Why it's important to select the correct vehicle and tyre size
Vehicle
There are a surprising number of vehicles that cannot use traditional snowchains, the types that put chain on the inside of the wheel as well as on the tread. This is usually because there is not enough space between the wheels and the shock absorbers; this can be a problem for ordinary SUVs and 4x4s as well as for high performance cars.
You will find this important information in your car handbook - please check this before using your snowchains! Our database is intended to do the basic work for you but, with so many new vehicles and tyre sizes, it should only ever be treated as a guide.
Tyre size
Please also check your tyre size - if you buy incorrectly-sized chains they will be either too tight or too loose.
Ladder track chains
The good news is that car handbooks usually only refer to "traditional snowchains". Ladder track chains such as the Polaire GRIP and Spikes-Spider range only put chain over the tyre tread, so are not subject to these restrictions. They are also ideal for use on rear wheel drives where there is minimal space between the top of the wheel and the wheel arch.
Vehicle roof tents
We stock three brands of tent, representing the premium end
of this market - Intrepid, Thule and
Yakima.
Yakima probably makes the best standard soft-shell
2 and 3 person tents;
Thule's Approach series is a step up in soft-shells
because their designs give unrivalled headroom across the
whole length and width of these tents;
Thule's Foothill folds down to only 61cm wide so
there may be space on your roof bars for e.g.
at least one bike, kayak, or SUP;
Intrepid is designing and making what we think are
the best hard-shell tents on the market - only 60 seconds
to set up, no kidding, and with a third more space than other
clamshell style hard-shells thanks to their patented two-part
top.
