Alternative to snow cables suitable for Element

Last year, I went up to Mammoth for a dog mushing trip with friends. I was given some snow chains (cable style) that were never used. The people that gave them to me bought them for an Element, so I knew they were the right kind. What a disaster!! I wound up taking them off because the cables kept snapping. It broke my heart too, because one of the cables snapped on the inside and the loose cable scratched the hell out of my E going around and around the outside. It still bears the scars. So here's my question: Is there a better alternative? I read on here that using actual chains isn't really suitable for the E, but I don't want to go through another round of snapping cables and scratched car. Anybody?