Snow tires are something you drive around with every day, in the winter months, to improve traction, whereas snow chains are something you put on when there is

Snow tires are something you drive around with every day, in the winter months, to improve traction, whereas snow chains are something you put on when there is a layer of compacted snow & ice on the road. You definitely don't drive with snow chains when the road is clear or has a scattered icy patches; that would wreck the road. Also, you can't drive very fast with snow chains on, maybe 50 km/h max.