König CG-9 105 Snow Chains review
König CG-9 105 Snow Chains, Set of 2
By Tom Calder
A well-regarded premium chain from a specialist Alpine maker — the self-tensioning design makes fitting and driving noticeably easier than basic manual chains, though you pay for that comfort. Not something most UK drivers need for an ordinary British winter.
- Best for
- UK drivers taking a car to the Alps or mountain Europe in winter who want a quick-fitting, comfortable metal chain rather than a fiddly manual one.
- Skip it if
- You only drive in the UK
as of 5 Nov 2026, 22:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Self-tensioning ATC system re-centres and tightens the chain as you drive, cutting rattling and the need to stop and re-tighten
- Anti-scratch wheel-shield protects alloy wheels
- Certified to Ö-Norm V5117, CUNA NC 178-01 and UNI 11313 (TÜV-tested, ABS/ESP-suitable) — the approvals Alpine countries check for metal chains specifically
Worth knowing
- Priced well above basic manual chains in the same size
- Must match your exact tyre size to König's size-105 chart — the wrong size code simply won't fit
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Our review
A pair of steel snow chains from König in size code 105, which covers larger tyres such as 225/65 R17 and 235/55 R18, with automatic tensioning that tightens and centres the chain as you drive off. The thing to understand is that this is Alpine equipment: it earns its boot space on a ski trip or a winter drive through France or Austria, almost never on a gritted British road.
What it is
Two chains for the driven wheels, in König's storage box. The CG-9 uses König's ATC tensioner: an elastic cord inside it pulls the chain tight once the wheel turns, and centres it, so fitting takes one stop instead of the second stop a manual chain needs. Wheel-Shield Level 1 covers the parts that could touch an alloy rim, and the cross links are low-profile, 9mm thick at most. König certifies it to Austria's Ö-Norm V5117 and to EN 16662-1:2020, and places it in that standard's 9mm clearance class. Size 105 is a code for a group of tyre sizes: a chain fits a tyre, not a car.
In a British winter
Rule 228 of the Highway Code lists the kit to carry in icy or snowy weather: de-icer and a scraper, a torch, warm clothing and boots, a first aid kit, jump leads and a shovel, with a warm drink and emergency food. Chains are not on it, and no UK rule requires them, as our driving in snow and ice guide explains. A metal chain belongs only on a continuous covering of snow or ice, and on bare tarmac it wears and marks the road, so it comes off the moment the surface clears. It earns a place only on a farm track or an upland lane no gritter reaches, and even there snow socks or winter tyres suit most drivers better.
On the road to the Alps
This is where it pays for itself. GOV.UK's travel advice says vehicles in certain French mountain regions must be fitted with winter tyres or chains between 1 November and 31 March, with a fine for not complying. Austria's official guidance says that in wintry conditions between 1 November and 15 April a car needs winter tyres on all wheels, or chains on at least two driven wheels, fitted only while the road is under a more or less continuous layer of snow or ice. König says its approvals meet winter-equipment rules wherever chains are required. Practise fitting it at home first; the first real fitting may be in the dark, in slush. Our car emergency kit checklist covers the rest.
How it compares
König's CB-12 in size 104 is the plain alternative on our winter driving page: the same Ö-Norm and EN 16662-1 approvals, tensioned by hand with a stop after a few dozen metres to tighten it again, and a bulkier 12mm design that needs more room behind the wheel. The K-SUMMIT K34 is König's answer for cars with no clearance to spare, rated for 0mm: it clamps to a wheel bolt through an adapter and fits from the outside. The AutoSock HP 645 is the textile option: light and quick, for snow- or ice-covered roads only, and not accepted in place of chains in Austria. The CG-9 sits in the middle: a real metal chain, quick to fit, for cars that take a 9mm chain.
Living with it
Check three things before buying: that your tyre size appears in the 105 row of König's chart, which runs from 225/70 R16 to 285/30 R20; that your car's handbook allows chains on the driven wheels and accepts a 9mm chain; and that you have somewhere dry to practise. Rinse road salt off and let them dry before they go back in the box.
Our verdict
Buy it if you drive to the Alps or through mountain France, Austria, Italy or Switzerland in winter, your car takes a 9mm chain, and your tyre size sits under code 105. Pick the K-SUMMIT if clearance is tight, and the CB-12 if you want the same approvals in a simpler manual chain and your car has room for it. If you only drive in Britain, skip chains: good tyres, a shovel and postponing journeys in a snow warning do more.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 21 Oct 2026. Sources: König — CG-9 product page (ATC automatic tensioning, Micro-Adjust, Wheel-Shield Level 1, 9mm links, ground-up fitting, storage box, Ö-Norm V5117 and EN 16662-1:2020, Class 9mm, size chart including code 105); König — CB-12 product page (manual tensioning, re-tension after a few dozen metres, Ö-Norm V5117 and EN 16662-1, 12mm clearance); König — K-Summit product page (external fitting via wheel-bolt adapter, 0mm clearance class, Ö-Norm V5117 and EN 16662-1); GOV.UK — The Highway Code: driving in adverse weather conditions, rules 226 to 237 (rule 228 winter kit; rule 229 clearing snow and ice); GOV.UK — France travel advice, safety and security (winter tyres or chains in certain mountain regions, 1 November to 31 March; fines); oesterreich.gv.at — Compulsory use of winter tyres (1 November to 15 April; chains on at least two driven wheels as an alternative, only on a continuous layer of snow or ice); oesterreich.gv.at — Requirements to carry snow chains (chains used only when necessary; fitted so they do not damage the road surface).
Who shouldn't buy this
You only drive in the UK — chains aren't a legal requirement here (Highway Code rules 228-231 cover winter driving) and using them on cleared tarmac can damage the road surface, your tyres and the chain itself, so take them off as soon as you're back on clear tarmac; for occasional UK snow, winter tyres or grip mats do more for less.
Key specs
| What it is | Automatic self-tensioning steel snow chains |
| Fits / size | Size code 105 |
| When you'd use it | Mountain/Alpine Europe in winter where chains |
| Boot storage | Supplied in a rigid plastic storage box |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for UK drivers taking a car to the Alps who need a legal, chain-alternative traction aid — or anyone facing occasional untreated snow at home who'd rather not fit metal chains.
as of 5 Nov 2026, 22:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Drivers who occasionally meet snow, ice, or an Alpine chain-law zone and want a lightweight alternative to metal chains they can actually fit themselves.
as of 5 Nov 2026, 22:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Drivers who want a light, easy-to-fit backup for occasional snow or ice, including Alpine trips where socks are accepted as a chain alternative
as of 5 Nov 2026, 22:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
Will the König CG-9 105 fit my car?
Only if your tyre size is listed under code 105 on König's chart, which covers sizes such as 225/65 R17, 235/55 R18 and 245/45 R19; the code describes a group of tyre sizes, not a make of car. Check your handbook too, since some cars allow chains only on certain tyres, need a slimmer clearance class than 9mm, or rule them out.
Do I need snow chains to drive in the UK?
No. No UK rule requires chains, socks or winter tyres, and Highway Code rule 228's winter kit list leaves them out. For occasional British snow, socks or winter tyres are the better buy.
Can I drive on clear tarmac with the König CG-9 fitted?
No. Take them off as soon as the snow or ice runs out: Austria's rules limit chains to roads under a more or less continuous layer of snow or ice, and bare tarmac wears a steel chain and marks the surface.
Are the König CG-9 chains accepted in Austria and France?
König certifies the CG-9 to Austria's Ö-Norm V5117 and to EN 16662-1:2020, and says that meets winter-equipment rules where chains are required. France's mountain rule, from 1 November to 31 March, takes winter tyres or chains, and Austria's accepts chains on two driven wheels in place of winter tyres.
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