What Is a Snow Chain?
Snow chain is a device attached to tires to prevent cars from slipping, particularly in snowy conditions.
By fitting them onto tires, snow chains increase the irregularities on the contact surface, significantly enhancing friction with the road. This mechanism is essential when driving on frozen or snowy surfaces. While winter tires are another solution for slip prevention during winter, in cases of deep snow or icy conditions where the snow is not compacted, tire chains are necessary as winter tires may still cause slipping.
There are both metal and non-metal variants, with metal chains being more affordable and common. Non-metal chains made of materials like rubber or polyurethane tend to be relatively expensive but offer the advantage of reduced vibration and noise.