Bought this for my small back deck in the Eastern Sierra. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxoHYZbq5g9fkcAtinlTqstNlje-UQkCHN We get A LOT of HEAVY snow so I was a bit skeptical but it was worth it! After the first storm of the year this has exceeded expectations! It throws snow very well, even 10-12” + that said the more it piles up the harder it is to maneuver the machine. It is exceptionally light weight and overall exactly what I was looking for. If you have a large amount of snow and a lot of area to clear, you may consider something with a drive engine to help maneuverability, but for decks, second stories, roofs etc, you can’t beat the light weight to great snow throwing ratio. Side note, the chute rotator is a bit flimsy and it initially didn’t seem to work, after a few uses it seems to have loosened up.
Thank you for your sacrifice of enduring the cold and snow to review these products so we don’t have to waste our time and money! The content was clear, unbiased, entertaining to watch and very helpful! Thanks so much!
I love your sense of humor! Your very practical tests were very informative. I hate metal tire chains, too, but it seems that’s what I’ll have to resort using on my ski trip.
Yeah, theres a reason a lot of these easier solutions aren't listed as approved/legal for mountain passes; even studded tires on my pass don't count as replacements for chains in really severe conditions (all vehicles in winter going over the pass are required to have them in the trunk.) so for that reason I prefer studless snow tires for just snow and cables/chains for ice.
@@SergiuGabor the one thing that this ignores is that while they work and they aren't broke they are often difficult to install and often are damaged by use and living in an area with a lot of ice that requires you use them regularly. Something that lasts longer, works, and simplifies the installation, that would definitely be a good thing, for example what if you have an area where you go to bed and sometimes wake up it's snowing ice a wraparound may not work very well because your car cannot move well to install and drive over, so I sent style that will allow you to partially install, it's much nicer, however these styles often suffer from breaking much easier than the steel chains, as they are often flat with spikes or otherwise that breaks. I think a better approach is that if it isn't broken don't completely try to create something new but never stop improving
Thanks for the video, we have a lot of snow here in Spain these days, so this comparison video is very useful. It was only missing in the video, the "blanket" or fabric style no chains. Thanks Sergiu! 😉👍👏👏
I was surprised as well, unexpectedly Austin Texas had snow and I went and found some snow chains put them on the front of my FWD car and they worked perfectly, didn’t get stuck at all
In Seattle we get infrequent snow, but we have HILLS! Also, there are mountains for snow trips. I found conventional snow chains the best choice. The keys to making them work well are: 1. Fit them properly when there is no snow, and learn how to install them. You need to cut and fit the chains! A hacksaw or bolt cutters are needed. Cut the chains to length so that you don't have excessive chain flopping around. Have extra cross links and a chain bending tool that allows cross links to be easily removed and replaced when they break. You should be able to buy this tool where you buy chains. If you have properly fitting chains and have learned how to install and remove them BEFORE it snows, then using them is only a moderate pain. And they are very effective in providing traction. Having a separate bag for each chain set also makes installation easier. Putting on chains is part of the ADVENTURE of winter driving, especially if you live where there are hills or mmountains. If you aren't prepared for that adventure, stay home. For the purist, the absolutely BEST way to install chains is to remove the tire and wheel and chain up the tire that way. You can get things nice 'n tight and properly adjusted,
They way I look at is that if you spend 10 euros to buy chains that don’t give any advantage , your money is wasted therefore they are not “affordable “
I've never used studded tires before, just regular snow tires that are soft since the local law for my mountain pass requires chains if its icy conditions(studs don't count as replacements for the law); do they work well on steep inclines with ice ?
@@markusi5995 Snow-chains are rarely used in sweden. Never had problems with grip using proper studded tires. The enviromdntalists and green politicians are trying to ban studded tires in the big cities, due to dangerous particles in the air, but they mostly come from the execissive use of gravel and salt. Which is necessary beacuse they have banned use of proper tires...
@@rolfrevman Ahh okay, yeah studded tires are legal in my US state for a few months out of the year, but the place where I would feel I'd need them, they can't be used in place of chains by law. I know nokian teased a retractable studs concept in recent years too, so hopefully laws don't squander that concept to have the ultimate winter tire.
@@TopiasSalakka I get what you mean, but I just told you why it was better for this test to have summer or all-season tires. I do agree that it’s best to use winter tires from autumn till spring.
These all season tires seem pretty uselles in the snow,a litlle surpised here.Snow chains are the best traction aid system and not only for snow,they can be also used in mud.Next test,best side (front or rear)to put the chains,on a 4wd.
luckily the pewag type is the common one and can be found for much less money (30€ range for big tire size). the type has to be folowed more than the brand it self :)
Great video and product testing. The chains you past don't look super durable but will get you out of trouble but for regular usage I bet they break. I have a set of 4 and are of heavy gage for serious use. (3/4 ton truck)Pain to put all 4 on but for safety in the mountains well worth the price $250 a set. They can take a beating. Oh also Have wire cable snow traction ones decent enough for my car and can drive up to 50 km but they won't take abuse. But very easy to put on.
Thank you Sergiu, I'm glad that you tried the snow socks in your new video and they surprised you. I purchased ISSE socks for my Citroen C4 when I traveled from Chile to Argentina and back in the middle of the winter a couple of years ago. I got lucky and The Andes wasn't snowed, but I couldn't test them. The advantage you didn't mention in your recent review is that lower cars as mine doesn't have enough wheel clearance to install chains, so socks are the only solution available to reach destination safely when you don't know how the weather is going to be in a mountain pass in a couple more weeks.
Nice video, I'm in now, been skiing all my life and tried almost anything providing a better traction, from those spray " magic" snow chains to the Koening or Thule XG-12 Pro, all of them usless down here, icy conditions of roads makes absolutely expendable, we use a local brand "Gorilla" which produces a thick steel chain including ice breaker spouts they are heavy and difficult to install but are the only way to get the ski slopes safety, about price they are half the cost than a regular Koening or Thule Austrian or Swedish brands, ( use to drive a Montero-Pajero 4WD having S+M tires though)Congs from Chile my friend !!
idk but for me the exoensive chains seemed cheap to me. i bought atv chains which are proper chains with studs on chain and most importantly an actual tightening lever on them like is on big truck chains.. i'm not sure but i quess on your expensive chains there's just that how much you can tighten them and thats it. so can't go with any speed at all. with properly tightened you should be able to drive with 50-60 kmh atleast.
Dețin și am folosit acele "TPU snow chains". Pot spune că am urcat pe gheață pe drumul care duce la muntele Roșu Nu am avut nici o problemă din cele prezentate. Adevărat este că am avut 12 bucăți pentru toate cele patru roți.
I understand you gave the "expensive chains" an X on affordability because they are the most expensive of the products tested, but remember that getting stuck and calling a tow will already negate any savings from a cheaper, but much less effective product. Buy the right thing once instead of buying the cheap thing over and over!
@@lisalee2885 if you are someplace with a cell signal or with 2 hours of AAA. I am guessing this video isn’t the normal roads they you find yourself on either.
Yeah its really not worth risking your vehicle with a shitty product(and probably unlawful on many mountain passes)...its cheap when thinking about it as extra insurance.
A word of warning about any product where the fitting strap goes through the wheel. Check that the straps do not foul the brake callipers. Some cars have very little clearance between the calliper and the wheel.
Good point - I had to get larger wheels when I upgraded my brakes and the clearance is very tight. Also, the spacing of the spokes can make even spacing of these impossible, which will make durability even worse
@@krisg822 8 bought similar ones in a shell station as I forgot my chains. 10€. But they feel more like rubber /soft plastic opposed to the hard plastic used here. I only put on one of them and got out. Sometimes you just need a little traction to get you going. It's similar to using a stick in your rims if you need to get out of mud. Not that I would advise that this is a full replacement for traditional chains.
In a deep snow situation, You will be turned back by the police if you don’t have real chains fitted. No zip ties or wheel socks or funky dink gadgets allowed,
You will be even more surprised when you try them in person. Here is my video about chains in fairly deep snow on an old rear-wheel drive car: th-cam.com/video/7qn-sLhCGgQ/w-d-xo.html Chains turn almost any car into a rather powerful all-terrain vehicle!
@@jbnrusnya_should_be_punished Yep, used to take my 84 2WD Ford Ranger up hunting on the same back country sometimes snow or mud covered roads...throw the V-Bar chains on and that truck would go anywhere the guys in their jacked up 4x4s were going. Many of today's cars, SUV's, and pickups don't have space for true chains so you are stuck with lesser quality cables but those do work they just don't last as long.
Having spent a lot of my life off road in the snow, quality chains are a must. Also, it’s more work, but chain up all 4 and be in 4 wheel drive!! The heavier the vehicle with more ground clearance and narrower tires is also important. Too light of a vehicle, will stay on top of the snow and the chains will not dig into the ground.
Ok, Sergiu, few obs: 1. Not only steel wheels can cut that plastic, but also "diamond cut" can have sharp edges, depending on each style. 2. I will NOT recommend under no circumstances to have anything tied up to the rims - especially if you have some after market ones. Minimum contact with the alloy is best. 3. You did not include in the video "tyres socks" or "huse" (in romanian). It would have been very nice to have a comparison since they're kind of different approach. 4. It is worth to mention that no insurance company will cover damage caused while using snow chains. So choose wisely when you buy it.
Would love to see a test with snow socks too. They're lighter and easier to install so would be better for my wife and daughters, given that where we live this is only for emergency situations not long mountain drives
Problem with snowsocks is, if you're using them on a mountain pass entrance at a chain up area, you'll probably have to drive on them over dry pavement for a few miles which is probably gonna be hard on them; best compromise is probably cables. And I'm dubious of snowsocks on ice; I really doubt they perform better on actual ice.
The traditional snow chains that you did not install are a major PITA to install, especially in the dark in snow. But they are the best of all your options, because they give the best traction
Good test definitely and now I feel I made a bad decision when I bought the second test you did with the Chinese product. Maybe those wrap around would work fine with less snow on the ground or when not going on a steep road. Thank you.
You can also improve traction a bit by letting pressure out of the tires. Just make sure you have a way to reinflate once you're back to clear roads. 10-25 PSI is sufficient.
While this is true in snow, most of the time on the road you will be dealing with ice. Letting out air will actually worsen traction on ice, as you have a larger surface area and therefor less pressure on the ice. Basically the opposite of spiked tires.
Those "cheap chains" in a bag are truck style chains and are easy and quick to fit and removeand won't be as tangled as intimated. So long as they are kept tight (which is the secret of using any chains) they will out live and out perform any of the more fancy alternatives. Look for cam tensioners, but decent spider tensioners work fine and make sure of good steel quality (reputable manufacturers). They are also easy to repair - all chains eventually break. They weren't given enough attention here. Pity. As a former truck driver and UK resident of Scottish Highlands and used to working in the Lake District and Snowdonia, I speak with some experience. For more level terrain, socks and, even better, studded tyres (if legal) work very well. For UK residents, unfortunately, silly governmental capers have made obtaining decent chains more expensive, as European continental residents will be aware. Good video, though.
People complain about putting little chains on a little car.. Try putting big chains on a commercial truck, and not just 2 to 4, but 6 of them. I've done it many times, and it's certainly no fun, and takes quite awhile.
I once had to go somewhere in my 4 wheel drive Ford Ranger in deep snow. I put bar reinforced tire chains on all four wheels. It would go in snow that was all the way to the tops of the fenders. There just is no substitute unless you go to some sort of tracks. In that case, get a Bombi or a Weasel.
A few years ago I bought a Chinese copy of these pewag chains, and they are wonderful: cheap, reliable and durable. They are both suitable for my Lacetti with 185/65/14 tires and the lada with 175/70/13 tires. If necessary, riding on chains on a fairly deep snow is fun. Because without chains Lacetti still behaves quite well in the snow, but the old lada is completely hopeless.
Hello M8 You are from Romania , and looks like I have some experience with winter in Romania. First of all everyone knows that the only solution for uphill is the snow chain and the Michelin net . Second, all season tyres have no use in a snow , are good one the low temperature but not on that snow you tried, not with AWD or 4x4 , and if you respect the laws of the country you should have winter tyres if you are going in the snow. M+S from the all-season tyres will send you directly in to the ditch uphill or downhill.
This video stopped me from buying option 2 bracelets, which looked so great in the presentation. Thank you! Even though the fresh loose deep snow is not what you are going to face traveling through Alps in winter. I would like to see how they work on asphalt with 2-3 centimetres of snow just 20 minutes after the snowstorm started. Inclination like 10-20°.
Good video👍 I was tkinking About buying the TPU anti slip gear but after seeing this video I can only say No way ☝️I better Buy regular snow chains! Thank you Buddy
Thanks for this video - it was informative & amusing. I especially liked watching you try to catch increasingly heavy sets of chains. ;) To be fair, some TPU chains may be better made & from better materials than the specific brand you happened to have - but they would probably also be somewhat more expensive. I live in the US, & here I think most people would consider 130 Euros (about 150 USD at this writing) is about mid range for a reasonably set of snow chains. The cheapest chains I'd personally want to rely on run about $115 or so (roughly 100 Euro), and it's hard for most people who don't regularly drive in snow to justify spending much more than $200 (around 175 Euro) on a pair of chains. But then, the US and Romania are different places.
Good video. I bought a pair of those yellow cinch strap snow chains for my wife and I. they do work but they are not designed for deep snow. they are more for a surprise snow to help you get home. I still need good tires and common sense. Once again, great video.
thank u so much 4 this video.....i wish u did this video back in december because i bought the TPU "snow chains" and not only did it damage my car bad but it barely worked they broke and snapped off the wheel and wrapped around my axle...very bad......i bought some peerless auto trac snow chains for $90 still kicking myself for wasting money on the TPU
Well if this isn't the most straight forward and convincing test/comparison video on a product I've ever seen. I was real close to get those yellow ones on Amazon but I'm gonna get some full on snow chains.
I absolutely agree with others, "expensive" chains are always worth the price when you consider the alternative, which is getting stuck in snow... or worse! But honestly cheap snow chains aren't so difficult to install if you have the bare minimum of manual dexterity. Of course just reading the instructions for the first time once you're at -10° in a storm with knee-deep snow isn't the best policy... Try and install them beforehand in a dry and warm place, and you'll be so much better off 😉
Very nice vlog well detailed Chinese product are most concentrated on quantity not quality in terms just a very poor product don't know how they passed quality assurance inspections if there any won't even look at it !!!
Nice video! That TPU ones (one piece on each front wheel - FWD car) saved me this week on big ice hill ... but as you said it really isn't a long lasting product :-)
the snowchains at 130€ cost 20€ in France and you can fin them in the supermarket ! the best way to put them on is before you get in deep snow Don't keep them in the box and wear slim gloves
Was the 4WD on auto or on lock? When I went to mountains during the New Year (although I had Nokian WR Snowproof) the 4WD lock on Dacia did better job than 4WD auto :) (mainly because on auto it waits for wheel(s) slip)
Love the totally legit, profesionally made licence plates
Quality of production 10/10. Informative 10/10. Entertaining 10/10. Came here looking for copper and found gold!
Bought this for my small back deck in the Eastern Sierra. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxoHYZbq5g9fkcAtinlTqstNlje-UQkCHN We get A LOT of HEAVY snow so I was a bit skeptical but it was worth it! After the first storm of the year this has exceeded expectations! It throws snow very well, even 10-12” + that said the more it piles up the harder it is to maneuver the machine. It is exceptionally light weight and overall exactly what I was looking for. If you have a large amount of snow and a lot of area to clear, you may consider something with a drive engine to help maneuverability, but for decks, second stories, roofs etc, you can’t beat the light weight to great snow throwing ratio. Side note, the chute rotator is a bit flimsy and it initially didn’t seem to work, after a few uses it seems to have loosened up.
Thank you for your sacrifice of enduring the cold and snow to review these products so we don’t have to waste our time and money! The content was clear, unbiased, entertaining to watch and very helpful! Thanks so much!
I love your sense of humor! Your very practical tests were very informative. I hate metal tire chains, too, but it seems that’s what I’ll have to resort using on my ski trip.
Foarte bine punctat. O singura data am folosit lanțuri de zăpadă și am rămas impresionat cât de bine a reușit sa urce mașina. Felicitari.
abia a inceput videoclipul dar ma bucur enorm ca ai testat asa ceva. nu exista niciun material pe tema asta. felicitari!
Yeah, theres a reason a lot of these easier solutions aren't listed as approved/legal for mountain passes; even studded tires on my pass don't count as replacements for chains in really severe conditions (all vehicles in winter going over the pass are required to have them in the trunk.) so for that reason I prefer studless snow tires for just snow and cables/chains for ice.
Studs belong on roads with packed down snow and ice not just mountain passes.
Thanks for the great video. Real world tests like this are very useful. It was entertaining too!
This was great! Saved me money from buying the Chinese ones off of Amazon! The tried and true chains are the best! Thanks!👍
This was a great video, great quality picture, and great quality content(layout and whatnot). Very well done
Your results were exactly what I was expecting you to find. Thanks for confirming my suspicions.
Very helpful. I just returned from a 7,500 foot / six-inch snow event in which I got stuck. Never again, LOL, and you have helped.
If snow chains haven't changed for so long its because they work like nothing else. If it aint broke and works well don't try to fix it.
Good point!
@@SergiuGabor the one thing that this ignores is that while they work and they aren't broke they are often difficult to install and often are damaged by use and living in an area with a lot of ice that requires you use them regularly. Something that lasts longer, works, and simplifies the installation, that would definitely be a good thing, for example what if you have an area where you go to bed and sometimes wake up it's snowing ice a wraparound may not work very well because your car cannot move well to install and drive over, so I sent style that will allow you to partially install, it's much nicer, however these styles often suffer from breaking much easier than the steel chains, as they are often flat with spikes or otherwise that breaks. I think a better approach is that if it isn't broken don't completely try to create something new but never stop improving
Well done, I've been looking for this test for a long time. Very good review
Thanks for the video, we have a lot of snow here in Spain these days, so this comparison video is very useful.
It was only missing in the video, the "blanket" or fabric style no chains. Thanks Sergiu! 😉👍👏👏
Is the Mexican food good in Spain? Is the salsa and tortillas there different than in Mexico?
Must be from all the global warming 😉
I was surprised as well, unexpectedly Austin Texas had snow and I went and found some snow chains put them on the front of my FWD car and they worked perfectly, didn’t get stuck at all
You may need them again.
In Seattle we get infrequent snow, but we have HILLS!
Also, there are mountains for snow trips.
I found conventional snow chains the best choice. The keys to making them work well are:
1. Fit them properly when there is no snow, and learn how to install them.
You need to cut and fit the chains! A hacksaw or bolt cutters are needed.
Cut the chains to length so that you don't have excessive chain flopping around.
Have extra cross links and a chain bending tool that allows cross links to be easily removed and replaced when they break. You should be able to buy this tool where you buy chains.
If you have properly fitting chains and have learned how to install and remove them BEFORE it snows, then using them is only a moderate pain. And they are very effective in providing traction.
Having a separate bag for each chain set also makes installation easier.
Putting on chains is part of the ADVENTURE of winter driving, especially if you live where there are hills or mmountains. If you aren't prepared for that adventure, stay home.
For the purist, the absolutely BEST way to install chains is to remove the tire and wheel and chain up the tire that way. You can get things nice 'n tight and properly adjusted,
Esti cel mai tare omule! Imi place content-ul tău.
Most useful review of this kind I could find. Thank you!
Thank you for testing these chain substitutes.
Very pretty scenery there
OMG, this guy is awesome!
Very informative, thanks!
Excellent and informative video. Greetings from the United States of America. 👊
They way I look at is that if you spend 10 euros to buy chains that don’t give any advantage , your money is wasted therefore they are not “affordable “
THANK YOU!! Great video!!
Pewag servo 9 snow chains for the win!
Great vid. Glad I live in Sweden so I can use proper Nordic studded winter tires. Goodyear Ultragrip Ice Arctic ftw!
I've never used studded tires before, just regular snow tires that are soft since the local law for my mountain pass requires chains if its icy conditions(studs don't count as replacements for the law); do they work well on steep inclines with ice ?
@@markusi5995 Snow-chains are rarely used in sweden. Never had problems with grip using proper studded tires. The enviromdntalists and green politicians are trying to ban studded tires in the big cities, due to dangerous particles in the air, but they mostly come from the execissive use of gravel and salt. Which is necessary beacuse they have banned use of proper tires...
@@rolfrevman Ahh okay, yeah studded tires are legal in my US state for a few months out of the year, but the place where I would feel I'd need them, they can't be used in place of chains by law. I know nokian teased a retractable studs concept in recent years too, so hopefully laws don't squander that concept to have the ultimate winter tire.
YOU
ARE
HILARIOUS !!!!
P.S. YOUR REVERSE TAIL LIGHT IS OUT 😉🤗❤️🙌
Why not just winter tires... Put them on in late autumn and you don't need to swim in the snow trying to put chains on.
It's better to have summer or all season tyres when you want to test such products, so you can clearly see which one makes a difference.
@@diavalus Wasn't my point.
@@TopiasSalakka I get what you mean, but I just told you why it was better for this test to have summer or all-season tires. I do agree that it’s best to use winter tires from autumn till spring.
Thank you for your work on this video, it is such a great video.
Nice, aștept cu nerăbdare testul cu curele-le de distribuție :)
U just help me save a money, thank you for that.
In Northern Europe if you get stuck in snow first thing you do is turning ESP off, it's like the main reason why u stuck 😅
These all season tires seem pretty uselles in the snow,a litlle surpised here.Snow chains are the best traction aid system and not only for snow,they can be also used in mud.Next test,best side (front or rear)to put the chains,on a 4wd.
Obrigado, o melhor teste prático.
Good video! Love the intro! Audio is a bit on the quiet side, though.
Keep those videos coming!
Honest and Informative Keep up the excellent reviews
luckily the pewag type is the common one and can be found for much less money (30€ range for big tire size). the type has to be folowed more than the brand it self :)
Great video and product testing. The chains you past don't look super durable but will get you out of trouble but for regular usage I bet they break. I have a set of 4 and are of heavy gage for serious use. (3/4 ton truck)Pain to put all 4 on but for safety in the mountains well worth the price $250 a set. They can take a beating.
Oh also Have wire cable snow traction ones decent enough for my car and can drive up to 50 km but they won't take abuse. But very easy to put on.
@jon snow - What kind of chains do you use?
I would have loved to see ISSE fabric snowchains included in the test.
Thank you Sergiu, I'm glad that you tried the snow socks in your new video and they surprised you. I purchased ISSE socks for my Citroen C4 when I traveled from Chile to Argentina and back in the middle of the winter a couple of years ago. I got lucky and The Andes wasn't snowed, but I couldn't test them. The advantage you didn't mention in your recent review is that lower cars as mine doesn't have enough wheel clearance to install chains, so socks are the only solution available to reach destination safely when you don't know how the weather is going to be in a mountain pass in a couple more weeks.
Idky im watching this i live in California
Just saved me €30. Thanks! :)
You didn't include snow socks in your test. For e.g. Michelin has those and Norwegian AutoSock
Amazing video
Thanks for your video, I will not spend my money on junk products.
Thanks for the info. God blessed. Keep up with the good videos. I started following you
Sometimes I think they can give you a false sense of security...
Excellent video, funny but also serious. Too bad the "cheap" chains were out because these are the ones I am planning to buy !
hi, can you include textile chains?
Nice video, I'm in now, been skiing all my life and tried almost anything providing a better traction, from those spray " magic" snow chains to the Koening or Thule XG-12 Pro, all of them usless down here, icy conditions of roads makes absolutely expendable, we use a local brand "Gorilla" which produces a thick steel chain including ice breaker spouts they are heavy and difficult to install but are the only way to get the ski slopes safety, about price they are half the cost than a regular Koening or Thule Austrian or Swedish brands, ( use to drive a Montero-Pajero 4WD having S+M tires though)Congs from Chile my friend !!
It’s snowed 1 inch in England and as per usual the whole country is debilitated
😂
You should of used both front tires for the examples
Need James May to do a video with you.
If you want real good winter tyres take Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9. Chains are for citypeople, they are worthless on ice.
idk but for me the exoensive chains seemed cheap to me. i bought atv chains which are proper chains with studs on chain and most importantly an actual tightening lever on them like is on big truck chains.. i'm not sure but i quess on your expensive chains there's just that how much you can tighten them and thats it. so can't go with any speed at all. with properly tightened you should be able to drive with 50-60 kmh atleast.
But how would the these deal on recent fallen snow on road with some ice ?
Dețin și am folosit acele "TPU snow chains". Pot spune că am urcat pe gheață pe drumul care duce la muntele Roșu
Nu am avut nici o problemă din cele prezentate. Adevărat este că am avut 12 bucăți pentru toate cele patru roți.
Good video.....
I understand you gave the "expensive chains" an X on affordability because they are the most expensive of the products tested, but remember that getting stuck and calling a tow will already negate any savings from a cheaper, but much less effective product. Buy the right thing once instead of buying the cheap thing over and over!
Yup, like everything else.
Or AAA, Lol! Premier of course
@@lisalee2885 if you are someplace with a cell signal or with 2 hours of AAA.
I am guessing this video isn’t the normal roads they you find yourself on either.
Yeah its really not worth risking your vehicle with a shitty product(and probably unlawful on many mountain passes)...its cheap when thinking about it as extra insurance.
This just goes to prove the old saying so true: "There is no cheaper than the expensive".
A word of warning about any product where the fitting strap goes through the wheel. Check that the straps do not foul the brake callipers. Some cars have very little clearance between the calliper and the wheel.
Good point - I had to get larger wheels when I upgraded my brakes and the clearance is very tight. Also, the spacing of the spokes can make even spacing of these impossible, which will make durability even worse
tire4coin have best prices
some time ago I was thinking about zip-ties, I am glad that I forgot about it :)) .Thanks for your video :)
@@krisg822 8 bought similar ones in a shell station as I forgot my chains. 10€. But they feel more like rubber /soft plastic opposed to the hard plastic used here. I only put on one of them and got out. Sometimes you just need a little traction to get you going. It's similar to using a stick in your rims if you need to get out of mud.
Not that I would advise that this is a full replacement for traditional chains.
Zip ties work on a packed road but will not tolerate the spinning. Nylon rope tied around rims will work too.
in Russia they say: I go where wolves are afraid to shit.))))))))))))
Thanks for video!!!
😂😂😂
tire4coin is best for tires
In a deep snow situation, You will be turned back by the police if you don’t have real chains fitted.
No zip ties or wheel socks or funky dink gadgets allowed,
I'm surprised by the snow chains to be honest. I knew they were good, but i wasn't expecting such a big difference
You will be even more surprised when you try them in person. Here is my video about chains in fairly deep snow on an old rear-wheel drive car: th-cam.com/video/7qn-sLhCGgQ/w-d-xo.html
Chains turn almost any car into a rather powerful all-terrain vehicle!
@@jbnrusnya_should_be_punished Chains always worked!
@@jbnrusnya_should_be_punished Yep, used to take my 84 2WD Ford Ranger up hunting on the same back country sometimes snow or mud covered roads...throw the V-Bar chains on and that truck would go anywhere the guys in their jacked up 4x4s were going.
Many of today's cars, SUV's, and pickups don't have space for true chains so you are stuck with lesser quality cables but those do work they just don't last as long.
@@wildbill23c And two sets of chains on a diff locked jacked up 4X4 work even better
@@jbnrusnya_should_be_punished I wonder if Chains work in the Mud.
Love this guy. He's just happy to be in the middle of nowhere.
Just buy snow chains. Yes they’re more expensive and a pain to put on, but they’ll last for years.
@@CoolGuy-re7et Good luck with that !
Having spent a lot of my life off road in the snow, quality chains are a must. Also, it’s more work, but chain up all 4 and be in 4 wheel drive!! The heavier the vehicle with more ground clearance and narrower tires is also important. Too light of a vehicle, will stay on top of the snow and the chains will not dig into the ground.
whats the best for front drive sedan ?
Ok, Sergiu, few obs:
1. Not only steel wheels can cut that plastic, but also "diamond cut" can have sharp edges, depending on each style.
2. I will NOT recommend under no circumstances to have anything tied up to the rims - especially if you have some after market ones. Minimum contact with the alloy is best.
3. You did not include in the video "tyres socks" or "huse" (in romanian). It would have been very nice to have a comparison since they're kind of different approach.
4. It is worth to mention that no insurance company will cover damage caused while using snow chains. So choose wisely when you buy it.
Tire socks are garbage. They have no traction on ice.
@@MG-ks1qg Depends on what sock you get, as multiple tests has shown.
i got my tires from tire4coin
What about different types of Snowsocks vs Snow chains?
For traction, there is nothing better than chains. The more expensive ones are quite easy to put on and pretty strong.
Would love to see a test with snow socks too. They're lighter and easier to install so would be better for my wife and daughters, given that where we live this is only for emergency situations not long mountain drives
Snow socks work some but dont last more than a few miles. Pricey for a one or two time use.
Oh this would be great
Problem with snowsocks is, if you're using them on a mountain pass entrance at a chain up area, you'll probably have to drive on them over dry pavement for a few miles which is probably gonna be hard on them; best compromise is probably cables. And I'm dubious of snowsocks on ice; I really doubt they perform better on actual ice.
James May approves of the car lol, definitely buying the zip ties to be used as zip ties lol
Omg thank god I went with chains. We just got about 7” of snow
The traditional snow chains that you did not install are a major PITA to install, especially in the dark in snow. But they are the best of all your options, because they give the best traction
Good test definitely and now I feel I made a bad decision when I bought the second test you did with the Chinese product. Maybe those wrap around would work fine with less snow on the ground or when not going on a steep road. Thank you.
You can also improve traction a bit by letting pressure out of the tires. Just make sure you have a way to reinflate once you're back to clear roads. 10-25 PSI is sufficient.
While this is true in snow, most of the time on the road you will be dealing with ice. Letting out air will actually worsen traction on ice, as you have a larger surface area and therefor less pressure on the ice. Basically the opposite of spiked tires.
@@yeetandskeet which was why I said you'd need to reinflate once you hit the roads again.
My truck is 2wd. I run goodyear durations and air them down if it snows. I also throw some weight in the bed I never have a problem in the snow
@@leadnsteel1428 Come to Wyoming for a true test!
Those "cheap chains" in a bag are truck style chains and are easy and quick to fit and removeand won't be as tangled as intimated. So long as they are kept tight (which is the secret of using any chains) they will out live and out perform any of the more fancy alternatives. Look for cam tensioners, but decent spider tensioners work fine and make sure of good steel quality (reputable manufacturers). They are also easy to repair - all chains eventually break. They weren't given enough attention here. Pity. As a former truck driver and UK resident of Scottish Highlands and used to working in the Lake District and Snowdonia, I speak with some experience. For more level terrain, socks and, even better, studded tyres (if legal) work very well. For UK residents, unfortunately, silly governmental capers have made obtaining decent chains more expensive, as European continental residents will be aware. Good video, though.
People complain about putting little chains on a little car.. Try putting big chains on a commercial truck, and not just 2 to 4, but 6 of them. I've done it many times, and it's certainly no fun, and takes quite awhile.
11:26 „a sub to the channel would be..." not so original, Mrwhosetheboss😜.
Jokes aside, great video, as usual!
I once had to go somewhere in my 4 wheel drive Ford Ranger in deep snow. I put bar reinforced tire chains on all four wheels. It would go in snow that was all the way to the tops of the fenders. There just is no substitute unless you go to some sort of tracks. In that case, get a Bombi or a Weasel.
Dropped 120$ for chains at Les Schwab today..... I’m glad I got them, 7inches of snow
A few years ago I bought a Chinese copy of these pewag chains, and they are wonderful: cheap, reliable and durable. They are both suitable for my Lacetti with 185/65/14 tires and the lada with 175/70/13 tires. If necessary, riding on chains on a fairly deep snow is fun. Because without chains Lacetti still behaves quite well in the snow,
but the old lada is completely hopeless.
Excellent video, thank you!! I really appreciate your scientific approach to testing; looking forward to more videos!
You should do a test with propper winter tyres,not all season ones.
Hello M8
You are from Romania , and looks like I have some experience with winter in Romania.
First of all everyone knows that the only solution for uphill is the snow chain and the Michelin net .
Second, all season tyres have no use in a snow , are good one the low temperature but not on that snow you tried, not with AWD or 4x4 , and if you respect the laws of the country you should have winter tyres if you are going in the snow. M+S from the all-season tyres will send you directly in to the ditch uphill or downhill.
This video stopped me from buying option 2 bracelets, which looked so great in the presentation.
Thank you!
Even though the fresh loose deep snow is not what you are going to face traveling through Alps in winter.
I would like to see how they work on asphalt with 2-3 centimetres of snow just 20 minutes after the snowstorm started. Inclination like 10-20°.
Good video👍 I was tkinking About buying the TPU anti slip gear but after seeing this video I can only say No way ☝️I better Buy regular snow chains! Thank you Buddy
Thank you for this test, i almost bought the zipties. U saved my money !
Thanks for this video - it was informative & amusing. I especially liked watching you try to catch increasingly heavy sets of chains. ;)
To be fair, some TPU chains may be better made & from better materials than the specific brand you happened to have - but they would probably also be somewhat more expensive.
I live in the US, & here I think most people would consider 130 Euros (about 150 USD at this writing) is about mid range for a reasonably set of snow chains. The cheapest chains I'd personally want to rely on run about $115 or so (roughly 100 Euro), and it's hard for most people who don't regularly drive in snow to justify spending much more than $200 (around 175 Euro) on a pair of chains. But then, the US and Romania are different places.
Good video. I bought a pair of those yellow cinch strap snow chains for my wife and I. they do work but they are not designed for deep snow. they are more for a surprise snow to help you get home. I still need good tires and common sense. Once again, great video.
thank u so much 4 this video.....i wish u did this video back in december because i bought the TPU "snow chains" and not only did it damage my car bad but it barely worked they broke and snapped off the wheel and wrapped around my axle...very bad......i bought some peerless auto trac snow chains for $90 still kicking myself for wasting money on the TPU
Great video. Actually, is so hard to find good independent reviews like this one!!! Thanks!!!
Well if this isn't the most straight forward and convincing test/comparison video on a product I've ever seen. I was real close to get those yellow ones on Amazon but I'm gonna get some full on snow chains.
I absolutely agree with others, "expensive" chains are always worth the price when you consider the alternative, which is getting stuck in snow... or worse!
But honestly cheap snow chains aren't so difficult to install if you have the bare minimum of manual dexterity. Of course just reading the instructions for the first time once you're at -10° in a storm with knee-deep snow isn't the best policy...
Try and install them beforehand in a dry and warm place, and you'll be so much better off 😉
Very nice vlog well detailed Chinese product are most concentrated on quantity not quality in terms just a very poor product don't know how they passed quality assurance inspections if there any won't even look at it !!!
Nice video!
That TPU ones (one piece on each front wheel - FWD car) saved me this week on big ice hill ... but as you said it really isn't a long lasting product :-)
the snowchains at 130€ cost 20€ in France and you can fin them in the supermarket ! the best way to put them on is before you get in deep snow Don't keep them in the box and wear slim gloves
Was the 4WD on auto or on lock? When I went to mountains during the New Year (although I had Nokian WR Snowproof) the 4WD lock on Dacia did better job than 4WD auto :) (mainly because on auto it waits for wheel(s) slip)