Auto Tie Down Straps
Auto Tie Downs & Car Tie Down Straps
Auto tie down straps secure a vehicle to a trailer, car hauler, or tow dolly by its tires or axles. Our car tie down straps pair polyester webbing with rated end fittings to keep cars, trucks, and SUVs in place for the whole trip.
From auto hauler straps for a commercial rig to motorsport hauling, the right setup depends on your tires and anchor points. Compare the three main styles of automotive tie down straps below.
Wheel Net vs. Wheel Strap vs. Tow Dolly Strap
| Wheel Nets | Wheel Straps | Tow Dolly Straps | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it holds the tire | Loops around the tire, with top strap(s) over it; side mount nets wrap the tire like a lasso | One strap runs over the tire in line with the tread; rubber blocks sit in the tread | Ladder-like basket webbing wraps over the top of the tire |
| Tires secured | All four | All four | Two (one per front tire on the dolly) |
| Connects to | D-rings, E-track, or a rail on the trailer side | D-rings or E-track; J-hooks / wire hooks fit steel car hauler decks | Connection point on the dolly behind the tire |
| Common end fittings | Flat hooks, snap hooks, swivel hooks, chain extensions | J-hooks, swivel J-hooks, wire hooks, E-track fittings | Flat hooks or snap hooks |
| How it tightens | Built-in ratchet (some styles add a cam buckle) | Built-in ratchet at the third connection point | The dolly's own ratchet or winch |
| How to measure | Horizontal circumference around the tire, plus distance to each connection point | Front connection, over the tread, to the rear connection, then to the ratchet | Tire width, plus distance from the dolly connection to its ratchet or winch |
| Shop | Shop Wheel Nets | Shop Wheel Straps | Shop Tow Dolly Straps |
Types of Car Hauler Straps
- Wheel nets: over-the-wheel tie downs that wrap the tire. Styles include side mount, adjustable and wheel bonnet designs, with end fittings such as flat hooks, snap hooks and chain extensions.
- Wheel straps: tire straps that run over the tread and connect in front of and behind the tire, then to a ratchet.
- E Track wheel straps: wheel straps with E-track fittings on both ends for trailers that already have E-track installed. No E-track yet? Browse E-track rails.
- Tow dolly straps: basket-style straps with ladder-like webbing that wraps over the top of each front tire on a tow dolly.
- Axle straps: wrap around the vehicle's axle. Made with 12,000 lb. industrial-grade polyester webbing and protective sleeves to reduce wear.
- ATV / UTV wheel tie down straps: tie downs for powersports wheels.
Shopping by trailer instead? See car hauler tie downs for steel-deck car haulers, flatbed car hauling tie downs, enclosed trailer car tie downs, or how to tie down a car on a tow dolly.
How to Choose Car Trailer Tie Downs
Vehicle weight. Tie down all four tires, and make sure the combined working load limit (WLL) of the four straps is greater than the vehicle's weight.
Anchor points. Match the end fittings to your trailer:
- E-track fittings for trailers with E-track rails
- Hooks for D-rings on the floor or deck
- J-hooks or wire hooks for the holes in a steel car hauler deck
- Flat or snap hooks for the connection point behind the tire on a tow dolly
Need more anchor points? Add D-rings or E-track.
Tire fit. Each strap style measures differently, so measure your tires before you buy with our tire measuring guide. Wheel nets are also sorted by overall tire diameter: wheel nets for small and medium tires (21"–34") and wheel nets for large tires (up to 36").
Custom and Fleet Auto Tie Downs
Don't see the vehicle tie down straps you need? We build custom straps. Specify length, color, end fitting and more with our custom tie down form.
Outfitting a fleet? Learn about fleet pricing on our commercial auto hauling supplies page.
Auto Tie Down Hardware & Accessories
Browse our full selection of tie down hardware, including D-rings, L-track systems and S-hooks / wire hooks, plus towing equipment.
Car Tie Down Straps FAQ
How do you tie down a car on a trailer?
Secure all four tires with wheel nets or wheel straps connected to rated anchor points. Tighten until the vehicle can't shift, without over-compressing the suspension. Our Which Car Tie Down Strap Is Right for Me? guide walks through each option.
How many car tie down straps do I need?
Four on a trailer or car hauler, one per tire. On a tow dolly, use two straps, one for each front tire.
What working load limit do I need?
The combined WLL of your straps should be greater than the vehicle's weight. For example, four straps rated at 3,333 lbs. WLL each give a combined 13,332 lbs.
What are the different types of auto tie downs?
The main types are wheel nets, wheel straps (including E-track versions), tow dolly basket straps and axle straps. The comparison table above shows how they differ.
Are over-the-tire straps better than axle straps?
Over-the-tire straps secure the vehicle by its tires, which lets the suspension move naturally. Axle straps attach directly to the axle. The best choice depends on the vehicle and trailer.
How tight should auto tie down straps be?
Tight enough that the vehicle can't move, but not so tight that it over-compresses the suspension or damages components.
Questions?
Not sure which auto tie downs fit your vehicle or trailer? Contact our product experts, and we'll help you choose the right setup.