Spikes-Spider SPORT - size SL - wheel bolt size TBC

There are 3 things we really like about the Spikes-Spider SPORT:

(1) Speed and ease of fit: Once the hub mounting plates are fitted, (about 10 minutes a side, 5 minutes with practice) 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.

(2) How they work: They use a combination of ice studs and chains, and are very effective. They're not in fact driven by the mounting plates - these just prevent them from being thrown off during fast cornering (which is never advised). Small plastic teeth on the underside of the traction arms grip the tyres, and the reverse of the tungsten carbide studs also slot into the treads. The mounting plates hold them loosely so they can move around as the tyres flex in response to changes in the road surface. A slow motion film would also show that they're allowed to lift off the top of the tyres, just enough to allow for efficient snow dispersal. Because they don't actually grip the tyres they're compatible with anti-lock braking and traction control systems (unlike conventional snow chains).

(3) Overall value: Spikes-Spider SPORT can easily be resized, bigger or smaller, to fit any tyre size for which a SPORT is available. The SPORT model has the widest application list of the whole range, fitting rim sizes from 12" to a massive 23", so we argue that they're the overall best value tyre traction system on the market!

We've been hiring chains for almost 10 years now and are always impressed by the state in which Spikes Spiders are returned, especially when compared to traditional snow chains. This is partly due to the ease of fitting - customers are more likely to take them off when they get to tarmac - but also to the quality of the components; metal components are made either of tungsten carbide or stainless steel, with the major plastic components made of a modified polypropylene.

As well as ski-driving, they're also ideal for UK snow use, especially in hilly areas, or for occasional extra traction on grass or sand, e.g. for pulling horse boxes or trailers on grass, or in various boat launching scenarios.

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 Spider out of its carrying bag and remove the decorative cover from the mounting plate.
• Push the chain over the top and sides of the tyre, leaving the green section sitting against the wall of the tyre at ground level.
• "Click" home the locking plate which holds the Spider onto its mounting plate.
• Do the same on the other side, get back in the car, and slowly drive off. The green sections will wind onto each tyre automatically.
• Right click here (Save Target As...) to download a movie of these chains being used and fitted (17.7MB).

Removing the Spiders is equally simple:

• Take off the locking plates, pull the Spiders off the top and sides of the tyres, drive forward and the Spiders will fall onto the road.
• Give them a shake to remove any snow or slush and put them back in their carrying bag.

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).
• There shouldn’t be any damage to your car in the unlikely event of a breakage because there's a secondary chain which will hold the the components together.

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

Summary: The most complete system available, worth buying into if you expect to be a regular ski driver, or if you can see their potential for UK use as well.

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.