Wheel Chocks

Wheel chocks are a relatively cheap investment in your safety and the safety of others. Anyone who has shopped for wheel chocks knows there are a variety of options available on the market. So which one is best for you?

Wheel chocks are designed for different types of tires and vehicles.

Wheel chocks are manufactured in different shapes and out of different materials. All, however, are inclined planes and if used correctly, each should perform the job. Since all wheel chocks provide a hill for a wheel to climb if it wants to roll, it doesn't matter if it's two inches or two yards high. That lack of difference pertains only to a perfect wheel, though, and tires aren't perfect wheels. They can change their shape. Tires aren't rigid, so a tire can bend around a small enough chock and continue on its roll downhill. In the case of selecting a wheel chock for tires, the bigger the better. Many wheel chock manufacturers also specify what tire height their chocks are designed to accommodate.
Both metal and synthetic materials are often used for wheel chocks. Aluminum wheel chocks are often designed with teeth on the bottom, which bite into the surface below and provide stability. Synthetic or rubber wheel chocks provide stability through the friction created between the non-slip material and the ground.
Just about every manufactured wheel chock also has some kind of tread on its face to produce friction between the tire and the chock. Additionally, some chocks are designed with a curve that hugs the shape of the tire. Others are simple pyramids or may have a lip at the bottom to wedge firmly between the tight spaces where the rubber of the tire leaves the road.