König has always been on the forefront of snow chain techology development since foundation.
Through the years, the company has designed, developed and made available different technologies to elevate UX, vehicle integration and performances to the next level.
In particular the proprietary snow chain technology covers the following aspects: make the product easier to fit with different fitting methods/procedures, more comfortable thanks to automatic tensioning solutions, better integrated with different tyre profiles, with alloy wheels, with clearance-resistricted wheelhouses but not only.
Most of such solutions are patented and therefore they’re uniquely available in the König snow chain assortment and not elsewhere.
Overview of the areas
Swipe left to browse to the main product/application areas in which the König consumer snow chain technology finds its place and deployment.
Automatic tensioning
Micro-adjustability
Extra traction elements
Rim protection
Micro dynamic profile
BEV-ready
Packaging solutions
Multiple fitting systems
Whatever way you prefer to fit snow chains, König got you covered with 3 different fitting systems satisfying whatever consumer preference in terms of mounting and dismounting, both with automatic and manual tensioning.
You will never be required to put your hands in the wheelhouse again.
The principle of the external fitting system is based on the fixation of the snow chain to the wheel bolt through a specific adapter clamp and the subsequent positioning of the chain close enough to the rim profile, allowing the chain to autonomously slide into position while driving.
König snow chains featuring the external fitting systems are belonging to the K-Summit product family.
The most natural way to fit a snow chain
The Intuitive fitting system is based on memory of shape components allowing the stretch under load while returning to the original shape just after. The snow chains featuring the Intuitive fitting, they come from the factory ready-to-go, the user just need to stretch them, fit them on the wheel and activate the tensioning.
The Intuitive snow chains are the easiest ones to be mounted on the wheel ever.
Traditional but still the most common
The ground-up fitting system is based on the inner flexible cable which slides on the ground behind the wheel and it’s then pulled up from the ground and gets connected to cover the inner part of the snow chain (behind the wheel).
The snow chains belonging to this category are designed with two no-chain areas: the lower one and the upper one which allow the complete chain fitting without moving the vehicle.
The traditional fitting system is available both with automatic both manual tensioning options.
Automatic tensioning
König snow chains featuring the Automatic Tensioning allow the product installation and tensioning in just one car stop. The chain autonomously tensions and centers while driving.
Central body with integrated ratchet and elastic arms involved in the tensioning process
The automatic tensioning on the External snow chains is promoted by the central body and elastic arms assy.
The central body hosts a tensioning ratchet which acts as a force multiplier with a 9x factor while arms are manufactured in harmonic steel and they have specific geometries prodiving a leaf-spring effect: the get flat under load and once the load is tranferred they return to the original shape. This specific aspect allows the chain to automously slip onto the tyre profile while driving.
The tensioning elements are based on a double spring system compressing under load and allow the chain cross-section to fine-tune its tensioning to the specific tyre aspects (size, tread, wear level).
Automatic 2 (squared)
The automatic tensioning feature on the Intuitive snow chains is based on a circular spring included into the Reflex Box, activated by the side trigger and recalling the micro-cable onto the internal drum, like a winch.
The automatic tensioning on the Reflex snow chain is defined as Automatic (squared) as it’s not limited to tighten the chain at first wheel rotation. In fact, the tensioning system is based on the complete integration between Reflex Box and the snow chain inner and outer elements (rigid arches and their connections).
The result is a one-click operation which is providing paramount tensioning performances.
The evolution of the historical König Magic tensioning system
The König ATC device is based on an elastic cord running on a system of pulleys located inside the tensioning device getting connected by the end user to the Micro-Adjust cable.
As soon as the wheel rotates, the elastic recalls the Micro-Adjust cable and put the chain under tension. The more the vehicle is driven, the more the chain gets properly tightened.
Contrary to other automatic tensioning systems on the market, the König ATC working geometry is transverse versus the wheel, allowing not only a proper tensioning but also centering and balancing the chain while driving.
Micro-Adjustability
The micro-adjustability allows König snow chains to reach a hyper-precise tensioning level according to the different tyre sizes, tyre profiles and wheel combinations.
Hyper-precise fit
The tensioning elements present on the K-Summit snow chains offer superior elastic properties providing a real a fine-tuning of the tensioning of the chain on the tyre tread.
The tensioning elements are based on a double spring system getting compressed under load and allowing the chain cross-section full adaptations its tensioning to the specific tyre aspects (size, tread, wear level).
Super-precise tensioning
The micro-adjustability functionality on the Reflex products is guaranteed by the inner gear, indexed together with the trigger, generating mico-pitched tensioning snaps to reach the maximum tightening precision.
The Micro-Adjust device: safe and precise tensioning
The micro-adjustability function on traditional fitting snow chains is represented by the Micro-Adjust and locking devices paired together: the trigger of the locking device controls the sliding of the Micro-Adjust plastic cones and locks with approx 8mm snaps.
The Micro-Adjust technology provides an easy-to-handle and effective tensioning solution, 3 time more precise than the conventional tensioning chains.
Wheel-Shield rim protection system
König offers 3 different levels of protections against the typical scratches caused by metal parts getting in touch with your beloved alloy wheels. That’s what the Wheel-Shield is all about.
Protected by definition
The Wheel-Shield Level 0 is the most advanced level of integration between snow chain and alloy wheel and it’s mainly based on the product design itself. In fact, the snow chains carrying this feature are not getting in touch with the wheel by definition.
This feature is available on the K-Summit family products which thanks to their design are laying exclusively on the tyre itself.
A complete alloy wheel protection
The Wheel-Shield Level 1 is the second protection level offered by König and it’s a combination of design, material and additional protection.
In fact, on the products carrying this feature, all the parts getting in touch with the alloy wheel (König ATC, Micro-Adjust) are manufactured in soft-touch anti-scratch materials. But that’s not all.
The snow chain comes with a specific nylon bumpers kits for optional application: according to the fitting chain on the specific tyre, the user can simply install such nylon bumpers on the external side hooks in case the side chain elements covers the rim profile on i.e. low profile sporty tyres.
A basic alloy wheel protection
The Wheel-Shield Level 2 is the third protection level offered by König and it’s the most basic one as only the main side elements can be covered to avoid scratches: the user can simply install such nylon bumpers on the external side hooks in case the side chain elements covers the rim profile on i.e. low profile sporty tyres.
Extra traction elements
More and more touchpoints
Ice-breakers are overlinks placed over the horizontal links and they represent additional touchpoints between the chain and the ground.
The ice-breakers are useful to keep the chain links always on top of the tyre profile and they avoid vertical links to sink into the tyre tread design, subsequently loosing their effectiveness.
Stronger and more aggressive
Additionally, the welded traction bars offer a wider welding area compared to standard connection links/ring with direct benefits on the tensile strenght on the cross-sections.