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Buying Snow Chains

Tire chains, also called snow chains, are metal or tough plastic coverings for car tires. They improve traction when driving over ice and snow.

If you live in an area where winter driving is treacherous, you should definitely consider installing a set of tire chains on your vehicle. Chains vary in size to accommodate the many wheel and tire dimensions of various vehicles. Besides size, the main considerations when shopping for chains are type, traction, cost, durability and ease of installation. Check out these seven great tire chain options and learn what makes each stand out.

Most chains listed here are sized for tires on a common passenger vehicle, 225/65R17, unless otherwise noted.

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Best Budget Cable-Style Snow Chains

At only $38 a pair, these cable-style chains from Glacier Chains are remarkably inexpensive for what you get. They’re sturdy, low-profile (thanks to the cable-style design) and offer a surprising improvement in traction, according to reviewers like this one on Amazon: “They’re really not too expensive considering other options, and I’d say I definitely got a decent traction boost.”

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