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When Should You Use Tire Chains?

Few feelings equal that panicked moment when your vehicle loses traction on an icy, snow-packed road. You feel that sideways drift begin to influence the car. You feel less and less control in the shuddering steering wheel. You feel the car fighting against it. You do your best to compensate, perhaps making the right decisions, perhaps making the wrong ones. Your safety is up in the air for that moment. And to think it could be solved by simply applying tire chains.

 

Decreasing Winter Driving Risk

Most who know that moment also know the overwhelming sense of relief when it passes, when you regain control over your vehicle. You slow down by instinct even without thinking about it. You become hyper-alert. Maybe you flick your lights on even if it's daytime and the sun is out. Whatever adds to your safety in even the smallest way is now of paramount importance.

Some don't know that sense of relief because they never regained control. They ended up in a crash, perhaps stranded for a time in a snowstorm, perhaps injured or worse. The most important way to decrease this risk is to drive safely and cautiously in bad conditions. Keeping your car in good condition and well maintained is also important. The third element of safe winter driving is your tires. Depending on state law, you must consider: winter tires, studded tires, and the most effective of all – using tire chains.

What are Tire Chains?

Tire chains are chains that you secure around your tires. They're designed to take advantage of the weight of your car to dig into the snow and ice as you drive. There's a learning curve to putting on the chains for the first time, but once you've got the process down, it becomes very easy.

To imagine how they work, picture gardening. You pull a weed with smooth leaves, but you lose your grip. The weed slides right out of your hand. Now picture pulling that same weed with rough-surfaced gardening gloves on. That texture makes it much easier to get the weed up.

Alternately, picture catching a football. Try it with your bare hands and a hard pass might slip through your fingers. Use textured wide receiver gloves and the ball just about stops in your hands because you have so much more grip.

Using tire chains gives you grip. You won't be prone to slide or slip on the road with them.

Tire Chain Law

Laws on tire chains vary from state to state. If you pass from one state into the next with tire chains on, know the laws in both states. Specific highways may also utilize more precise tire chain laws, but this is rare. Just as tire chains dig into ice and snow, they can also dig into roads and damage them. A layer of ice and snow protects the road, but when that layer is gone, it's the road itself you're digging into. Doing so can also damage your tires.

Tire chain law in North Carolina allows for their use “upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid.” Generally, this means when there are snow or ice conditions that make it dangerous to drive because you risk losing control. If you're confused, ask an expert on tire chains where you buy them, when should you use them.

Tire chain laws in North Carolina follow common sense. The great thing about using tire chains is that you can keep them in your vehicle throughout winter and stop to apply them wherever you are if you need them.

If you need to pull over to the side of the road to apply tire chains, it's good to have a safety vest so others can see you in low visibility conditions. It's generally advised to pull into a safer area if you can.

Driving with Tire Chains

Four-wheel drive vehicles should use tire chains on all four tires. You must use tire chains for those wheels on the drive axle for two-wheel drive vehicles, but it's much safer and easier to control if you have chains on all four tires. If you only use them on the two drive-axle tires, you'll oversteer on front-wheel drive vehicles, and understeer on rear-wheel drive vehicles. Despite knowing this, it's very hard to compensate, which is why tire chains are almost always advised on all four tires regardless.

Keep your driving under 30 mph when using tire chains. They're there to give you increased safety in bad conditions. They do not mean you can ignore everything else you should be doing as a driver in bad weather. They will not make your vehicle perform like it would if there were no snow and ice on the road. Driving above 30 mph with tire chains on is dangerous.

Always ask any questions you have from the expert on tire chains where you buy them. Don't feel sheepish or shy. A lot of people ask, and you'll be safer the more informed you are. They can give you excellent advice about tire chain selection and driving your specific vehicle in the winter with tire chains. For more information about tire chains and when to use them, contact Retro Lube Oil Change in Asheville.