Most people shopping for snow blower chains start in the wrong place. They look up the model of their machine, search that, and get nothing useful. The reason is simple. Chains are sized to the tire, and the same model of snow blower can leave the factory on more than one tire size depending on the year and the configuration.
The number you need is printed on the side of the tire. Finding it takes about two minutes. Reading it correctly takes a little explaining, which is what this guide is for.
Where the Number Is
Look at the outer sidewall of either drive tire, on the flat area between the tread and the rim. The size is molded into the rubber as raised lettering. It is not a sticker, and it does not wear off the way printed text does.
On a snow blower it will look something like 15×5.00-6 or 16×4.80-8. Three numbers separated by an x and a dash.
If the sidewall is packed with dirt or old salt residue, wipe it with a damp rag. The lettering is raised, so it usually comes clear with one pass. Take a photo once you can read it. That photo is more useful than a number written down wrong.
Check both drive tires. They should match. If they do not, something has been replaced at some point and you need chains sized to whichever tire you are actually fitting.
What the Numbers Mean
Snow blower tires almost always use a three-number format, and each part tells you something you need.
15×5.00-6
- 15 is the overall diameter of the inflated tire in inches. This is the measurement chains are built around.
- 5.00 is the section width in inches, meaning how wide the tire is across the tread.
- 6 is the rim diameter in inches, the size of the wheel the tire mounts on.
All three matter. Chain length is set by the diameter, and the cross chain spacing and side chain width are set by the tire width. A chain built for a 15×5.00-6 will not sit correctly on a 16×4.80-8 even though the numbers look close.
When you order or ask for chains, give all three numbers in that order. A chain listing that only mentions one number is incomplete, and matching on one number is how people end up with a set that does not fit.
If You Cannot Read the Sidewall
It happens, particularly on older machines that have spent fifteen winters in a salt-air garage. A few options.
Check the other tire. Wear is rarely even. The second tire may be legible when the first is not.
Look for the tire manufacturer’s part number. Sometimes a secondary number is still readable even when the size is not, and that number can be cross-referenced.
Measure it yourself. Inflate the tire to its normal operating pressure first, because an underinflated tire measures short. Then measure the overall diameter across the center of the wheel, from the top of the tread to the bottom of the tread. Measure the width across the tread at its widest point. Measure the rim across its face. Those three figures get you close enough for us to identify the correct chain.
Bring us the machine or a photo. Our parts department handles this regularly, and identifying a tire size from the wheel is faster for someone who sees them every day.
Measuring Is Not the Same as Fitting
Getting the size right is step one. A correctly sized chain still has to be adjusted once it is on the tire, and this is where most of the real problems show up.
A chain that sits loose will shift under load, wear unevenly across the crosslinks, and in some cases make contact with the housing or the frame. A chain that is pulled too tight is difficult to install, puts load on the wheel it was not designed to carry, and tends to fail at the connector.
The target is a chain that sits snug against the tread with no slack you can pull away from the tire by more than a small amount, and no part of the chain touching anything other than the tire.
Fit the chains once before the season starts, in a dry garage with the machine on a level surface and the tires at normal pressure. Two reasons for this. The first is that it confirms the size is right while there is still time to exchange them. The second is that it walks you through the process once with good light and warm hands, which is not the condition you will be in the first time you need them at six in the morning.
If you would rather have it done once and done right, our factory-trained service department fits and adjusts chains with a typical 24 to 48 hour turnaround.
When to Sort This Out
October. Chains that are not on the shelf locally can usually be sourced in two to three days, and that window exists in the fall. It does not exist during a storm week in January when every dealer in the region is fielding the same request.
If the machine is going to need more than accessories, the same timing logic applies. The signs that a snow blower needs pre-season service are worth reviewing before you decide whether chains alone will get you through the winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tire chains do I need for my snow blower?
Chains are sized to the tire, not the machine. Read the three-number size off the tire sidewall, for example, 15×5.00-6, and match chains to that. The model number of your snow blower will not reliably get you there.
Where is the tire size on a snow blower?
On the outer sidewall of the drive tire, molded into the rubber between the tread and the rim. Wipe the sidewall clean if the lettering is obscured.
What do the numbers in 15×5.00-6 mean?
Overall tire diameter in inches, section width in inches, and rim diameter in inches, in that order.
Can I measure my snow blower tire instead of reading the sidewall?
Yes. Inflate the tire to normal pressure first, then measure overall diameter across the center of the wheel, tread width at the widest point, and rim diameter. Those three figures will identify the correct chain.
Do both drive tires take the same chain size?
They should. If the tires do not match, one has been replaced, and you need to size to the tire you are fitting.
Where can I get snow blower tire chains fitted near me?
At our North Hampton location at 106 Lafayette Road. Bring the machine in or contact us for pickup, and our factory-trained technicians will fit and adjust them correctly.
Bring Us the Number
Seacoast Power Equipment has served New Hampshire’s seacoast since 1965 from 106 Lafayette Road in North Hampton. We carry a $150,000+ parts inventory, our factory-trained technicians service all makes and models with a typical 24 to 48 hour turnaround, and we offer pickup and delivery throughout the NH seacoast and into southern Maine.
Send us the tire size or a photo of the sidewall, or stop by the parts department and we will match the chains to your machine. If you are still deciding on the machine itself, our snow blowers are on the floor, and our guide to the best snow blower brands for New Hampshire covers how Ariens, Toro, Honda, and Husqvarna handle our conditions.