Spikes-Spider COMPACT - size C1 - wheel bolt size TBC

The Spikes-Spider COMPACT has all the key characteristics of any Spikes-Spider chain system - it fits tyres which can't accommodate conventional snow chains, only takes 30 seconds to fit to both driving wheels, and is held in place by the pre-fitted hub mounting plates. "No stress!" Each COMPACT is easily adjustable to fit a range of tyre sizes, so giving excellent value. More important for day to day use, the traction arms can either be folded into the centre of the device or can be very quickly removed so that the whole lot can be stored in the recesses of your car boot, ready for when you need it.

Speed and ease of fit: Once the hub mounting plates are fitted, (about 10 minutes a side) there's no doubt that Spikes-Spiders are both the fastest and the easiest chains to fit; you'll appreciate this when it's dark, cold and snowing!

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

How they work: They use studded synthetic claws to give a firm grip in both snow and ice.

As well as ski-driving, they're also ideal for UK snow use, especially in hilly areas.

Fitting is very quick and easy:

• If snow is expected, or before you leave for your sking holiday, fit a Spikes-Spider hub mounting plate to each driving wheel.
• When you need extra traction, take the COMPACT out of its carrying bag, remove the decorative cover from the mounting plate, push the COMPACT over the top and sides of the tyre and "Click" home the locking plate.
• Do the same on the other side, get back in the car, and off you go!

Other things you'll appreciate:

• No part of a Spikes-Spider touches the metal rim, so there’s no possibility of damage to alloys.
• Only smooth heavy duty plastic touches the wall of the tyre, so you won’t damage the tyre if you kerb it (kerbs aren’t so visible in snowy conditions).
• Spare parts are available - online ordering follows soon.

Click here to see a short video clip (.avi = 1.9MB) or click here (.wmv = 1.5MB).

We're also showing you a range of other winter motoring products which we're selling here at market leading prices, including a snow and ice windscreen protector at only £2.95, a telescopic snow shovel at £9.95, and a snow brush for £5.95 - all of these items are almost essential kit for winter weather, especially we suggest the snow brush..

Delivery charges and arrangements:

Free delivery offer for snow chains!   As part of our Snow chains offer this season we have added a free delivery option for all orders including snow chains, except for orders which also include a roof box. It covers all UK addresses except for any delivery address that includes a sea crossing.

See below for our normal delivery arrangements:

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

For most UK addresses, the charge for our two to three day service is £5.50 (£9.50 for orders including a roof box) and our charge for Next Working Day deliveries is £8.50 (£12.50 for orders involving a roof box). AutoSock, shoe chains, RUD i-Sock, and small spare parts, are charged £3.95 (Royal Mail Tracked), £4.95 (Royal Mail Express Tracked) or £5.95 (express courier, usually Next Working Day).

There are different charges for any delivery including a sea crossing, and deliveries to Skye - we will contact you with a quote on receipt of order.

Orders for Next Working Day delivery need to be received by 4.00pm.

There are no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays, except for postable items where Royal Mail has a Saturday delivery. Next Working Day orders placed on a Friday will be delivered on the Monday, Next Working Day orders placed on a Saturday will be delivered on the Tuesday.

We are very flexible with our deliveries and will aim to deliver on a day and at an address which suits you. 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.

No retailer or courier company can ever "guarantee" a Next Working Day delivery. 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.

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

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There are three 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)   A free UK mainland delivery option for any snow chain order except any orders including a roof box or a sea crossing.

(3)   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.

Snow chain recommendations

We are snow chain specialists, so we stock a large number of brands, and many different types of chain. Regular chain users usually know what they're looking for, and we hope they find it on this site, but many customers ask for further guidance about what they should buy. So here goes:

(1) Please use the filters on the previous page to narrow your choice, and also check out the Basic snow chain information links at the top of the previous page. Note that this year we are aiming to clear our overstocks, offering premium brand chains, including Thule and RUD, at massive discounts, with some at less than cost price. There’s a Clearance filter – it’s worth a look!

(2) The big differences between the European branded chains and most of the Chinese chains are (a) steel quality and (b) attention to manufacturing details. There is a market for cheaper chains than the ones we offer, but it’s not a market we want to be in, especially as the price differences between questionable and good are often only about £20.

(3) These are our recommendations for different types of snow chain, based on many years’ experience of testing and using chains:

Chains for cars / small vans

• Traditional basic chains: Look for Thule CB series chains being sold off cheap. They have the same specifications as the latest König version, just a different brand name, so this is a great opportunity to grab a bargain. (Thule have sold their snow chains business to König.) Otherwise, the Polaire XP9 (cars) are good value at under £50.
• Traditional self-tensioning chains: Thule CG-9, Thule CL-10, Thule CS-10 if available - see above. If they've sold out, choose the RUD easy2go, because easy2go are strong, well made, and the bungee type of self-tensioning system is the most reliable. If these are also sold out, the König CG-9 chains really are good, with a clever self-tensioning system.

Chains for SUVs / heavy 4x4s / medium and large vans

• Traditional basic chains: Check Clearance for Thule XB-16, Maggi RAPID-MATIC V5, RUD Grip V. If sold out, then without hesitation we recommend the Polaire XP16 – a really well specified chain at an excellent price, with innovative packaging.
• Traditional self-tensioning chains: Thule XG-Pro, or the König XG-Pro if the Thule are not listed.
• Ladder track chains / front-fixing chains: look at both the Polaire GRIP and the Spikes-Spider systems. The GRIP has many unique features, most obviously their polyurethane tread which allows them to be driven (at low speed) on tarmac - customers who are basically dressed for office work will really appreciate this. The Spikes-Spider SPORT (vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes) are the fastest to fit and remove, and can be resized. Both models are ideal for quick and easy fitting to vehicles which don’t have enough space in the wheel arch to get your hands in to fit traditional chains. The Polaire GRIP are at the leading edge of snow chain design; they’re outstanding.

Drivers of very heavy 4x4s and large vans should check out the equally fast-fitting Spikes-Spider ALPINE Pro, choice (for example) of many emergency services in Germany and Switzerland, effectively turning tyres into tracks.