ATVs are great, but they’re not perfect for every single type of on road or off road conditions. ATV accessories, like tire chains, can come in handy.
Sure you can get ATV tires that are great for mud, trails, sand and racing, but tires that can work great in snow and ice are harder to find. All-season ATV tires can’t create enough friction on ice or in deep snow. ATV tire chains are more affordable and convenient to store than a whole batch of snow or all-terrain tires.
This becomes important in built up areas, before you get to the trails, as accidents may be more likely and safety becomes a bigger imperative.
Well there’s good news. There are loads of options available online. We’ve been doing our homework, and we’ve handpicked what we think are the best ATV tire chains out on the market today. Our reviews on these are coming up.
After that we’ve got a handy buying and information guide for you which goes through everything you might want to think about before you buy. And it comes complete with answers to your frequently asked questions.
It’s worth noting at this point that you can get tire chains for all manner of different vehicles, however this article will focus on tire chains that are meant to be used on ATV tires.
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Security Chain Company 1064355 ATV Trac V-Bar Tire Traction Chain
- Amazing customer ratings
- Available in a huge range of sizes
- Competitive and reasonable price
- Available in 2 link spacing for superior traction
Best Snow Chains – Top Model Compared
| Image | Product | Technical Spec | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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OUR TOP PICK
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Security Chain Company 1064355 ATV Trac V-Bar Tire Traction Chain |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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EDITOR’S CHOICE
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The ROP Shop Pair 2 Link TIRE Chains for ATV |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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BEST VALUE
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Sedona Cycle Country V-Bar ATV/UTV Tire Snow Chain |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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RUNNER UP
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Kolpin 50-0020 9″ V-Bar Chain in Plastic Case |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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RUNNER UP
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Kimpex USA Diamond V-Bar Tire Chains |
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Check Price On Amazon |
Top 5 Best Snow Chains for ATV Tires
1. OUR TOP PICK: Security Chain Company 1064355 ATV Trac V-Bar Tire Traction Chain
Summary
This option from Security Chain Company is one of the most popular ones out on the market today. Both in terms of sales and customer feedback, and this combined with the quality of their products makes this one of the best ATV tire chains that money can buy.
For example on the Amazon page, over 250 individual customer ratings, the average customer rating comes in at a high 4 and a half stars out of a possible 5. With three quarters of customers giving it 5 stars out of 5. And these recommendations are not something to be taken lightly.
The chains come as a pair, so that’s a money saver.
They’re available in a huge range of sizes, but we’re not going to list them. Please check out the Amazon page to see if they have your size. Getting the right size is crucial.
It’s a metal chain, so you know it’s going to be durable. And it comes zinc plated, which increases the durability. Zinc plating provides better adhesion, which is what you need for snowy and icy conditions, and it combats corrosion from rust.
The chain pattern provides excellent and aggressive traction for your ATV tires in any conditions you face. And this can be improved by opting for 2 link spacing over 4 link spacing. Though these do cost more.
Pros
- Amazing customer ratings
- Available in 2 link spacing for superior traction
Cons
- The 2 link spacing option can cost twice the cost of the 4 link spacing option
- The manufacturer advises against going over 30 miles per hour with the chains on
2. EDITOR’S CHOICE: The ROP Shop Pair 2 Link TIRE Chains for ATV
Summary
Although there aren’t a lot of customer reviews for these from The ROP Shop on the Amazon page, we can assure you that people are raving about them on the net.
It comes as a pack of 2, and you could get a set for all four of your ATV tires for under $120. (If you buy through Amazon, shipping is free.)
They’re a really good set, solid and sturdy. They’re zinc plated which is great news for their durability and adhesion. The chain links going around the outer edge of the tire (as opposed to the chain forming a concentric circle) are nicely spaced to give you great traction whether you’re on snow, ice or mud.
There are 4 sizes available, but that said all your main sizes are covered.
The ROP Shop is so confident in their product that they provide the buyer with a full years’ warranty (for details please see the manufacturer’s web site).
Pros
- The chains everyone’s raving about
- Competitive and reasonable price
Cons
- Although not necessary, we’ve found that most customers tend to buy these along with tensioners and tighteners for better traction
3. BEST VALUE: Sedona Cycle Country V-Bar ATV/UTV Tire Snow Chain
Summary
These ATV tire chains from Sedona are perfect for winter riding or plowing snow with your ATV, which is thanks to their amazing traction in snow and ice.
Customer feedback has been superb, and it’s one of the top rated choices on the net for snow and ice (no need to take our word for it, check it out).
It’s a good rugged metal chain with decent spacing between the chains. It’s strength and sturdiness comes from hardened angle iron, welded to each link of the cross chain.
And for better traction and performance you could even pair them up with tighteners. These are affordable and available, we’ve seen them on Amazon. Better safe than sorry as they say.
Pros
- Made for snowy and icy conditions
- Superb customer feedback
- V-bar cleats formed with welded hardened angle iron
Cons
- Although these can be obtained in different sizes,the Amazon link provided will show you the D size, which is designed for the oversized tires you get with larger ATVs
4. RUNNER UP: Kolpin 50-0020 9″ V-Bar Chain in Plastic Case
Summary
These chains from Koplin have earned the title of Amazon’s Choice for tire chains for ATVs – a title given to products that provide excellent quality at excellent value.
And the value is excellent – it’s not available at a discount, it comes to under $50 for a pair. Meaning you could get all your tires covered for under $100.
They’re composed of a rugged and durable steel, and to further their excellent durability, they’re zinc plated to ensure they won’t corrode and will last.
The 9 inch cross chains are positioned around the tires, and they have V-bars that give it its great penetration into snow or mud, and in turn giving it amazing traction.
Customer feedback has been positive. For example over two thirds of Amazon customers rated it at a full 5 stars out of a possible 5, giving it an average rating of 4 and a half stars, after ratings from over 60 different people.
There’s one size available, the B size, but that said, it’s a size that will fit most ATV tires, whether they are 22×11-10 or 22×10-12 or 25×8-12.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Really good customer ratings
- Zinc plated for great durability
Cons
- One size available, the B size, but you can buy accessories to aid a better fit
- For optimal results, we recommend that you invest in tensioners and tighteners for even better traction
5. RUNNER UP: Kimpex USA Diamond V-Bar Tire Chains
Summary
These are great tire chains from Kimpex USA. We would have given them a higher position in our Top 5 picks if it wasn’t for the steep price, costing over $100 for one pair.
Theys have seen superb customer ratings and feedback, and at the time of writing this article, the average Amazon customer rating is an impressive full 5 stars out of a possible 5 after 30 individual customer ratings.
The stand out feature of these is their chain pattern. Rather than featuring several cross chains connected by 2 concentric chains either side of each tire, the cross chains are arranged in diamond pattern, which is designed to increase their traction.
They’re made with hardened steel, for real ruggedness and durability. And the chains feature V-Bars, hardened angle iron, welded to each link of the cross chain, to give it real strength.
They come in a handy storage box, complete with a handle.
Pros
- Diamond chain pattern for better traction
- V-bars – welded hardened angle iron
Cons
- Premium product at a premium price
- For improved results, we recommend that you invest in tighteners for a better fit
Everything you Need to Know About ATV Tire Snow Chains
We’ll fire this section off with a quick list of things to consider and examine the questions that come up when it comes to using an ATV in snowy and icy conditions.
Before you buy an ATV Tire Snow Chain, make sure to review the following:
- Traction
- Durability
- Sizing
- Customer reviews
- Affordability
Traction
Traction should be one of your foremost considerations. The better the traction between the tire and chain and the ground’s surface, the better the ATV will perform to prevent any skids and get the ATV moving in the right direction in snow and ice.
There are a number of elements that can affect the ATV tire chains’ traction. For example a diamond chain pattern can improve traction in snow and ice. Our Number 5 Pick, the Kimpex USA Diamond V-Bar Tire Chains has such a pattern.
Such a pattern requires more individual links and a higher weight of chain, which means it will cost more money. On one hand, some people would say that a diamond chain pattern is worth the extra money, but on the other hand many people are happy with a simpler chain that reaches from the outside of the tire to the inside.
The more frequent the cross chains across the tire, the better the grip and traction. But this means more individual links and a higher price. But on this issue we are more opinionated, and we recommend that you go for more frequent cross chains.
Durability
An ATV tire chain could see a hell of a lot of sustained wear. Each link in the chain will at some point see a lot of weight placed on it as it moves with the tires. It needs to be durable. You should look for chains that are solid, rugged and durable.
The recommendations in our Top 5 picks are all metal (we’ll discuss plastic alternatives ). And with durability in mind, you can get some that are zinc plated, which helps provide better adhesion, combats rust, and increases the durability.
Sizing
It’s worth beginning by checking the size of your ATV tires. This is because often they are built to particular sizes.
Certain manufacturers produce a universal size, and if it does not provide a perfect fit to your ATV’s wheels, you are likely to have to invest in additional accessories such as tensioners and tighteners. Accessories which are readily available and recommended.
Customer reviews
We think it’s a good idea to check out genuine customer reviews before buying products such as these. We’re not saying that you need to read every review, but get a feel for what people are saying about the particular item you’re interested in.
We find that Amazon is a good site for examining customer reviews, because there’s usually a good amount of reviews to go through and the manufacturer’s website will show positive reviews, whereas Amazon will show both positive and critical reviews, and present a fairer picture.
Tire Chains versus Snow Tires
Of course if your ATV tires are designed to tolerate snowy and icy conditions, like some of them are, you may decide there’s no need to buy tire chains.
But if not, there are advantages of going for tire chains than a whole new set of ATV tires. A tire chain is available at a fraction of the price of a new ATV tire. So this would be a good choice if your ATV tires are in good condition and don’t need to be replaced.
If you feel that snow tires would be better value for you, say if you live in an area that sees a lot of snow, or if you bought the ATV for the purpose of snow plowing,it would certainly be worth your while looking into getting ATV tires that are designed with such conditions in mind.
Metal Tire Chains versus Plastic Tire Cables
On the one hand, plastic tire cables are both more lightweight and easier to put on and take off than their metal counterparts. And they are cheaper! You can see why people might consider them.
When it counts, plastic tire cables are likely to let you down. They don’t provide the same level of traction that you get with metal tire chains. And metal tire chains are more resistant to corrosion, since many of them are zinc plated. Our advice is not to compromise. Safety first, always.
Read Also: Is It Hard To Change ATV Tires?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any other accessories?
When we discussed sizes, you may have noticed reference to tensioners and tighteners. These are excellent little accessories which can make a huge difference to the fit of a chain on the tire and to their performance.
Such accessories are available from online retailers such as Amazon, and if you were to buy enough for every tire along with the chains themselves, the total cost should come to less than if you were to buy a whole new set of ATV tires .
Should you put chains on all 4 tires?
You should put tire chains on all four tires, because by using four tire chains, you’ll be able to obtain the best possible traction and balance.
But if that’s what people did, you’d see tire chains being sold in packs of four than in pairs. Front-wheel-drive ATVs must put snow chains on their front tires, and this is why ATV tire chains are sold in pairs.
Security Chain Company 1064355 ATV Trac V-Bar Tire Traction Chain
- Amazing customer ratings
- Available in a huge range of sizes
- Competitive and reasonable price
- Available in 2 link spacing for superior traction