Just got into the biz

I have personally never used chains. I know you have to get them tight to compress the suspension but straps just have to be good and snug since they are over the tire

 

Where people get into trouble with chains is that they are under the impression that they need to compress the hell out of the suspension on a car. Straps don't compress the suspension so why in the hell they think they need to do it with chains is beyond me. Angle the chains to where they are pulling more horizontal than vertical, 2 to keep it from going forward and 2 from going backward and crank down with a decent amount of force not everything you have. If you're damaging the oval tie down hole then you put too much force.

Only time you need the chains more vertical is on trucks and SUVs to get the height down. And typically they have stronger tie down points that can take the force(there are exceptions to this so be careful)

On the bottom cars I use straps mostly. Easier and faster than getting down that low and looking under cars.

And like someone mentioned on most new cars only straps are allowed. Also some European cars around 08 and newer iirc