Index
- Introduction
- Products Affected
- Content
- Initial Information and Preparation
- Assembly
- Dismantling
- Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Common Errors
1. Introduction
The König Rallye SV is the ideal dedicated snow chain for light to medium duty use on garden vehicles and manual tillers.
The single diamond tread of the König Rallye SV includes a standard link configuration as the best compromise between traction and weight.
The purpose of this in-depth article is to provide you with more information and assistance regarding the use of König Rallye SV chains.
Important: The snow chains discussed in this article are NOT certified according to Ö-Norm V5119.
2. Products
The product covered in this in-depth study is the König Load Master snow chain.
3. Contents
- 1 o ½ coppia di catene per sacco (in base al peso e dimensioni della catena)
- 1 sacchetto di nylon che include
- 1 libretto di istruzioni + 1 cavo di acciaio per il montaggio
- 1 kit di maglie di riparazione
4. Initial Information and Preparation
König Professional snow chains in the Special Vehicle category are made of 100% steel to maximise strength and reliability.
But that's not all. König Rallye SV snow chains are produced with multiple thread diameters (thinner links for lighter applications or space constraints / thicker links for heavier vehicles and intensive use), which means they can fit the tyres better.
The threads available for the various models in the category are: 3.70mm, 4.50mm, 5.50mm.
5. Mounting
The König Rallye has a traditional mounting system with 1 hook on each side (1 inside and 1 outside), with an inside side chain that makes the chain reliable even in harsh conditions.
Now let's see specifically how it works:
First, remove the chain from the packaging and lay it out in front of the wheel of your vehicle, making sure it has no knots. If you find them, untie them so that the chain is presented in an orderly manner.
Caution: Position the chain in such a way that the inner side chain is pointing towards the inside of the wheel and that the tension lever, spring end and chain puller are positioned towards the outer side of the wheel.
Now lift the chain by gripping the inner side chain and push the latter behind the wheel.
Then place the rest of the chain evenly on the tyre and proceed slowly with the vehicle one wheel revolution.
Now it is time to attach the chain.
To make this operation easier, stop the vehicle when the locking hooks are in the vicinity of the fastening rings/links; this will make it easier for you to attach the chain.
Once the chain is evenly positioned on the tyre, you can attach the chain in the following order:
- Connect the inner part of the chain, connecting the locking hook to the link or ring (varies according to chain model).
- Now link the outer part of the chain, connecting the clasp to the link or ring (varies according to chain model).
Attention: once the chain has been hooked on, check that the rhomboid groups do not have knots, and that the links are not twisted on themselves. If you find either of these conditions, unhook the ends and position the chain correctly before hooking it up again.
You may now proceed to tension the chain,
Pull by sliding the outer tensioning chain inside the side chain puller rings and once the desired tension is reached, insert the tensioning lever into the nearest link, apply tension to the lever and secure its end in the tensioning ring.
Wrap the excess tensioning chain around the side chain puller so that it does not come into contact with the rim while driving, and attach the end hook to one of the side chain links or the side chain puller.
At this stage we recommend that you do not overtighten the chain: it should not be too tight during the first few metres of driving, so that it is evenly distributed over the tyre tread. Bear in mind that at this stage of fitting, some of the chain units are locked under the wheel; therefore, the chain is not yet correctly positioned on the tyre.
Now proceed with the vehicle and drive a short distance at low speed and prepare to stop to retract the chains.
Unhook the spring terminal, unwind the excess tensioning chain part, release the lever and release the tensioning chain.
Now pull the tensioning chain vigorously and engage the lever, inserting it into the nearest link and hooking the tensioning lever into the tensioning ring.
Wrap the redundant part of the tensioning chain around the side chain puller itself, so that it does not come into contact with the rim when the vehicle is in motion, by attaching the spring-loaded end hook to one of the closest links on the side chain or tensioning chain.
You are done. Now the two chains are fitted and tensioned, you are ready to go.
6. Dismounting
Removing your König Rallye snow chain takes just a few simple steps:
Unhook the spring-loaded end hook from the chain and unravel the excess links of the tensioning chain.
Unhook the tensioning lever and pull it away from the link, use your hands to slightly loosen and soften the chain on the tyre by pulling it towards you.
Now release the ring hook of the chain part outside the wheel and repeat the step by releasing the ring hook of the side chain behind the wheel.
Pull the upper part of the chain off the wheel by placing it on the ground.
You are now finished, the chain is completely disassembled: to release it, move the vehicle just enough.
8. Maintenance
Cleaning and storage
Once the chains have been used, please wash them with lukewarm water before storing them permanently in the packaging, to remove dirt and any debris or chemical agents left on the chain. In case of persistent dirt you can use a brush with semi-rigid bristles.
Please allow them to dry completely, if necessary removing any residual water and moisture present with a cloth.
Once dry, the chains can be placed back in the packaging, ready for the next use.
Checking wear
Washing the chain will also allow you to check the wear status of the chain components, and be sure that the chain will be ready for the next use.
Important: If you use your chains continuously and intensively, we recommend that you check the wear of your chains periodically during the season.
When approx. 30 per cent of the cross section of the chain wire is worn on one side, it is recommended to turn the chains, in this way the chain will work on the wire of the opposite side of the link and/or wear bar, doubling its service life.
This is why it is important after driving some kilometres and after checking the wear condition of the tread links to reverse the snow chains on the wheels.
Let's see together how to turn the chains:
The chain mounted on the driver's side wheel (A) must be mounted on the passenger's side wheel (B) and vice versa, by rotating the chain along the longitudinal axis as in the picture.
9. Troubleshooting
Tangled chain
When the chain is fitted with knots or with some components that are tangled or interlocked, it will tend to be short. In fact, you will find it difficult to engage the various components.
Please remove the chain from the wheel and free any knots or components that have become entangled with each other.
If there are any knots, please focus on their position and free them before refitting the chain. Once installed, further check that there are no knots or chain links subject to abnormal twisting. Should you find any, disassemble the chain and fix them before reassembling the chain.
Caution: the knotted or tangled part of the chain makes assembly more difficult, but not only that: it also influences the static dimensions of the chain on the tyre, increasing its thickness. This means that, when the vehicle is in motion, the chain can collide with parts of the wheel arch and assume unpredictable behaviour with the risk of damage..
Chain/wheel compatibility problems: Chain that looks too big
If your König Rallye snow chain looks too big, you will tend to have a very generous fit, which will make installation very easy. You will be able to hook the ends together easily, but once installed, the chain will not tension properly. You can tell this from the chain puller that closes almost completely towards the centre of the rim and from most rhomboid groups that remain very loose even when the chain is fully tensioned.
If you use the chain in these conditions, it could have an abnormal dynamic lift, which could create interference with wheel arch components or even slip off the tyre.
Some of the causes that can cause the chain to be large are:
Tyre wear
A worn tyre has less development than a brand new one. In some cases even tensioning the chain to the maximum is not sufficient to obtain a satisfactory fit on the tyre, the chain remains loose.
Tyre make and model
Some tyres of certain makes and models (e.g. Titan/Goodyear Multi Trac 23x8.50R12) have a larger chain size (size 23x8.50R12) included in the König standard size (size 4033), such that a larger chain size (size 5172) is required than the standard.
The physical dimensions/volume of the tyre do not correspond to the theoretical dimensions
i.e. your tyre in terms of snow chain compatibility is considered ‘non-standard’ or more technically oversized. This means that your tyre has a smaller development than the standard and requires a smaller chain.
Your tyre will therefore require a smaller Professional snow chain, which therefore covers a smaller tyre size range.
In this case, please get in touch with one of our Product Specialists who will assist you in determining the correct size for your tyre. You can write to us at: Customer Service.
Chain/Wheel Compatibility Problems: Chain that looks too small
A König Rallye that is too narrow has a negative effect on the installation process: at best it makes it difficult, but could make it impossible. It all depends on how small the chain is in relation to the tyre.
A small König Rallye snow chain makes it difficult, if not impossible, to attach the various elements at both ends, and when fitted, the chain is too tight on the wheel and the side elements that should normally be placed on the tyre shoulder end up being on the tread.
In such cases, the first thing to do is to dismantle the chain and check that no knots are present and that the components are free to move.
Some of the causes that can lead to the chain being small are:
Tyre make and model
Some tyres of certain makes and models (e.g. Bridgestone LUG-M in tyre size 4 .50R10) have a smaller chain size than all other makes and models (in tyre size 4.50R10) included in the standard König tyre size (tyre size 5175), such that a smaller chain size (tyre size 5168) than the standard is required.
The physical dimensions/volume of the tyre do not correspond to the theoretical dimensions
i.e. your tyre in terms of snow chain compatibility is considered ‘non-standard’ or more technically oversized. This means that your tyre is larger than standard and requires a smaller chain.
Your tyre will therefore require a larger Professional snow chain, which covers a range of dimensionally larger tyres.
In this case, please get in touch with one of our Product Specialists who will assist you in determining the correct size for your tyre. You can write to us at: Customer Service.
9. Common Errors
In this session we point out the assembly errors we find most frequently from customers.
Chain that looks too big
It is common for users to doubt that the chain is too big for their wheel when they are hooking the two ends of the chain onto the tyre tread, and the chain assemblies remain very soft on the tyre even after tensioning the chain with the tyre tensioner.
Now let's see how we can best fit the chain to your wheel
Drive your vehicle at very low speed for a few metres so that the chain has a chance to position itself and balance correctly on the tyre.
Stop, unhook the spring-loaded end, unravel the excess part of the chain and release the chain tensioning lever.
Now pull the tensioning chain vigorously and hook the tensioning lever into the nearest link and engage the lever in the ring.
Wrap the surplus part of the tensioning chain around the bar puller itself, so that it does not come into contact with the rim while the vehicle is in motion, by hooking the spring-loaded end hook into one of the nearest links of the chain.
You are done. Now the two chains are fitted and tensioned, you are ready to go.
Attention: As König Professional snow chains are made entirely of steel and designed to withstand the most extreme conditions, they are not equipped with any automatic micro-tensioning device. We ask you to take into consideration that the combination of the variety of tyre geometries and tyre treads on the market, the weight and size of the chain and its links, may make a second stop necessary to re-tension the chain.
If even after the re-tensioning your chain is still large and it is not possible to tension it further, it may be that your wheel has a different size than the standard fit of the König Rallye snow chain.
In this case we invite you to get in touch with one of our Product Specialists who will assist you in determining the correct size for your wheel. You can write to us at: Customer Service.
Chain that looks too small/tight
It is easy to determine when a König Rallye chain appears to be too narrow:
- If it is impossible or difficult to attach the various elements
- When fitted, the chain feels too tight on the wheel: the side elements that should normally be positioned on the tyre shoulder end up on the tread;
The first thing to do is to remove the chain and check that there are no knots and that the components are free to move.
Once this check has been made, proceed with assembly again.
If even after adjustment your chain is still small and it is not possible to fit it properly, it may be that your wheel has a different size than the standard fit of the König snow chain.
In this case we invite you to get in touch with one of our Product Specialists who will assist you in determining the correct size for your wheel. You can write to us at: Customer Service.