Snow tires may not suffice for drivers in areas where they get several feet of the cold, powdery snow. Many states are buried under snow during the winter, and many drivers live in remote areas with no snow plows. Tire chains are necessary in these areas.
Similarly, snow chains, also known as tire chains, are not legal everywhere. Tire chains are allowed only in certain places and circumstances in some states. When searching for a set of snow chains for your car, it’s a good idea to find out whether they’re allowed in your state and when you can use them.
The factors to consider when shopping for snow chains on your Mazda 3 are as follows. It’s important to know how big your vehicle’s tires are, what clearance your snow chains will have once they’re installed onto your tires, and how much you’re willing to spend. Additionally, the chains will have to be stored in a relatively large trunk until they are ready for installation.
If you have a passenger car, you have to purchase snow chains that carry an SAE Class S rating. The rating means that these chains are meant to be used by front-wheel-drive cars with low ground clearances. The best snow chains for trucks may not be the same for small cars. Keep that in mind when looking for a set of chains.
Following that, we present our eight recommendations for the best snow chains for cars. This list of chains will work on cars and trucks of all types.
Best Over All | My Choice | Cheap | Value For Money |
 Thule XG-12 Pro Snow Chain Strong One |  Peerless 0232805 Auto-Trac Top Rated |  TRACGRABBER Tire Traction Device Cheap | Security Chain Company SZ462 Super Z8 Value For Money |
Peerless Auto-Trac Chain
The Peerless Auto-Trac snow chains are the tire chains that you think of when snow chains are discussed. They are equipped with self-tightening ratchets that automatically tighten the chains to their proper tension, reducing the need to continually check them and make sure they’re properly centered. The diamond pattern that the chain makes on the tire provides you with great traction on snow and a more comfortable ride than a large-linked radial chain. They’re made out of manganese alloy steel to be relatively light and highly durable. Unfortunately, if you plan on blasting through snow, these aren’t the chains for you. They carry a top speed rating of 30 mph.
Thule 9mm CG9 Premium Passenger Tire Chain
The Thule CG9 is designed to eliminate the effort normally associated with installing/removing snow chains. Because the chains are self-centering and self-tensioning, it does not require you to jump in and out of your car in order to put them on, while the colorful assembly links provide added visibility in poor weather conditions.
The 9mm chain offers good clearance (allowing these to be used on smaller vehicles) and makers for better ride quality. Despite the smaller size of the chain, the high-quality steel construction makes for excellent durability. The Thule CG9 is expensive, but offers top convenience and excellent performance.
AutoSock Standard Snow Tire Chain
Innovating a device that enhances snow traction instead of bulky tire chains, the Auto sock offers a fresh approach. The Auto sock is an innovative new product that uses a specially designed textile cover to wrap around the whole tire instead of the traditional chains that ride around the tire. As the surface of these snow chains is composed of traction-enhancing fibers, they are capable of gaining traction on snow and ice, similar to conventional snow chains.
For those concerned about long-term durability, the Auto sock is fully reusable and can be machine-washed after use to clean off the dirt lodged into the textile. Best of all, the textile-based Auto sock can be folded up and stashed out of the way once it is not needed anymore.
Security Chain Company Radial Chain
It is a good choice if you are looking for a chain you are only going to use occasionally. A wide range of snow chains is available here, each of which is simple in design and offers simple functionality; there’s no fancy self-tensioning installation system to take advantage of. As a result, installation and removal of these chains can sometimes be more challenging than some other options at a higher cost, so it is a good idea to practice installing and removing them at home, before you are in a situation where you need them. Installation is no more difficult than any other standard snow chains. Overall, for the rare occasion when you might need to use snow chains, these are an affordable option. They might not be the best chains that money can buy, but they are certainly some of the cheapest.
Suptempo Emergency Anti-Slip Tire Traction Chains
Suptempo’s anti-slip tire traction chains aren’t exactly chains, but they are tire traction chains anyway. The little footsie grips are more like little footsies that you can put on your tires rather than shoes. This is different from a chain that goes round your entire tire, as you have to place three of them on each tire. A chain is supported by nine nails which are made out of alloy steel and sink into the snow for extra traction. They certainly aren’t as straightforward as regular chains, but they do have their advantages. They’re lighter, more affordable, and don’t require any adjustment after being installed. Downsides include less grip in wintery conditions and run time, as they’re only supposed to be used for short periods.
Konig XG-12 Pro
It seems as though the Konig XG-12 Pro are some of the most expensive tire chains on our list. However, with an extremely high price tag associated with them, these tire chains are somewhat of an engineering marvel. With Konig chains, you do not just enjoy the tension set, you also do not have to worry about the chain slipping off your tires. The chains have a beautiful design on them that makes them stand out from all the rest. It’s for maximum traction in awful wintery conditions. Your wheels will be scratch-free with these chains, too, as they come with anti-scratch nylon bumpers.