What is it all about? We are talking about König K-Summit, the family of König snow chains which can be installed working exclusively on the outside of the tyre. With this product line König offers solutions for different vehicle types:

• Automobile (König K-Summit)
• Crossovers and small SUVs (König K-Summit XL)
• SUV (König K-Summit XXL)
• Electric cars (König K-Summit MAX)
• Commercial Vehicles (König K-Summit VAN)

And also... buses (König K-Summit Pro).

All right, first thins first.

What are the common characteristics of these products?

One above all, the way they are mounted on the tyre. We have already said about the different mounting systems for König snow chains. Here, the chains of the K-Summit family belong to the External category. They are mounted by attaching the chain adapter to one of the original rim nuts. All other operations necessary for fitting König K-Summit chains are carried out exclusively on the outer side of the tyre. In this way the chain only covers the outer part of the tread, leaving the innermost part free. This is ideal for cars with a suspension design that leaves no space between the inner side of the tyre and the suspension unit inside the wheel arch.

Another common factor is the fact that, the same chain can cover several tyre sizes. In fact, König K-Summit snow chains are equipped with removable elastic adjustment elements (marked with a yellow sleeve) that can be removed or added independently by the end user, to adapt the snow chain to their tyre size. The number of elements to be removed from each chain to get the correct sizing for each tyre size is indicated in the instruction manual contained in the product box. In this way, if the user changes vehicles, he or she may not have to change the chains as well; it will be enough to adjust them.

König K-Summit snow chains are stored inside a practical and elegant bag made of RPET (recycled plastic) fabric.

We mentioned a while ago that, there are different models of chains within the K-Summit family; let's now come to the differences. What is the difference between König K-Summit, K-Summit XL, K-Summit XXL, K-Summit MAX and K-Summit VAN?

Starting with the macro-differences, the König K-Summit, K-Summit XL and K-Summit MAX snow chains are characterised by a 4-arm design, while the K-Summit XXL and K-Summit VAN by a 5-arm design.

In addition to this structural difference, the various models differ from each other in terms of sizing and construction:

• The König K-Summit is a model that combines eight size variants (K11, K12, K22, K23, K33, K34, K44 and K45), making it compatible with a wide range of vehicles, starting with compact cars, through executive cars to crossovers with an unladen mass of up to two tonnes.
• The König K-Summit XL is a model that includes 2 chain sizes (K55 and K56). Aesthetically it looks like the K-Summit but it is dimensionally larger, covering larger tyre diameters typical of Crossovers and compact SUVs. Like its smaller sister, it can be fitted on vehicles with a maximum unladen mass of 2 tonnes.
• König K-Summit XXL, on the other hand, presents a change in design compared to the two models previously mentioned. The model comes in 5 chain sizes (K66, K67, K77, K78 and K79). In addition to the 5-arm design, the König K-Summit XXL chains feature a reinforced tread with thicker links, reinforced welded bars, and deeper flaps, making the product the ideal solution for larger SUVs equipped with tyres larger than 295mm in section.
• König K-Summit VAN is a model that includes 4 chain sizes (K81, K84, K87 and K89) and is the ideal solution for modern vans with catenability problems.
• The König K-Summit MAX is the new addition to the family, which consists of five chain sizes (K34M, K44M, K45M, K55M and K56M) and it is dedicated to the new generation of vehicles equipped with electric propulsion. These vehicles, however, have a greater overall mass than cars with an internal combustion engine, due to the presence of large battery packs in the case of BEVs and the addition of an electric motor and dedicated batteries in the case of Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. This is the solution to meet the growing demand for products specifically designed for electrically powered vehicles, which are often equipped with wide-section tyres. The König K-Summit MAX overlaps with part of the ranges covered by the K-Summit and K-Summit XL and it is a reinforced version of these tyres capable of withstanding the stresses generated by higher torque and increased mass. In fact, the cross-sections of the König K-Summit MAX are made from thicker components than the K-Summit and K-Summit XL (links, traction bars, plastic plates) to provide additional traction and better tyre coverage for the enlarged section.

The König K-Summit Pro chain deserves a separate discussion. Being a bus chain, it falls into the category of König Professional snow chains.

Available in 7 chain sizes (K105, K106, K116, K117, K127, K128 and K138), the design is based on a central body made of steel with a plastic core that supports a 5-arm design and is only mounted on the outer side of the tyre. The point of attachment between the chain and the rim is provided by two supports that are installed on the rim at the beginning of the winter season, and when the chain is installed, all it takes is a gesture to secure it to the two supports that are installed on the rim at the beginning of the season. The chain will then go into position automatically while driving, just like the K-Summit chains in the Consumer segment. The K-Summit Pro is also equipped with tread adjustment elements that allow a perfect fit on different tyre sizes. In this case the chain is not supplied in a fabric bag but in a practical reinforced plastic box, which can be conveniently placed in the luggage compartment of the coach, and which can be stacked if stored.

To find out which K-Summit in the Consumer segment is suitable for your vehicle, please consult our Consumer Configurator.

If, on the other hand, you want to find out which K-Summit Pro chain size is right for your bus, please consult our Professional Configurator.