Thule CU-9 Easy-fit snow chains (pair) no. CU-9 060

Why buy Easy-fit?  Thule's Easy-fit is a truly innovative tangle-free chain system which is easy, intuitive, clean and quick both to fit and to remove.

Who can use Easy-fit?  First of all, please check your car handbook to find out whether snowchains may be used on your tyre size. If there is a "No fit for snowchains" then you need to look for the Thule K-Summit or another "ladder track" chain.

Please also note that these Easy-fit are not strong enough for use on SUVs and 4x4s, even if there is a set for your tyre size. A heavy-duty 4x4 version will be available in due course.

Fitting:  No doubt about it, Thule has designed a winner with its Easy-fit chains:

• The first thing you’ll notice is the smart zipped bag; this doubles as a kneeler, although you don’t need to kneel to fit Easy-fit.
• Then, if you’ve ever used snow chains before, you’ll be delighted to see that Easy-fit are not in a tangle when they come out of the bag, unlike almost all other chains.
• Hold the sprung steel hoop by the red handles, push the hoop over the top of the wheel, place the two ends behind the wheel at low level, then stand up and push down on the foot pedal on the aluminium tensioning bar until you hear it click.
• The chains will self-tension as you drive off.

You should have fitted them in approximately 12 seconds a side, without effort, and without getting your hands or clothes dirty. Fantastic!

Removal:

• Stop the car so the aluminium tensioning bars are vertical, release the safety catch, then press the red release catches.
• Peel the sprung steel hoops off the tyres, make sure the aluminium tensioning bars are well away from the tyres so you don’t squash them when you move the car back or forward a few feet, then shake the chains clear of snow and put them back in their bag.

It really is this easy! Check out the Fitting video tab for more information.

Technical stuff:

• The chains stand 9mm high, both on the face of the tyre and behind it.
• They're approved to Ö-NORM 5117, to UNI 11313, and are fully TÜV tested.
• Nylon button studs are supplied and should be fitted as appropriate to help prevent the chains from scratching alloy wheels.
• Easy-fit are guaranteed for 5 years, but this does not cover normal wear and tear or accidental damage.
• A set of water-resistant instructions is included, together with spare links and plastic gloves.
• The chains are made from case-hardened manganese nickel alloy steel (MnNi) to provide an optimum combination of strength and hardness. They will rust if not cleaned and dried correctly - see the tab "Care of snowchains".

Easy-fit for rear wheel drives:  Easy-fit chains are particularly suitable for vehicles with limited space between the wheel and the wheel arch. This is an important consideration, because when you come to fit and remove all other chain-link snow chains, and all snow socks, you need to be able to get your forearms into this space. Easy-fit are fitted from the front of the wheel and are therefore suitable for a number of rear wheel drive cars that currently have a very limited range of snowchain options.

Summary:  The Easy-fit is a very clever development of the long-established RUD-matic concept, with the chain held on a sprung steel hoop that can easily be pushed into the narrow space between the top of a wheel and a wheel arch. But instead of taking up the slack with a single tensioning chain, the Easy-fit aluminium tensioning bars tighten in two directions at once, self-tensioning as the wheels starts to turn. Really clever stuff!

It can be more of an effort to remove snow chains than to fit them, but removing the Easy-fit is almost as quick, clean and easy as fitting them. They’re superb! Just be sure that the aluminium tensioning bars are well away from the wheels before you drive off the chains. The carry bag doubles as a kneeler, with the instructions printed right in front of you – a really nice touch.

Easy-fit won the Innovation of the Year Award at EquipAuto 2011, Paris.