Spikes-Spider ALPINE PRO size AP3 with modified Land Rover Defender wheel bolts

The superb Spikes-Spider ALPINE PRO is designed for the heavier end of the light commercial vehicle market, i.e. for vehicles up to 5 tonnes, where speed and simplicity of fitting is almost as important as chain function. It's no surprise that light commercial drivers tend to run their chains on tarmac much more than other users, because most chains are a pain to have to fit and remove on a frequent basis. This increases the chain wear massively, obviously enough, so in this context the 30 seconds it takes to fit a set of Spikes-Spiders, and the 30 seconds needed to remove them, makes all the difference.

You'll see that the ALPINE PRO includes more metal components than other Spikes-Spider systems, but it shares the same fundamental characteristics as the rest of the range, e.g. the same hub mounting plates, the way in which the chains sit quite loose on the tyres, are self cleaning and will adjust to the frequent changes in tyre shape without straining any components, and the fact that all parts are available as spares. Specific features:

• The 'kink' in the grip plates emulates the perpendicular "grip links" used in very expensive conventional snowchains to provide better traction, better braking and better steering.
• The grip plates are made of galvanized steel and include pressure points for better grip on ice and very hard snow.
• the ALPINE PRO can be resized to fit a large number of tyre sizes by reconfiguring the patented adjusters - once adjusted, a filler unit holds these adjustments in place.
• Suitable for vehicles up to 5 tonnes laden weight

Spare parts and resizing information: Please click here for the spares list, including online ordering. Click here for a list of all the Spikes-Spider parts which you attach to the wheel, e.g. fix-clips, bolts, spacers.

Please note that if you are new to this system you need to order both the Spikes-Spider ALPINE PRO and the hub mounting kit; both these items are pre-ticked in the order section at the bottom of this page.

Land Rover Defender modifications:

It's not possible to fit Spikes-Spider chains to Land Rover Defenders in the standard way, because these use wheel nuts with a 27mm hex size, and the largest Spikes-Spider fix clips are 24mm. The solution is to modify a set of Original Equipment Defender wheel nuts by tapping threads into them and then using these as a foundation for fixing the Spikes-Spider hub plates.

You need to order at least 4 modified wheel nuts for each wheel; if you have locking wheel nuts, leave these in place.

A 17mm brass adapter (internal part no. SPX17M10M8-1) will be supplied with each wheel nut ordered.

Overview of fitting procedure (see pictures showing wheel nuts):

• Picture 1 - Replace at least 4 of the 5 wheel nuts on each wheel; if you have locking wheel nuts, leave them in place
• Picture 2 - Screw a brass adapter into each wheel nut and tighten using the torque tool provided
• Picture 3 - You need to allow 17mm extra because there is no fix clip; on these steel wheels each wheel nut required a 17mm brass adapter, a 17mm short adapter, a nylon washer, a long bolt.
• Picture 3 again - Use the slots marked 5, whether fitting 4 nuts or 5 nuts

Fitting and removal tips:

• Use the spare tyre to decide how to resize the chains prior to first use
• Optimum adjustment is when you can comfortably slide 4 fingers between tyre and chain
• Try and adjust each quarter of the chain evenly, but fine-tuning may well be possible in one quarter only - no worries about this
• The back stopper pieces should be fitted from the inside of the chain, i.e. with the long smooth side against the tyre. We find that using the torque tool handle to lever each one into approximate position, and then giving it a couple of taps with a hammer, is the quickest and easiest way to fit them. (They are easily popped out again with the torque tool handle.)
• Place the chains over the top of the wheels with the traction arms at 10 to 2. If you find it at all difficult to fit the locking disk, move the wheel a half revolution (i.e. move the vehicle) and then push the remaining chain onto the top of the wheel
• If you find it's difficult to pull out the red release handle of the locking disk, move it (usually anti-clockwise) a few millimetres, and then pulling out the release handle will be very easy

Delivery charges and arrangements:

We charge a contribution towards delivery costs, depending on what you order, where you live, and how quickly you want the goods.

These are our standard charges; there are usually surcharges for all offshore destinations and some remote postcodes - for details please see our delivery information page.

Delivery of other items

Delivery times

Delivery times are calculated in working days (Monday to Friday, excluding Bank holidays).

Cut-off times for Express Delivery orders
Express Delivery orders placed before before the cut-off times shown below will usually be desptached on the date of order. Express Delivery orders placed after these cut-off times will be despatched the next working day.

Delivery FAQs

When will my order arrive?
There are no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays, except for postable items where Royal Mail has a Saturday delivery. Express Delivery orders placed on a Friday (before 1pm) should be delivered on the Monday or Tuesday, Express Delivery orders placed on a Saturday or Sunday should be delivered on the Tuesday or Wednesday. The arrangements for Very Heavy Items are different and are shown above.

What about Next Working Day delivery?
We have offered a reliable Next Working Day service for well over 20 years but, due to the pressure on the couriers caused by the coronavirus crisis and the huge increase in online shopping, we can no longer be confident about the delivery date, which is why we now call the service ‘Express delivery’. Most Express delivery orders will arrive on the next or second working day, but some will arrive on the second or third working day, or be split between these days. So-called “split deliveries” happen when the couriers do not have enough trailer space for everything that should be moved around the UK, so they will load what they can and leave the rest for the next trailer.

Is my delivery day guaranteed?
No retailer or courier company can ever "guarantee" a Next Working Day delivery. As well as split deliveries, all courier companies occasionally have the same transport problems as can happen to everyone else, including snow blocked roads, closed roads, traffic jams, mechanical breakdown, an inability to find the delivery address, or to gain access to it if, for example, it's in a block of flats. We work with some of the best couriers in the business, and overall they provide an outstanding service.

Do I need to be at home?
We are very flexible with our deliveries and will aim to deliver to an address which suits you – this does not need to be your home address. Goods can usually be left without signature - we prefer this with roof boxes. There's a "Special Delivery Instructions" box in the checkout area where we'll ask you to choose a typical instruction and then amend it to suit your particular requirements.

Payment options:

We take the following cards, and also PayPal. Please note that the entry on your card statement will be from "The Roof Box Company".

Secure payments

Our website is secured by Sectigo (formerly Comodo CA), the largest commercial Certificate Authority in the world.

There are two parts to our snow chains offer this year:

(1) Clearance prices on many top branded snow chains, including RUD and Thule - an amazing opportunity for those who are quick off the mark! Thule (who are the biggest brand in the car racks market) have sold their snow chains division; the same chains are now being sold under the König brand. Thule branded chains have the same specifications as the König branded versions - all that has changed is the name on the chain and the name on the box.

(2)   Multibuy discounts - significant discounts if you buy two pairs of snow chains at the same time, or one pair of chains and one pair of AutoSock: If you do either of these things, we will discount the snow chains as follows:

• König, Polaire and Spikes-Spider snow chains - at least 10% off!
• INNO, Maggi, RUD and Thule snow chains - at least 20% off! Up to 30% off where we have large overstocks.

As usual, you change the quantities in the Shopping Basket.

Many customers will, for example, use snow chains on their driving wheels for Alpine use, and use AutoSock on the non-driving wheels, especially if these are the steering wheels. Also note that AutoSock work very well in very wet snow, even on slush, where snowchains are often not suitable because they can't get any grip in the snow. So having both AutoSock and snowchains makes sense from at least two different perspectives.