Snow Chains substitute

Snobootz are an outstanding substitute for snow chains. Unlike snow chains, Snobootz will not rust. Think of them as plastic snow chains. You may get a little bit of rust on the metal cleats that protrude through the rubber snow chains, but the rust won't be nearly as bad as the rust that will accumulate on traditional tire chains. While most snow chains installation instructions say to allow about 5 minutes per wheel to install snow chains, Snobootz snow chain alternatives can be installed in about 1 minute. Putting snow chains on your car is easy if you have rubber snow chains like Snobootz.

Alpine Snow Chains
Tire Claws
Easy Install Snow Chains
Rud Tire Chains
Install GoClaws
Install Flex Trax
Install Snobootz
Snow chains for P215/70R15 tires

They offer phone support for questions and for orders, and ship orders the same day they are placed in most cases. We also recommend a reputable dealer that we are very proud to say has our stamp of approval if you are ready to purchase your snow chains. This causes several problems for vehicle drivers as their vehicles either get stuck in snow or skid on slippery, icy surfaces. If you are one of the millions of people that drive in snowy conditions during the year, whether you drive a little or a lot, you probably have spent several hours trying to figure out which type of snow chain is best for your specific use. With more and more 4X4 SUVs on the road, some people think they don't need chains or snow tires anymore, but most state laws require snow tires for 4 wheel drive vehicles, and many also require 4 wheel drive vehicles to at least carry additional traction devices in case of severe icy weather conditions. They have chain installation photos on their site as well for people who need instructions for installing snow chains. They give an unbiased practical review without any preference for any particular company and are in a better position to guide customers about finer points of tire chains very objectively.

How It Works

Think of Snobootz as a "composite structure", with elements placed strategically to their maximum advantage. Ice traction is given by the imbedded steel claws, but steel is not used everywhere so as to not damage your tires and wheels. Rubber pads are placed only where they will contact the road to provide durability and grip. The structure is tied together by a strong, lightweight, and durable, plastic coated industrial fabric that wraps around your tire. Finally, the fabric is split radially and joined with hook-and-loop fastener for quick and easy installation.

The four major technical elements are the steel claws, the rubber pads, the fabric structure, and the hook-and-loop attachment. Here’s the technology behind each technical element and how the technology is used to enhance your driving safety.

Steel Claws Provide Unrivalled Ice Performance

The key to the outstanding ice performance of the Snobootz is the imbedded metal claws. The claws break into ice and provide the grip necessary for traction. The claws are spaced around the tire to ensure that there is metal in contact with the ground at all times. This way, traction for braking and acceleration are never compromised.

From this graphic, you can see that each steel claw is imbedded in the rubber traction pads and extends through to the inside, where prongs engage directly with the tire tread. This helps prevent the tire from spinning inside the boot and transfer torque directly from the tire into the road surface.

Fabric Tyre Chain

The claws are made of spring steel, stamped out by our vendor in Chicago, Illinois. After being stamped, the claws are heat-treated to a hardness of 42-45 Rc for maximum dry-pavement durability. The claws are locked into the rubber pads by virtue of their geometry and some holes that are strategically placed in the metal claw to allow rubber to flow through. The claws should provide many years of service if used on snow- and ice-covered road surfaces.

Rubber Pads Provide Grip in Snow and Center Snobootz on Tire

The unique chevron-shaped rubber pads provide several functions. First, they’re made of a tire tread rubber compound for toughness and durability, as they’re the Snobootz’ main contact with the road surface.

The "chambers" molded into the traction surface actually provide grip on snow using Pascal’s law of hydraulics. Pascal's law states that that when a fluid is pressurized, the force acts equally in all directions. When the chambers in the rubber pad are filled with snow (the "fluid") and the vehicle’s weight bears on the pad, the rubber compresses slightly which pressurizes the snow in the chamber. This pressure helps "lock" the pad in place, providing traction in the snow.

Furthermore, when the tire rotates so that it’s no longer under the contact patch, the pressure causes the snow to be released from the chambers, cleaning them out automatically. This helps keep the claws exposed to do their work in case any ice is encountered.

Pascal

You’ll also notice that the pads are molded in a "V" or chevron shape. This helps the Snobootz to stay centered on the tire. If the Snobootz start to move to one side, the increased length of the opposing chevron will help force it back toward the middle.

Rubber Tyre Chains

Fabric Structure Provides Strength with Light Weight

The technical element that ties the traction pads together is the fabric structure. The fabric is a very durable PVC-coated nylon cloth that resists abrasion well and remains flexible to -40°F. Like the rest of the Snobootz product, the cloth is proudly made in the USA by our vendor in Virginia.

The cloth is cut precisely to size using our computer-controlled cutting machine. The pieces are then joined together using hot air welders. This eliminates inherent weaknesses caused by stitching. The result is a lightweight and very strong structure to support the traction pads and metal claws.