Although the roads may get snowy and icy in your part of the country, your tires are meant to be driven in most conditions. But over time, snow will build up on the tire treads and cause the car to have less control. To prevent snow buildup on the tires, you need to shed the snow with each rotation of the tire. Installing chains on your tires in the winter will prevent snow buildup.
Read your vehicle's owner's manual to determine if your car or truck is rear- or front-wheel drive. Trucks are usually rear-wheel drive and cars are usually front-wheel drive, but you should check for sure as those are the tires you want to install the chains on.
Also check in your owner's manual whether your vehicle's wheel wells are standard or small "s-class". Some sports cars and other small vehicles have small wheel wells, which will require a flatter tire chain rather than a traditional one.
Measure the width of the tire. Measure the diameter of the tire. Take these measurements to a local tire store and buy the correct size tire chains for your vehicle. Make sure to tell the store the model of the car, as it will usually have the correct chain size in its systerm and will know whether your vehicle needs an "s-class" chain or a traditional chain.
Lay the tire chains in front of the two drive tires on your vehicle. Make sure they are perfectly in line with the tires and that there aren't any chain links hooked together.
Drive the car forward until the tires are centered on the chains. Put the car in park.
Wrap the chains around the tire and hook all the tire chain clasps together on the top of the tire.
