Important features to consider when choosing snow chains include, in addition to multiple functionalities, one factor that should be paid attention to: the thickness of the chain itself (for example: 7mm, 9mm, 10mm, 12mm etc.)

What in not very technical jargon is called the "millimeter" of the chain, it indicates the static footprint of the snow chain, that is, how much space the thickness of the chain occupies in the sensitive areas of the wheel (for example the wheel arch or the suspension system). This encumbrance indicates the thickness in mm of the chain, when mounted on a wheel that is not subject to rotation. Therefore, it represents a theoretical thickness only since, depending on the construction and technical solutions adopted, the chain may assume a different dynamic behaviour and thickness while driving.

Some examples of the König consumer range are:

• König Reflex Edge. Made with 7mm links, twisted tread and low-profile connections. These elements make it an ideal solution for cars with catenability limitations.
• König K-Summit. Operating only on the outer side of the tire, it does not contact the inner elements of the wheel arch.
• König K-Slim. Every single component of this chain is designed to take up as little space as possible
• König CB-7. This is a snow chain that includes thinner elements (7mm links), which allow its application to all those vehicles with little space in the wheel arch.
• König CG-9. Snow chain in 9 mm internal footprint with automatic tensioning that provides excellent driving comfort The König ATC (Active Tensioning and Centering) system independently manages chain tensioning and centering while driving.
• König CB-12. The König CB-12 is the entry-level snow chain for cars that do not have any kind of space problem in the wheel arch. The König CB-12. It features a bottom-up mounting system: thanks to the flexible cable that runs on the ground behind the wheel. Once the chain is mounted on the tire, after riding for a short distance at low speed, the CB-12 requires an additional stop to retention the chain.
• König XD-16. 16mm internal footprint, traditional solid and performance: ideal solution for SUVs, vans and pickups. Manual tensioning system with micro-adjust device for precise and reliable fit.

Of course, it must be kept in mind that chains are mounted on vehicles that are subject to movement while driving; therefore, while the vehicle is in motion, the rotation of the wheel makes any gripping device mounted on it subject to centrifugal force, which tends to lift the chain itself off the tire tread, creating what is called dynamic lift and this is, in a general sense, directly proportional to the weight of the chain tread and the speed at which the vehicle is travelling.

Ö-Norm V5117 and EN 16662-1:2020 stipulate that an additional adhesion device, such as snow chains, should lift a maximum of 25 mm at a speed of 50 km/h.

König snow chains manage to have less lift, so for example the K-Slim chain maintains a static 7 mm and 8 mm is its dynamic lift.

As for the CG-9 chain, it is 9mm static footprint and 9mm dynamic lift.

While the XG-12 Pro chain has 12 mm static footprint and 10 mm dynamic lift.

According to Ö-Norm V5117, the maximum dynamic footprint refers to the total space occupied by the chain when the vehicle is in motion, and this includes height, width and thickness.

When talking about dynamic footprint, it is also good to dwell on a very important aspect concerning vehicle design trends. In fact, vehicle design is constantly evolving, driven by technological and more environmentally conscious innovations.

As far as we are concerned, vehicles are equipped with increasingly wider tires and larger diameter rims, more advanced suspension systems that lead to more limited space for mounting chains. For this reason, König over the years has developed technical solutions to ensure a significantly lower dynamic lift than the standard required by regulations.

Reduced dynamic lift makes the snow chain more adherent to the tire, and avoids the occurrence of interference between the wheel arch parts of the vehicle, moreover ensuring its stability. In fact, by reducing dynamic lift, chains maintain constant contact with the road surface, improving vehicle traction and manoeuvrability, and giving the car maximum safety on snowy roads.

Also improving is ride comfort, as with reduced dynamic lift the impact on the suspension is minimized, making the vehicle more stable and comfortable.

In addition, these new vehicles are tested by us in order to be able to constantly update our web configurator to be able to suggest vehicle-specific chains, providing the user with a range of products that are compatible with their vehicles.

Within the König range intended for passenger cars we find, for example:

• König Reflex Edge. The twisted links that form the Reflex Edge's grip groups increase the points of contact with the ground compared to traditional linear links while minimizing the thickness of the chain. Let's not talk about low-profile connections, completely flat by-pass/ inner-arc attachment, and most importantly, the Reflex Box, which is the only automatic tensioning device that can tension the chain in every part, both on the outer and inner sides.
• König K-Summit. Active chain tensioning elements limit the dynamic footprint, (lacks explanation of how they work-double spring system that tension individual chain segments) allowing the chain to fit perfectly on tires with different profiles and wear levels and to stay super tight to the tire tread in dynamic conditions
• König K-Slim. The chain is made to stay super tight to the tire in dynamic conditions.

In this way, König offers a complete range of snow chains that includes products compatible with wheel arches affected by significantly limited space designed also for those Crossovers and SUVs, which are characterized by increasingly larger wheel sizes and smaller wheel arches. Again, the use of chains not characterized by controlled dynamic behaviour can generate interference with wheel arch components.

Such as:

• Reflex Cross. The revolutionary snow chain, in 9mm the easiest to fit, specially developed for Crossovers and compact SUVs. The design of the Reflex Cross involves the use of a rigid harmonic steel arch instead of side chains, promoting the presence of the chain on the tire shoulder and not on the rim.
• XG Cross. Comfortable, compact and effective: the right solution for your compact SUV and crossover 9 mm interior footprint tread design consisting of low-profile links and the welded triple-bar system König's ATC (Active Tensioning and Centering) system independently manages chain tensioning and centering while driving.

All you have to do now is to choose the model of chains that best suits your needs.

How to choose it then?  Thanks to the Configurator, which offers the list of snow chains compatible not only with the tire size, but with the technical characteristics and the clearance present in the wheel arch of the vehicle equipped with that tire size.

If you would like more information regarding the best snow chain for your vehicle, you can contact us by email, phone and on our social channels. You can also find König snow chains by the best dealers and if you want to find the one nearest to you, please check on www.konigchain.com/dealerlocator.