Snow Chain Alternatives
Table of Contents
Tire Straps
Tire straps are a step head from the mesh-made tire wraps. These are very easy to install and you can often do it in just one minute for each tire. Usually called non-metallic or plastic snow chain, here are some of the pros and cons of tire straps.
The Good
- Tire straps are made for commercial and regular vehicles alike.
- Tire straps are very quiet.
- Tire straps could be driven even on dry roads for a bit with no damages, usually up to 200 miles.
- Tire straps provide great grip on ice and snow.
The Bad
- There are people who claim that it took them a long time to put tire straps on their tires.
- There are some claims that tire straps were actually louder than what they expected these to be.
- Tire straps can make the vehicle vibrate sometimes.
Snow Tires vs. Snow Chains
Chains
Many people use car tire chains during wintertime every time they drive on ice and snow. They offer the required traction, making it easier to get through serious challenges. They tend to be expensive and some states consider these illegal. It is because they can damage roads if the snow and ice are not that thick, particularly when you drive them by accident over dry roads.
Non-studded Snow Tires
Non-studded snow tires offer excellent traction in all icy and snowy conditions. You can also drive them over dry roads and they don’t cause damages even on dry roads. However, they are quite expensive for most people and they require professional installation and removal. These also don’t work that well when the snow is deep and they wear out fast when driven on dry roads.
Studded Snow Tires
Studded snow tires often feature studs that can be made of rubber or metal and these studs can be installed on tires, which depend on the specific brand that you own. But, these are not legal in many states so you have to know your local laws before using these.
