Safety First: 8 Steps to Installing Winter Tire Chains

There are many things you can do to be prepared for winter, one of which is knowing how to install winter tire chains. Below is a video from the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement team that gives general instructions on how to do it. Special thanks to our CVSE staff Steve Haywood, Bruce Calbick and Cole Delisle for creating the video.

Don’t feel like watching the video? Here are step-by-step instructions to help you:

Step 1 – Lay the chains out on the ground with the traction part of the cross-link facing the ground. Ensure the chains are free of twists and tangles.

Step 2 – Place the chain over the tire with the fastener on the outside and the traction part facing up, away from the tire. Ensure the side chains and fastener hooks are not under the tire. Place excess loose crosslinks under the tire. Hook the inside fastener as tight as possible, followed by the outside fastener pulling as tight as possible.

Step 3 – Drive forwards or backwards over the chain until the hooks are at axle height, about halfway up the tire.

Step 4 – Hook the inner chain first, as tight as possible, leaving just enough room to hook the outer fastener.

Step 5 – First, hook the middle fastener tightly.

Step 6 – Next, hook up the inside rail as tight as possible.

Step 7 – Hook up the outside rail as tight as possible.

Step 8 – If chains are equipped with tightening device (d-cam tightener), tighten now. If not, use bungee cords to remove slack.

Ready for cold weather driving and Shift into Winter
Some Tips to Help you Out

For more winter driving safety how-tos, check out the following:

> How to Measure Tread Depth in 15 Seconds

> 15 Seconds to Safety: How to Identify a Winter Tire

> 15 Seconds to Safety: Are Your Taillights On?

Share this page:SharingFacebookTwitterLinkedInCopy Text

Page 1 of 4 comments on “Safety First: 8 Steps to Installing Winter Tire Chains”

Leave a Reply to tranbceditor Cancel reply

  1. I appreciate the inclusion of some visuals on how to install tire chains. We get heavy winters here and I often have to drive through the canyons for work. This is useful information since I am a better visual learner.

  2. Having a good set of tires during winter is essential. It will make your driving easier and with ease. Preparing your car and having a regular maintenance of it can improve its performance on snowy roads.

    • Thanks Burt Brothers!

      We agree wholeheartedly with you. Having a well-maintained vehicle that is equipped with proper winter tires gives drivers peace of mind, and makes winter driving easier and a whole lot safer.