MileCheckTire chains for mountain passes, by what you actually need
Not every set of chains fits every car, and the cheapest one isn't automatically the wrong pick. Three options below, sorted by the situation that actually decides which one you want.
If your car has tight wheel-well clearance
Security Chain Company SZ143 Super Z6 cable tire chain
Built for cars, pickups, and SUVs with limited clearance around the tire. It's a cable chain, not a link chain, so it sits lower against the tire — the difference that matters if your last set rubbed the wheel well. Installs without needing to move the vehicle first, which is the part that actually saves time on a cold shoulder.
Buy link: pending — see note at the end of this page.
If you want the easiest on and off
König XG-12 Pro
A self-tensioning design, so there's no crawling back under the car to re-tighten once you've started driving — the step that trips up most people the first time they chain up. Costs more than a basic cable chain, which is the tradeoff for not fighting with it in the cold.
Buy link: pending — see note at the end of this page.
If you just need a set in the trunk
Glacier 1038 cable tire chain
A basic cable chain for a car that sees snow a handful of times a season, not a car that lives on a mountain route all winter. Covers the same "chains required" checkpoint as the pricier options — it just asks a little more patience to put on.
Buy link: pending — see note at the end of this page.
Chains that fit your car
Chain size is based on your tire size, printed on your sidewall — not your car's make or model. Check that number against the sizing chart on the package or the manufacturer's site before you buy. The right size fits snugly; the wrong size either won't close or will beat against the fender the whole drive. If you're unsure which restriction level applies where you're headed, what "chains required" means covers the R1/R2/R3 system most states use.
Practice before the pass
Put the chains on once in the driveway before the first storm. The shoulder of a snowy pass, in the dark, with traffic going by, is a bad place to learn how they work for the first time. Once you're moving, the MileCheck app shows your exact mile marker as you climb, so if you do have to pull over, you know precisely where you are.
Know exactly where you are — live
Your mile marker shows even offline. Live DOT alerts and the nearest camera on your route are part of MileCheck Premium and need a connection to update. Runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.
Questions, answered
Do cable chains work as well as link chains?
Cable chains are thinner and fit tighter wheel wells, and most states accept them anywhere link chains are required. Link chains generally hold up longer over rough, chains-required miles, but for occasional mountain-pass driving cable chains are the common choice.
What size tire chains do I need?
Chain size is based on your tire size, not your car's make or model. Check the sizing chart on the package or the manufacturer's site against the tire size printed on your sidewall.
Can I use chains on all-wheel-drive cars?
Often not required at the lower restriction levels if the vehicle has snow tires on all four wheels, but the highest level requires chains on every vehicle, AWD included. See what "chains required" means for the levels.
Should I practice putting chains on before I need them?
Yes. Most manufacturers recommend a practice fit in the driveway. The shoulder of a snowy pass, in the dark, with traffic going by, is a bad place to do it for the first time.