I was a Forester in MT for 30 years, always used chains in mountains in winter. Going is nice, stopping down hill even nicer. Seems hard to find real tires chains without gimick twist links or etc. But here goes.
Buy your chains and get them sized right before you go. On a new tire they should hook in 3rd link when as tight as you can get them. This way on worn down tire you will not be at more than the 4th link. You want chains with a simple open hook on inside and a cam over with a link to latch on outside.
Put the chains on before you are stuck! The reason you want them to hook in the 3rd or 4th link is so that there is enough length that with some effort, shoveling and sawing them back and forth is so you can hook end links when you do get stuck before putting them on.
To put them on, first make sure no twists where they have loop through themselves. You can lay them out and follow the side links to see this.
Now drap them over the top of the tire and tuck first cross link on the end with the hooks down between tire and ground in either front or rear, depending on which way you will drive over them. Be sure remainder is draped neatly over the tire.
Roll easy over them so maybe the first 2 cross links come out from under. Going too far and the links get too high in wheel well to get at.
Now here is the most important thing. We want to hook them in a manner to manage the extra links so they do not best up fenders or break lines.
On the inside, pull the hook and the end of the chain together, hook the END link, give the chain a little flip and then hook into the desired 3rd or 4th link. This way the excess links are trapped on hook and can cause you no grief.
On the outside, the latch side, stick latch in the desired 3rd or 4th link, THEN slip the end link on. Fold the latch around and when I say tight I mean you may need your Leatherman for leverage to do this. Slip the retaining link or bale into place.
Repeat on the other side.
You do not need rubber bungies. This are for novices who do not know how to put on chains.
This whole process should take maybe 10 minutes max. There were days I would chain up and de-chain multiple times a day. When hooked tight I never spun a chain off and I am sure I logged thousands of driving miles with chains.
By the way, put them on the rear tires. If they can move you the extra weight on the front will steer you.
If really bad, chain all 4.
