How many snow chains do I need

It is highly recommended to carry snow chains with you if you are travelling on any high country or alpine roads in the South Island during winter. For example, the Lindis Pass, which connects Christchurch with Lake Wanaka and Lake Pukaku, should only be attempted with snow chains when there is snow on the road. Other popular roads to be wary of include Arthur's Pass, Lewis Pass, Porters Pass, and The Crown Range.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council recommends that you carry snow chains as a precaution in winter, no matter where you plan on travelling in the area. In areas where snow chains are needed, such as treacherous alpine roads, you'll notice designated areas where you can safely pull over to fit your snow chains to your vehicle.  

There are some routes where the New Zealand law on snow chains means you need to carry them with you. For example, if you plan on driving to Milford Sound in winter, you'll need to take snow chains. 

If you ignore signs saying you need to fit snow chains, you risk being fined.

However, you should only fit your snow chains when there is snow on the road, or when you are instructed to put them on. Driving on a dry road with snow chains can increase your risk of sliding when braking, and damage your vehicle.

HOW FAST CAN YOU DRIVE WITH SNOW CHAINS?

Snow chains add extra weight to your wheels. This can affect the steering, handling and responsiveness of your vehicle. To drive safely, you must reduce your speed. DO NOT EXCEED 20 KILOMETRES PER HOUR. 

You should also be careful to accelerate and decelerate slowly.

DO YOU NEED TO PUT SNOW CHAINS ON ALL FOUR TYRES?

You only need to fit snow chains to the driving wheels of your vehicle (driving wheels are the ones that spin when you put your foot on the gas). A two-wheel drive vehicle has two driving wheels (these can be either at the front or back), while a four-wheel drive has four. 

If hiring a two-wheel drive vehicle, make sure you check with our team whether you should be putting snow chains on the front or back tyres.  

CAN YOU HIRE SNOW CHAINS WITH YOUR JUCY VEHICLE?

You sure can! Just add snow chains to your booking as an optional extra (they cost $40), and our team in the branch will make sure you're confident in fitting them. 

Although 4x4s are not legally required to carry snow chains in places like the Victorian High Country and Alpine National Park (unlike their two-wheel drive cousins), they remain a handy piece of gear to carry and use when venturing out in cold climate areas in winter. Aside from the traction benefits in getting under way and braking, chains on the front wheels assist in both steering and braking on icy and snow-covered bitumen and dirt roads as well as shallow or deep snow.

Advertisements

TYPES OF SNOW CHAINS

There are two main styles of snow chain available, a ladder pattern and diamond pattern.

Ladder pattern snow chains are often not approved for public road use and are designed for private property use. We won’t go too far into these, except to say that as you would expect, the pattern that wraps around your tire is a square ‘ladder’ style pattern, with square chain ribs across your tread. These are the older style chains, and the diamond pattern is often seen as the better alternative.

Diamond pattern is the standard on- and off-road chain used, and the vast majority are approved for use on public roads. The diamond-style chain wraps around your wheel from the inside, and cinches together around the outside of your wheel, with the diamond pattern of chains joining the inner and outer hoops over your tread.

SNOW CHAIN SIZING

Before you purchase or hire snow chains, you will need to know your tyre size to ensure a correct fit. Should they be too loose, they will cause more damage than good, and you run the risk of the chain getting caught in your chassis or undercarriage and locking a wheel; not ideal at 60km/h on ice.

Advertisements

If you have chains that are too tight, you’ll struggle to get them around your tyre, and even if you do, you will find large gaps in the chain that are contacting the ground. There are a few different ‘size guides’ for chains to tyres, and it pays to fit them up as you purchase or hire them to ensure they’re right.

ARE SNOW CHAINS JUST FOR SNOW?

The jury is still out on this one, but for reasons you’d probably not think. In the mud and muck that gives you a six-inch lift to your boots when you walk on it and give you three-inches tyre diameter increase, there is no arguing the fact that snow chains will assist in traction. On the other side of this argument however, is that they will tear dirt tracks and mud holes to shreds with a spin of the wheels.

Should you wish to carry and utilise them in more conventional mud/rutted tracks, ensure you tread softly. With the chains on, you will not need to bury the right foot to get through a hole, as the chains will give you the traction you need. That is also without saying that on solid ground, they will tear tyre tread lugs off rather easily, should you go spinning the tyres.

WHERE TO GET SNOW CHAINS

If you’re heading into Melbourne before hitting the High Country, Piranha Offroad has a good stock of quality chains suited to four-wheel drives. The folks there will help you choose the right chains for your adventure, and to suit your tyres.

Alternatively, many of the service stations on the way up into the Alpine National Park have chains; think Bright, Jindabyne, Berridale, Mansfield and Bairnsdale. However, dependant on the time of year, they may or may not have appropriate 4X4 chains in stock to suit your tires. As always, prior preparation is key.
 

Advertisements

SNOW CHAINS ON THE FRONT OR BACK?

It is best to fit your snow chains to the front wheels if you can. The reason for this becomes very apparent when you try to steer your vehicle without them. Just make sure you check your inner guard clearances beforehand, to ensure you do not damage your vehicle, particularly while turning and flexing simultaneously. If you have the luxury of two sets of chains, then go right ahead and fit them to all four paws, and enjoy the benefits.

CAN YOU CHANGE TYRE PRESSURE WITH SNOW CHAINS ON?

Absolutely yes, and in fact, as with any other off-road situation without chains, it is recommended. Increasing your tyre footprint by lowering your tyre pressure, even with chains, is the way to go for far better performance. Just be aware that you may need to re-adjust your chain tensioning.

Should I use 2 or 4 snow chains?

Do you need to put snow chains on all 4 wheels?

How many snow chains do I need for all

Do you put snow chains on the front or back?