The use of snow chains is often mandatory in Australian ski resorts during the winter season, as they provide additional traction and safety on the snowy and icy roads. To ensure compliance with the resort your plan to visit, it's important to check their specific requirements. This information can usually be found on the resort's website or by contacting their customer service team. Additionally, it's a good idea to practice installing and removing snow chains before your trip to ensure that you are prepared for any road conditions you may encounter.
DIAMOND CHAINS:
The most common snow chain required for Australian resorts is a ‘Diamond Chain’. Diamond chains are designed to improve traction and handling on snowy and icy roads. These chains are made with diamond-patterned chains that provide continual contact points with the road surface, which helps to reduce slippage and increase grip. It's worth noting that not all snow chains are created equal, and the type of chain that's best for a particular vehicle will depend on factors such as the size and weight of the vehicle, the type of tires it has, and the specific conditions it will be driving in. Before purchasing snow chains, it's important to consult the vehicle owner's manual to ensure that the chains are compatible and safe to use with the specific tyre size fitted to the vehicle.
KONIG/CHAIN SIZE CONFIGURATOR:
We stock Konig, an Italian company established in 1966 that produce high-quality wheel chains made in Europe for different markets around the world. We stock various chain models each suitable for a specific style of vehicle whether it be a car, SUV or 4WD. Chain sizes are based on specific tyre sizes and must be exact. To find your chain size, go to https://www.konigchain.com/configurator/configurator-consumer/ and enter your car model. If you cannot find your model or specific tyre size, choose ‘I can’t find my car’ and choose you’re tyre dimensions. Popular models include the CB-16 and XB-16, a 16mm manual-tensioning chain for cars and SUV’s respectively, and the CG-16 and XG-16, a 16mm self-tensioning chain.
K-SUMMIT CHAINS:
For luxury German SUVs with large wheels and no inside clearance, the Konig K-Summit chain offers 0mm inside clearance thanks to an external tensioning system, however these are no longer legal to use at Victorian resorts. (Current as of April 2023).
Konig K-Summit SUV Snow Chains
Description
K-Summit is the most exclusive and innovative external snow chain. Nowadays cars are equipped with bigger and bigger wheels and more sophisticated suspension systems, dramatically reducing the wheelhouse clearance and subsequently limiting the application of standard snow chains. One of the most frequent clearance limitations involves the wheelhouse’s inner portion and it’s represented by the lack of room between wheel and suspension strut, necessary for the fitting of traditional chains with inner elements. König redefines the design of the external snow chains with a more comfortable, compact and flexible solution: the K-Summit. With the König K-Summit, all fitting and removing operations are done exclusively on the external side of the wheel for better visibility and process understanding. The fixation to the wheel is guaranteed with a set of proprietary-designed adapters, fastened on the original car bolt’s head. The fastening process is supported by the use of the K-Lock, the König proprietary wrench with integrated torque-indicator which informs the user when the ideal torque is reached. The tensioning operations are handled through an integrated ratchet providing a surprisingly effortless process and making the chain reaching its ideal position autonomously during driving. In fact, once the K-Summit is secured in position to the wheel , it does not require any additional stop for re-tensioning: the optimal tensioning and centering of the chain on the tyre is reached automatically while driving. Thanks to the special design, the König K-Summit features the Wheel-Shield Level 0 which ensures the complete absence of touch points between chain and alloy wheel.
Update August 2022: Konig K Summit Chains are no longer legal to use at Mt Hotham, Mt Buller or Falls Creek.
Specifications
• Fixed on one of the original/OE wheel nuts / bolts. Comes with multiple sizes to suit a range of cars
• Central body with integrated ratchet system for quick, powerful and effortless tensioning operations
• Active tensioning elements decrease dynamic elevation and enable perfect fitting with different tyre profiles and wear levels
• Tread chain with alternation of special injection-moulded plastic plates with hard metal studs and special steel chain
• Comes with carry bag
