Konig Easy Fit Tire Chains - Diamond Pattern - Square Link - Self Tensioning - 1 Pair

I've owned four sets of Thule Easy-Fit CU-9 tire chains over the years. I need them because they're fast and easy to mount and fast and easy to remove and I often have to mount or remove the chains while out on the road in snow. There have been times when the red cable froze on one of the chains and I couldn't remove it. I couldn't spread the hoop from behind the tire and it was a real headache. I had cut the red cable once ending the life of the chain and other times had to leave the car hoping for warmer weather to unfreeze the red cable so I could remove the chain.

These days and for the past few years I lubricate the red cable with silicone spray twice per winter. Lubricating the cable keeps the red cable from freezing-up. Unless the CU-9's have been redesigned not too long ago to give a better performance regarding the red cable I cannot give a five-star review. I'd leave only 3 stars. These tire chains are way overpriced. They also rust very easily making a mess inside the storage bag and that's with keeping them dry in between uses. Other than the red cable and the rust these chains have they have always performed well offering good traction even on ice. However still, I'd only give three stars.1220955

Jesse

12/10/2022

Going on the 2nd winter of my 4th set now. I use the CU-9s during and after snow storms on the rural roads where I live. I take them off when encountering roads with little to no snow. Cant drive with these on bare pavement. I have to use my CU-9s in snow thats only 2 to 3 in. deep. I drive a small two-seater w rear-wheel drive that hasnt much traction even with best of snow tires. With the CU-9s, however that all changes. Ive driven up icy hills passing other vehicles that couldnt make it.

by: Paul 11/10/2021

Positives:

These chains are very easy to put on and take off. They are far superior to any other solution in deep snow.

Neutral:

Make sure that you have read the instructions, and practiced using them before you need them.

Negatives:

The thick bar section will shake your car badly if it's driven on parts of the road that don't have deep snow. It's a bit worse than chains with more similar sections.

Conclusion:

Buy the chains. Use the chains. But also install Winter tires.1199782

by: Sarah W01/05/2020

Toyota Prius

I used these chains on my Prius for the first time on New Year's Eve. In the dark. In the slushy, icy cold. I'm a small, not particularly strong woman. They were so easy to use! The instructions are displayed inside the storage bag, which doubles as a mat so that you don't need to kneel or sit in the snow while you put the chains on. It took me a moment or two to understand that you can create a LOT of slack in the ring before you try and tuck them behind the wheels. Once I figured that out, it was easy to put them on and use the foot pedal to fasten them. Easy on, easy off. With one practice session, I can install and remove in less than 5 minutes. 735889

These fit my Mini Cooper perfectly and are really easy to get on! I haven't had the chance to use them in the snow yet, but they seem to be very sturdy. 722921

Christina W.

11/19/2020

These chains have been great! Its takes a minute to figure out how to get them off, but getting them on is a breeze and if you dont get them tight enough they tighten themselves as your drive. Theyre great in the snow and on icy days where you just dont want to take a chance. Perfect for my front wheel drive Mini Cooper so I can get up the mountain to snowboard!

I live in California and have Mini Cooper - a perfect car for 350 days in any given year. I go to the mountains 5 weekends in a year and 2-3 times I really need chains for 10 miles over the summit. It takes 5 minutes to put these on and another 5 to take them off. Can't beat the convenience.
769991

I haven't used them in snow yet, which is why I couldn't give them 5 stars. However, I did install them and that process was far superior to any regular or cable chains I have ever used.
You can literally install them in less than 10 minutes. True, they cost a lot more but considering that when installing chains you are often on the side of the road, which is not particularly safe and the weather is often fierce, I think they're worth it.366585

Amazing product! So easy a grandmother can put on her little race car. Worth every penny since I work at a ski resort, never late for work.598342

by: Gregg12/13/2023

I purchased chains for my 2017 VW GTI. They fit very well on the low profile tire and were easy to install. However on the first use to Tahoe in snowy conditions the chains performed very poorly. Per the chain controls in effect that day I had to install them at the chain control checkpoint. No issues installing them with the instructions. After about 1.5 hours of driving on the snow covered roads at the reduced speed, I noticed a very loud noise coming from the front right tire. While attempting to pull over to inspect, the chain suddenly flew off my right tire into the freeway with fast moving SUVs and trucks. I was unable to retrieve the lost chain and had to finish the trip with only the front left in place. When it was time to return home the roads had been cleared and chains were no longer needed. I found the chain extremely difficult to remove and it considered cutting them off. Eventually after much effort I was able to forcefully remove the chain since the tensioning system would not release. By the end of the day the chains were completely useless; one lost and the other broke. I was lucky to have made it safely but only barely. I would not use them again.1702223

Went on as easy as in the U Tube video. Had a fresh 12 inch snow to test them with. I have a Ford F-250 4x4 and the little front wheel drive Mazda went better than the truck. No shoveling the driveway, just went back and forth and packed down the snow. Only thing I question is the bungy cord part of the chains. If that part will possible dry rot. The Thule chains make the car feel unstoppable. Ice snow I made 4x4s look bad. When you have chains that go on and come off this easy you are more inclined to use them. LoveEm179967

by: Karen 12/16/2021

These chains are super easy to put on and take off. My only complaint is that after two uses, the pedal that you push down to activate the tensioning broke off. I have four of these chains, and the issue only happened on one of them. I did just see that there's a five year warranty, so perhaps I'll be able to get a replacement chain or replacement pedal!1225337

I bought these in spring so I haven't tested them in snow yet, but I must say I am very happy with them, yes, literally 12 seconds per side, AWESOME product, Imagine having to change regular chains on a busy interstate with Semi's flying by, SCARY, not with these! Super Fast and good quality. etrailer.com was great to work with too! Attaching a photo doesn't do justice, I suggest anyone to watch etrailer's video, that's what sold me as well as YouTube vid's.
2015 Honda Fit213583

by: Ariya11/18/2021

The easiest chains I have ever owned. Only caveat - these really need to be strapped on while the car is on pavement or anything flush because they are a TIGHT fit. I have an M240 and tried to strap them on in a gravel/dirt driveway that had alreeady been snowed upon. Even after shoveling the chains couldn’t quite slip all the way under, so I had to drive to the nearest asphalt, then it was a breeze. So worth the money to have something that can slip on and off in minutes.1206113

We live in the mountains of Colorado and my wife drives her Honda Civic to work 50 miles away on most days. Our house is 3.5 miles off of paved roads and a 1200' climb over poorly maintained dirt and gravel roads. These chains are so easy to install that she can usually put them on or remove them in less than 5 minutes, even in dark, snowy conditions. We would be purchasing a different car for her if we didn't have these chains.168801

by: Anthony02/04/2023

I've only used them once.

I had trouble getting them off. the peddle does not release up like in the videos. I was able to finaly get them up by sticking scissors in the slot over the peddle and pulling up, and now it appears they are stuck a couple inches from the top. but at least I got them off my car.1512993

Buying the right tire snow chains for my Honda Civic was easy with etrailer. Shipping was very fast. I ordered late on a Saturday and I received my chains the next Thursday. I'm extremely satisfied with my experience with etrailer1202207

purchased for my daughters car...have not see its use but can comment on etrailer customer service as excellent. they fixed and order glitch quickly and kept me informed of progress all through the cycle
448616

This set of chains are extremely well packaged for carrying chains to comply with CalTrans requirements that 4 wheel drive cars with snow/mud tires must carry chains. This was important to me since in the past 20 years I have never had to put on chains going, at or returning from Mammoth. I did a test install and they were easy to install. etrailer information provided was also excellent and the package was sent timely.440922

The tire chains seems to be of a very good quality. The instructional booklet attached explain in detail how to set it up and take them out. It seems very easy install (12 seconds according to the booklet). I haven't try them yet, but we will, when we go to Colorado this winter for skiing.
Very, very happy with the product and the service at etrailer.
309646

Pretty cool chain construction. This is my third pair of chains -- every car seems to require a new chain size. So, I had used your regular cable chains on my previous car and it was a big pain to put on and take off. For the new car I decided to get these "easy fit". I have not yet tested the chains in the snow, but putting them on on a parking lot proved to be as easy as the video suggested. My advice: 1. watch the review videos here on the site; 2. practice putting on/taking off the chains in a warm place without snow; 3. enjoy. Having chains that are easy to put on is plain safer -- you do not think twice about mounting them, so you are more likely to have them on when you hit that particular ice spot on a road. 164205

On my 2010 Camry, I tried them out on my back tire to see if I could put them on. It has the something in the way making it harder to put chains on. It worked out very easy. My son told me to make sure I get the plastic part totally behind the tire. My legs are the strongest part on my body and my arms and hands are the weakest. I look forward to trying them out in the snow. I will review later when I can use them going up our hill.398681

I bought these chains as a birthday present for my daughter. She is an avid recreational skier and races for her college team. I wanted to get her ones that she could install by herself quickly and safely when driving up to a ski resort or race meet alone. Just by following the illustrations on the inside of the storage bag she was able to install them on both tires in less than 5 minutes without any help or guidance from me. Taking them off took a few seconds. I have used many different chain tires over the years and these are the easiest to install by a long way. Hopefully they will perform well in the snow when winter hits.208932

I used this on a 2019 Subaru Forester once last year on a steep backcountry snow-packed road. It was extremely quick to install and remove, and it gave me great control going up and down steep grades. I have zero complaints in my (admittedly limited) experience with this traction device. 638508

The thin cable connecting the chains behind the wheel broke on my third use. The chains ended up on the road.234190

EXTREMELY easy to use, even right out of the package (which has photos of how to use in case you forget).

etrailer did a GREAT job of getting this to me ASAP for a trip where it turned out to be critical. HATS OFF GUYS!!!167605

Snow chains... cu9. Watched the u tube. Took them out to garage... 1 minute later they were one. Now hoping I really don't need them next week when I drive up to Tahoe !
Fast shipping. Bryan is the best! Thanks!340761