MileCheck
Winter driving

How to put on tire chains

Do this once in the driveway before you ever need it on a pass. The steps are the same whether it's your first set or your fifth.

Before you start

Pull over somewhere flat and out of the traffic lane — a pullout, the shoulder well clear of the road, or before you reach the chain-control checkpoint. Not on the pass itself, and not on a curve or a hill. Put your hazards on and set the parking brake.

A car pulled well off a snowy mountain road onto a wide pullout with its hazard lights on
Pull well clear of the road, hazards on.

Putting them on

There are two common kinds, and they go on differently. Check which kind you have, and follow the instructions that came with your set if they differ.

Cable chains (most car chains)

  1. Lay the chain on the ground in front of the drive tire, with the smooth side of the cross pieces facing up toward the tire.
  2. Slide it behind the tire. Kneel in front of the tire and sweep the chain under the car so its middle sits against the back of the tire.
  3. Pull both ends of the inner cable up to the top of the tire and connect the inner fastener. Doing it at the top means you can see what you're doing.
  4. Connect the outer fastener as tight as you can, then any second adjuster.
  5. Drive forward a few feet, then re-tighten both sides so they're about even.

Ladder (link) chains

  1. Drape the chain over the top of the tire so it hangs down both sides, with the loose part lying on the ground.
    A ladder tire chain draped over the top of a tire, hanging down both sides, the loose ends on the snow
    Draped over the top. The bottom of the tire is still bare.
  2. Drive forward about a car length. The tire rolls onto the loose part, which puts chain under the tire.
    The tire has rolled forward onto the chain, which now wraps all the way around it
    Roll forward and the chain ends up under the tire.
  3. Connect the inner fastener behind the tire, then the outer one.
    Gloved hands reaching behind the tire to connect the inner fastener of the chain
    Inner fastener first, behind the tire.
  4. Tighten until the chain sits close to the tread with no big slack loops, and check it isn't rubbing the wheel well.
    Gloved hands pulling the outer fastener so the chain sits snug on the tread
    Pull it snug, then re-check after the first mile.

Sources: Peerless Z-Chain instructions · Peerless traction chain instructions.

Stop and re-tighten after the first mile

Cable and link chains both settle once they start moving — the first mile is when a chain that felt snug in the driveway loosens up. Pull over again, well clear of traffic, and re-tighten. Skipping this step is the most common reason a chain comes loose and slaps the fender or the wheel well.

Taking them off

Reverse the process: pull over somewhere safe and flat, release the outer fastener, then the inner one. Lay the chain flat on the ground and drive off it. Take chains off as soon as you're past the restricted zone — running them on bare, dry pavement for any distance wears out the chain fast and can damage the road surface.

A few things that trip people up

Chains go on the drive tires — front tires for front-wheel drive, rear for rear-wheel drive. For all-wheel drive, check the owner's manual; some AWD systems specify the front tires only, and a few don't permit chains at all. Most manufacturers cap chain speed at 25 to 30 mph — check the instructions for your specific set, since the limit varies by product. See what "chains required" means for how the restriction levels themselves work, and tire chain picks by fit and budget if you don't have a set yet.

Know exactly where you are — live

Your mile marker shows even offline. Live state DOT feeds and the nearest camera on your route are part of MileCheck Premium and need a connection to update. Runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.

iOS App Store Google Play

Questions, answered

Which tires do chains go on — front or back?

Chains go on the drive tires: front tires for front-wheel drive, rear tires for rear-wheel drive. For all-wheel drive, check the owner's manual — most manufacturers specify the front tires, and some don't allow chains at all on certain AWD systems.

How fast can you drive with chains on?

Most chain manufacturers cap it at 25 to 30 mph. Check the instructions that came with your specific chains — the limit varies by product.

Do you need to stop and re-tighten chains after putting them on?

Yes. Cable and link chains both settle once they start moving. Stop after a half mile to a mile and re-tighten — a loose chain can slap the wheel well or come off.

Can I leave chains on once I'm off the mountain?

No — take them off once you're clearly past the restricted zone. Chains wear quickly on bare, dry pavement and can damage both the chains and the road surface.

Related: What "chains required" means · Best tire chains for mountain passes · Mountain pass conditions