The best answer is get a set of dedicated winter tires and don't muck around with chains.
I will not ever go back to:
- Struggling with getting chains installed on a dark, cold, wet and sloppy shoulder,
- Guessing wrong that it was the right time to take them off coming out of the mountain passes. (and having to do #1 again)
- Hearing them chew up the partially snow covered, partially bare wet roads (and my tires) during the transition from snow to rain.
- Worried they were going to break and either maul the wheels /front fender/rocker panel as they flung off OR
- Get wrapped up in whatever front suspension components they snagged on and cause non-cosmetic damage.
You may say none of these things will happen, and maybe you're right and your luck and timing are better than mine. But you spent a considerable amount of money on a vehicle, spend the extra few thousand dollars and equip it properly.