The latest generation of vehicles are equipped with increasingly larger tyres and sophisticated suspension and ABS systems, drastically reducing the space between the tyre and the suspension system, which is necessary for fitting conventional snow chains with internal elements.
The Consumer König product range includes a wide variety of models for passenger cars, Crossovers, SUVs, pick-ups, vans and commercial vehicles.
| CARS | CROSSOVER | SUV | PICK-UP | VAN AND MOTORHOME |
| Passenger cars - mass up to approx. 2.5t | Crossovers and small SUVs | Medium and large SUVs | Pick-ups, jeeps and off-road vehicles in non-heavy use | Commercial vehicles for transporting people and material, Vans and Camper vans |
In this article we will therefore focus on the specific and unique product solutions developed by König for vehicles with limited space and chainability restrictions. Solutions designed to maintain low dynamic profile, adapting perfectly to the tyre and taking into account the characteristics of each specific vehicle segment. In particular, 2 main offers from König are tailored to the needs and characteristics of vehicles with limited wheel arch space:
Clearance 0: König K-Summit Family
When it comes to clearance 0, the snow chain models per excellence are the products belonging to the König K-Summit family.
König K-Summit is the iconic, externally mounted chain ideal for vehicles with limited space inside the wheel arch.
| Cars | Crossover | Electric cars | SUV | Van and Motorhome |
 |  |  |  |  |
| König K-Summit | König K-Summit XL | König K-Summit MAX | König K-Summit XXL | König K-Summit VAN |
A K-Summit for every type of vehicle
The K-Summit family consists of five products, each intended for a specific vehicle category with specific technical characteristics for each (in this article you will find an in-depth look at the differences between the chains in the K-Summit family).
Each of these products has basic features in common, including external mounting, attachment to the wheel nut, automatic tensioning and adaptability to a wide range of tyre sizes. These features make the K-Summit the most unique and innovative external snow chain on the market.
Best of all, 0mm inner clearance and minimal dynamic lift!
With no inner connecting elements, it creates no interference with suspension struts, cables and ABS devices.
Thanks to the specific design and technology of its tread, König K-Summit offers a low dynamic profile due to the continuous tensioning of the carbon springs on the adjusting elements along the entire tread of the chain while driving
Let's see together what they are and their main characteristics:
The 'smallest' of the family is intended for passenger cars and small Crossovers with a maximum unladen vehicle weight of less than 2.5t.
With 0mm inner clearance and a total thickness of the chain portion on the tyre tread (in static conditions) of 12mm, the König K-Summit includes 8 chain sizes; from the smallest K11 to the largest K45 covering tyres with a tread section between 175mm and 295.
Small, but not too small, it is intended for Crossovers and Compact SUVs with a maximum unladen vehicle weight of less than 2.5t and therefore larger tyre sizes than the K-Summit.
With 0mm inner clearance and a total thickness of the chain portion on the tyre tread (in static conditions) of 12mm, the König K-Summit XL includes 2 chain sizes: K55 and K56 covering tyres with tread sections between 175mm and 295.
The 'new entry 2022' in the family is intended for passenger cars and Crossovers with an electric motor and an unladen vehicle weight above 2.0t.
With 0mm of internal clearance and a total thickness of the chain portion on the tyre tread (in static conditions) of 14mm, the König K-Summit MAX includes 8 chain sizes; from the smallest K34M to the largest K56M covering tyres with tread sections between 215mm and 335mm.
The first 'big sister' of the family is intended for large SUVs and Electric Vehicles with an unladen vehicle weight of more 2.0t.
With 0mm inner clearance and a total thickness of the chain portion on the tyre tread (in static conditions) of 14mm, the König K-Summit XXL includes 5 chain sizes; from the smallest K66 to the largest K79 covering tyres with tread sections between 215mm and 335mm.
The second 'big sister' of the family is destined for Commercial Vehicles, Vans, Motorhomes and Commercial Vehicles with an unladen vehicle weight more than 2.0t.
With 0mm inner clearance and a total thickness of the chain portion on the tyre tread (in static conditions) of 14mm, the König K-Summit VAN comprises 5 chain sizes; from the smallest K81 to the largest K89 covering tyres with tread sections between 215mm and 295mm.
Low-profile: König Reflex Family and König XG-12 Pro
As with the K-Summit, each of these models is dedicated to a specific segment of cars on the market, let's see which ones:
| Cars and Crossovers | SUVs, Van and Commercial Vehicles |
 |  |
| König Reflex Edge and König Reflex Cross | König XG-12 Pro |
König Reflex Edge and König Reflex Cross
The ideal solution for all cars and Crossovers where access to the wheel arch from the outside is restricted or particularly difficult.
Equipped with an automatic mounting system that is triggered by a button, the König Reflex Edge and Reflex Cross are the thinnest chains in static and dynamic terms.
Thanks to its rigid double-arch system, the chain can only be mounted working in areas accessible to the wheel.
The chain components inside the wheel arch all have a maximum thickness of 7mm and the low-profile links allow the chain portion on the tyre to fit tightly, following the profile of the tread.
The specific design of the 45° twisted links allows for low dynamic lift without interfering with the internal parts of the wheel arch.
When it comes to safety for heavy vehicles used for transporting people or material, prudence is never too much, and a 16 mm snow chain like the König XD-16 and König XD-16 Pro will take all your worries away.
But what to do when there is not enough space in the wheel arch on your large SUV, Pick-up, Van or Commercial Vehicle to install a 16 mm chain?
König developed a 12-mm chain for these vehicles with physical characteristics that enabled it to obtain dual homologation (Ö-Norm V5117 and Ö-Norm V5119), thus also compatible for vehicles over 3.5t mass.
With its 8-ribbed tread configuration with short links and welded double ice-breaker plates, the König XG-12 Pro guarantees, in addition to easy fitting and low weight, to cover those vehicles between 2.5t and 4.0t with reduced wheel arch dimensions.
Thanks to its technical features and its 1-stop automatic tensioning system, the König XG-12 Pro is one of the most popular chains among owners of SUVs, Pick-ups, Vans and Commercial Vehicles for winter driving on snowy and icy roads.
To find out which snow chain in the Consumer segment is suitable for your vehicle, please consult our Consumer Configurator.
If, on the other hand, you would like to find out technical information, fitting/removal instructions and tips on how to avoid common mistakes with your snow chains, please consult our service center at: https://konigchain.zendesk.com/hc/en-gb/categories/4404725381009-Consumer-Snow-Chains-Help-Desk