Snow Chains

Both are the same TractionX multi-alloy steel chain; the difference is how they tension. The manual MX chains (MX120, MX140, MX160, MX180) are fitted by hand and re-tensioned after a short roll, which keeps the price lower and is fine if you are willing to kneel at the wheel. The automatic AX chains (AX200, AX220) use a self-tensioning mechanism that pulls the chain tight as you drive off, so there is less crawling under the arch in deep snow or a blizzard. Choose AX if you expect to fit chains repeatedly in bad weather; choose MX if you fit them occasionally and want to save money.

Yes. Every TractionX chain in this range - the MX120, MX140, MX160, MX180, AX200 and AX220 - is listed as compatible with ABS and Traction Control System vehicles, and the mesh pattern is designed to reduce vibration and noise so the electronics are not constantly fighting an uneven chain. You normally leave ABS and traction control switched on; the chain simply gives those systems grip to work with on ice. Always follow your vehicle handbook's guidance on chains and driver aids as well.

Snow chains are sized to the tyre, so the vehicle name is only a starting point. Read the size off your tyre sidewall (for example 265/65 R17) and confirm it falls inside the fitment range for that TractionX model before buying. Two Fortuners on different tyre sizes can need different chains, and a Thar on stock rubber versus oversized mud-terrains is exactly why the BS4 Thar maps to the MX120 while a modified Thar on bigger tyres moves up to the MX180. If your tyre size sits between two models, send us the sidewall code and we will confirm the correct one.

The TractionX Spiders is a cold-weather bungee retainer that clips over a fitted chain to hold even, multi-point tension. In hard Himalayan cold, ordinary rubber tensioners go stiff and let the chain drift, which causes slippage, misalignment and sidewall contact. The Spiders is built to keep its stretch and grip in extreme cold so the chain stays centred over long drives, deep snow and uneven ice. It is an inexpensive add-on (around Rs 3,200) that protects a far more expensive set of chains, and it is the part most people forget until a chain works loose at altitude.

The chains are made from a multi-alloy steel (Boron, Titanium, Manganese, Chromium and Carbon) with an 8-hour heat treatment at 900 C and a carburized, surface-hardened finish (HV 720-780), and they carry TUV GS and ONORM V5117 ratings - all aimed at staying tough rather than going brittle when temperatures crash. The Spiders retaining system is specifically built to keep elasticity and tension below -20 C. That combination is why this range is recommended for sub-zero Spiti and Ladakh winters, where cheaper chains and tensioners tend to fail first.

Fit chains to the driven axle, and on a part-time 4x4 driven in 2WD fit them to the wheels that actually deliver power; when in doubt, follow your owner's manual, which is the final authority for your vehicle. For most touring you only need one pair of chains, so keep them on the axle that pulls. Carry them before you reach the snowline rather than trying to fit them on a sheet of ice, keep your speed low and steady once chained up, and remove them on clear tarmac to protect both the chain and the road surface.