Winter tires may not be enough for drivers who live in areas where they get more than a few inches of snow, but maybe even a few feet. The winter can be brutal in some states, and some drivers live in remote areas that snowplows can’t get to. Tire chains are needed in these areas.
Snow chains, or tire chains, aren’t legal everywhere. There are strict rules for where and when tire chains can be used in some states. Find out if snow chains are legal in your state and when you can use them before you start shopping.
There are a few factors to consider when choosing snow chains for Toyota Prius. When snow chains are installed on your tires, you’ll need to know how much clearance they’ll have and how much you’re willing to spend. Besides that, you’ll need a trunk big enough to hold the chains until you’re ready to put them on.
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.
With all that out of the way, here are our eight best snow chains for cars. The majority of the chains on this list will work on pickup trucks and SUVs, too
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 |
Thule 9mm CG9 Premium Passenger Tire Chain
Despite the fact that most snow chains require considerable effort to install or remove, the Thule CG9 is designed to get the job done quickly and easily. The easy installation is due to the self-centering and self-tensioning system, which means that you do not need to jump in and out of the car to place the chains on. The brightly-colored assembly links are also easy to use and aid in 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
In lieu of bulky tire chains, the Auto sock gives you traction in the snow. In place of hard-riding, noisy chains, the Auto sock uses a fabric cover that wraps around the tire. Almost like conventional snow chains, the surface is covered in traction-enhancing fibers.
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
In times like these, it could be worthwhile to consider the Security Chain Company Radial Chain occasionally. In terms of design and function, these snow chains are extremely simple, and they don’t include any kind of self-tensioning mechanism. 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.
Peerless Auto-Trac Chain
Peerless Auto-Trac snow chains are the most famous set of tire chains that come to mind when considering the topic of snow chains. There are self-tightening ratchets on the chains to ensure that they are tightly centered on the tire at all times, so you don’t have to worry about checking them and making sure that they are centered on the tire. Using a chain like this on a snow tire gives you better traction on the snow and allows you to ride more comfortably than a simple chain that comprises large links. They’re made out of manganese alloy steel to be relatively light and highly durable. The chains won’t work if you’re planning on blazing through snow. They are capable of speeds of up to 30 mph.
Konig CB-12
As opposed to some of Konig’s more expensive products, the chains sold by CB-12 are more affordable. You will need to adjust these chains yourself when mounting these chains on your tires because of the lower price point than you would expect for a product such as this. After a long time of driving, though, you won’t need to regularly tighten them. These have a simple locking device to protect your wheels from scratching that isn’t as fancy as ones found on its more expensive products, but it does the same job. Like most tire chains, these are easy to install. These chains will not fit on every vehicle, so be sure to double-check Konig’s website to see if these will fit over your tires.
Suptempo Emergency Anti-Slip Tire Traction Chains
Therefore, Suptempo’s anti-slip tire traction chains aren’t chains at all. They are basically little footsies for your tires. They do not cover the entire tire, as chains do. They must be placed on each tire three times each. For traction, each chain is equipped with nine nails. Certainly, they aren’t as simple as chains, but have their own advantages. It’s lighter, cheaper, and doesn’t need to be adjusted once it’s installed. There are drawbacks to these shoes, including less traction in wintery weather and a short running time due to their limited use.