada
Ma bucur ca ai facut acest test, chiar ma intrebau diversi prieteni daca merita acele chinezarii din plastic si nu stiam ce sa le zic. Pentru mersul in zapada mai afanata, sunt mai potrivite niste cauciucuri de iarna cu mai multe crampoane, dar care s-ar putea sa nu aiba clasa A la franare pe ud, ci B (sunt placut surprins insa de all-seasonul de pe Duster). Sincer m-am asteptat sa poata urca fara probleme cu lanturile "clasice". Eu cu o masina cu tractiune fata, fara ESP insa cu anvelope de iarna noi si lanturi de metal reuseam sa ma tin dupa niste baieti cu masini de off road calumea fara lanturi, ba chiar sa ii depasesc. Pe partea de virare, raspuns al directiei si franare, lanturile sunt net superioare. Atunci cand intri pe un făgaș, nu 4x4-le te scoate, ci aderenta rotilor care vireaza si lanturile care "musca" din gheata. Un plastic doar se deformeaza impreuna cu anvelopa, pe cand profilul lantului de metal se infige in gheata/zapada. La cat mai multe astfel de teste, numai bine!
GREAT VIDEO!! For the harsh winters in canada I always buy great studed tires like nokian hakka, and drive an awd car. I never needed chans.. Some mornings I have to push 3-4 feet of snow just to get out of my driveway..
I was having doubts on buying the plastic "chains" or the cloth ones. But after this video, it's clear to me that the steel chains will always be the top choice.
Thank you for such a Great video.
Dropped 120$ for chains at Les Schwab today..... I’m glad I got them, 7inches of snow
I remember seeing tire chains on a car for the first time back in the 80's in Rocky IV when the Russian agents drove Balboa to the cabin out in no mans land. There is no substitute for metal chains when it comes to adding snow traction to tires.
In Seattle we get infrequent snow, but we have HILLS!
Also, there are mountains for snow trips.
I found conventional snow chains the best choice. The keys to making them work well are:
1. Fit them properly when there is no snow, and learn how to install them.
You need to cut and fit the chains! A hacksaw or bolt cutters are needed.
Cut the chains to length so that you don't have excessive chain flopping around.
Have extra cross links and a chain bending tool that allows cross links to be easily removed and replaced when they break. You should be able to buy this tool where you buy chains.
If you have properly fitting chains and have learned how to install and remove them BEFORE it snows, then using them is only a moderate pain. And they are very effective in providing traction.
Having a separate bag for each chain set also makes installation easier.
Putting on chains is part of the ADVENTURE of winter driving, especially if you live where there are hills or mmountains. If you aren't prepared for that adventure, stay home.
For the purist, the absolutely BEST way to install chains is to remove the tire and wheel and chain up the tire that way. You can get things nice 'n tight and properly adjusted,
Excellent video, thank you!! I really appreciate your scientific approach to testing; looking forward to more videos!
I was raised in the mountains and we just let 1/2 the air out of the tires and the larger flat soft surface just walks right up , slow speed only ,allows better stopping ✋
Thanks! Made me accept chains as a necessity.
Since 2018 Japan made it a law to use snow chains in snow chain required areas
You should have tried the zip tie traction devices by not cinching/tightening them too tight like you did because it makes them break easily . If you install them a bit loose they will last longer on the wheel.
I dont know but i thought the zip tie stuff was for ice and not snow?🤷🏼♂️
Thanks for the video, we have a lot of snow here in Spain these days, so this comparison video is very useful.
It was only missing in the video, the "blanket" or fabric style no chains. Thanks Sergiu! 😉👍👏👏
Is the Mexican food good in Spain? Is the salsa and tortillas there different than in Mexico?
Must be from all the global warming 😉
The plastic straps are obviously designed for less deep snow but shallower icy slippery roads. They simply do not provide enough bite for deep snow road.
Dude..... I'm really hoping your placing these on both front tires. The 2nd test chain. The yellow ones..... I use these every winter and they are great. Fast to install and quick and easy to remove clean and store. They are perfect for my wife to use in a pinch and perfect for the surprise city snow storm to get to and from work before snowblower is ran at home or roads get plowed
Looks like a fair testing procedure with a bit of humor thrown in. Nice.
tire4coin have best prices
ALWAYS AND ONLY 4 CHAINS !!!
Thanks for your test.
When snow tires are not enough, even with a car with only 2WD traction, it is better to install all 4 chains (with rhomboidal design) to have the maximum possible stability and control in all conditions (uphill, downhill, hairpin bends).
If you try them at home to learn, it takes just a few minutes to install them when needed on the road.
thanks so much
Snow chains make a huge difference. But so does good winter tyres. With those I usually dont lose traction unless my car floats on snow (18 cm ground clearance, fwd) . But for affordable snow chains, Biltema brand is good. If you can buy ones.
This is super useful for me to pick my next set of snow chains
the snowchains at 130€ cost 20€ in France and you can fin them in the supermarket ! the best way to put them on is before you get in deep snow Don't keep them in the box and wear slim gloves
Most useful review of this kind I could find. Thank you!
with any emergency device (and it says in the packaging for my chains) practice at home installing and removing so there are no surprises when its -30 and snowing.
Incredibil , esti baiat incredere si esti nota 10 , mam convins sa imi iau lanturi aia e aia e , sa mai faceti si comparatie cauciucuri de all season vs winter sunt tare curios care e cel mai tare pe zapada, multumesc!
For deep snow chains with cross bars on the links are much more effective and tend to last longer as the cross bar takes a lot of the wear. Taking them on and off is a job though as they just don't last on bare pavement and you need to remove them as soon as possible.
.
There is nothing better than V-bar chains. NOTHING !!
They are all great for damaing the tyres. If you have shit tyres, then they are fine...
The video explanation is very good. I bought this renhotecic brand Tire chain not long ago. It is easy to install and has a good anti-skid effect. If you have troubles with your car, you can try it.
Thanks for this video - it was informative & amusing. I especially liked watching you try to catch increasingly heavy sets of chains. ;)
To be fair, some TPU chains may be better made & from better materials than the specific brand you happened to have - but they would probably also be somewhat more expensive.
I live in the US, & here I think most people would consider 130 Euros (about 150 USD at this writing) is about mid range for a reasonably set of snow chains. The cheapest chains I'd personally want to rely on run about $115 or so (roughly 100 Euro), and it's hard for most people who don't regularly drive in snow to justify spending much more than $200 (around 175 Euro) on a pair of chains. But then, the US and Romania are different places.
Excellent video! I like your sense of humor 👍 thank you for sharing
Nice video 👍 I can share another idea, all you need is a rope with diameter 10mm or over and just tight around the tyre like it’s a snow chain, works as good to get you out of deep snow. 👍❄️🚗
The Pewag "expensive chains" let me down the second time I used them. The auto tensioner would not release while I was dismounting the driver's side, and after 30 mins on the side of the highway trying everything, I had to pay $30 to have them cut off. I'm going with the Peerless brand that my son (who lives in snow country) is extremely happy with, which is half the price.
I live in a place where it snows only about two months out of the year. I recently bought tire socks and really like them for getting uphill. You really only need to put one on a single tire on a fwd. Super fast and easy to put on and to take off. Have you done a video on tire socks yet? Chains are far better fir long distance but for just climbing hills a few times a day, tire socks are really worth the price!
Hello M8
You are from Romania , and looks like I have some experience with winter in Romania.
First of all everyone knows that the only solution for uphill is the snow chain and the Michelin net .
Second, all season tyres have no use in a snow , are good one the low temperature but not on that snow you tried, not with AWD or 4x4 , and if you respect the laws of the country you should have winter tyres if you are going in the snow. M+S from the all-season tyres will send you directly in to the ditch uphill or downhill.
A lot dis the Duster. I hired one in Iceland in feb 2020 and it really did the business in 1 foot deep snow with snow tyres for many miles. I had the same Land Rover for 22 years so that's quite a compliment! I'd like you to include 12mm rope in the next vid? Great video!
I think this video was very informative THANKS MAN
Another category : Does not damage your more expensive alloy rims.
If you drive in the snow regularly, its really worth it to get a second set of steelies with proper snow tires...nice rims are gonna get beat up at least a bit with all the debris and potholes around places like ski resort parking lots.
Esti cel mai tare omule! Imi place content-ul tău.
Thanks for saving my money. I love your videos. You should have a tv show...
Very informative video sir. Still viewing but I appreciate the depth and extra cameras 🎥
I bought the orange strap-on’s long before seeing this, fortunately I have not needed them, and tomorrow I will throw them in the can! Thank you Sergiu!
Studded winter tires is the best option, it´s not bulky and you can drive as fast you want on snow and icy roads, like people do in Scandinavia for example.
Thank you for testing these chain substitutes.
I wish you did this test on ice and slush too. It would be very helpful too.
Yes for real use obviously you need chains if you go in the woods but I want city like conditions ice and slush with ice under
Wow, great video, really good job. You saved me from trying out the steaming pile of horse products from China. Nothing replaces a good set of chains.
Excellent review. Now I understand what to buy.
I have seen the cheep chains with rubber rope in action: after 20meters, they jumped off the wheel into the forest, where we could find them later in springtime.
There is no way to put chains on without getting dirty hands.
Loved that license plate 😝😂
종류가 너무많아 고민됐었는데 너무 잘 비교한 영상을 올려주셔서 넘 고맙습니다~~
People complain about putting little chains on a little car.. Try putting big chains on a commercial truck, and not just 2 to 4, but 6 of them. I've done it many times, and it's certainly no fun, and takes quite awhile.
i got my tires from tire4coin
Thank you for this Video. I'm from Bavaria and my english is bad.
Thank you very good.
Result is by a quality set of snow chains, might cost more money, but your going to get up the hill in the snow and not get stuck. Good video. Love the video edits and light humor. Good