Studded Snow Tires

[Boberama]

Does anybody use them? They provide superior traction to chains.

[slingshotz]

Yup, but not the extreme studs in your photos. Those would probably be pretty bad on pavement.

I have the same Nokian tyres on both my vehicles and on the truck they are studded. There's a slight difference but only really noticeable on ice which is what you'd expect.

[vinny]

Are studs legal?

[go-big-or-go-home]

I think its legal in all of alberta, but i think parts of b.c there are time frames when you can and when you cant use them kinda deal

[geo]

Legal in Alberta. I had them on my winters when I had a car. Don't really find as much need in the truck (though I still run winters).

[BallCoeff.435]

Studs are not nearly as popular anymore as they used to be, before radial tires and better rubber compounds became available. Suspensions are also better, and there's a lot of front-driving vehicles now too. Four-wheel drive is also way more common now, which of course helps a lot to get going on ice.

Studs get worn down a lot faster than tire rubber wears, and there's a lot more pavement out there than ever before (vs gravel). So generally I'd really question how useful they would be these days.

Chains are way better than typical commercial studs when you really need to put metal down to the ground. Of course rally studs are the only way to drive fast on slick hardpack (unless you're driving a sled), but I doubt even those studs would be much use in really deep stuff.

[rugatika]

got em and like em.

I had a set of duratracs last winter without studs. this winter got the same tires with studs. For me they are worth the 120 bucks extra. Better traction on ice and dont really notice a lot of extra noise on the road.

Generally the studs are made out of metal that matches the wear of the rubber on the tires so they wear out at roughly the same speed as the tires. I've only put about 5000kms on mine so far, but so far so good. The studs are still sticking out and grip great on icy sections.

[go-big-or-go-home]

Originally Posted by rugatika

got em and like em.

this winter got the same tires with studs. For me they are worth the 120 bucks extra. .

I would bet also that set of tires will carry you thru most of next winter to ... mabey hahhaha

[Boberama]

Does anyone have problems with the studs flying off?
I've heard that once you get up to 100 mph or so they will start pinging against your car as they go flying.

That's 160 kph. True or false?

[hayseed]

Nope.... old wives tale. Was doing 120mph the other day, no issues.

[Boberama]

Is that a joke? What car you got that can do 120 mph, in the snow, with studded tires?

[rugatika]

Originally Posted by Boberama

Does anyone have problems with the studs flying off?
I've heard that once you get up to 100 mph or so they will start pinging against your car as they go flying.

That's 160 kph. True or false?

I was doing 140 and was almost expecting to hear some pinging...but they are all there still.

[bb356]

Originally Posted by Boberama

Does anyone have problems with the studs flying off?
I've heard that once you get up to 100 mph or so they will start pinging against your car as they go flying.

That's 160 kph. True or false?

FALSE............studs are NASCAR official equipment for the CANADIAN TIRE series !!!

[couleefolk]

been using studded tires on my 4x4's since early 90's. Legal here in Manitoba from fall till spring. Some parkades are apparently banning them though because of the damage they do to concrete, that is, don't sit in your garage and crank the steering wheel, and no smoke shows. There are good studs and cheap studs. Cheap studs will stay in for a few years, unless your doing burnouts, but put your money on the good studs, they last longer and work better. As far as loosing studs, i found the cheaper tires don't hold them as well as the better tires. My cooper tires were lousy, but my bridgestones were incredible, and after about 7 years, I'd say over 80% of the studs were still there. Nordic tracks were also lousy, and were totally shot after 5 years. BFGoodrichs were great, but I had one tire go out of round. Firestone m/t studded are in about the middle of the pack. Have some winterforce for the car, they bite nice. Studs are loud though.

[uglyelk]

I've managed to plow mountain roads for years without chains or studs. Did it in single and tandem axel trucks in the worst road conditions and always made it up the hill and down the hill and never ate the ditch. Never felt the need for iron on my wheels.

Studded tires for ice racing a bike, okay!

For passenger cars and trucks not so sure I see the need. Hell these days over half of them have all wheel drive. If your not running slicks you should be fine.

I run snows year round and toss them when they are 70% used up if going into the snow season. I tend to run my rubber pretty thin before I part with it.

Back in NS I bought a car in 74 that had studded snows, I didn't even know it...there wasn't much left of those tires when I bought it. The town cops in Wolfville noticed my tires sparked a wee bit one August night and pulled me over and gave me a ticket.

I went to court, 12 bucks! That was like 5 cases of beer back then. I was tempted to fight it but the hippie ahead of me was fined 8 bucks for having his dog running loose. He had no money so he got to serve 3 days in jail. Me I decided to go without beer and buy some new tires.

Kind of happy to just have plain jane rubber on the road. Don't think chains or studs are required, just drive gentle and you'll get home safe.

[Private Ear]

^^^I would have liked to see someone get through the roads around the City Service bridge without metal on their tires back in the day!

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by Boberama

Is that a joke? What car you got that can do 120 mph, in the snow, with studded tires?

No joke.

[JB_AOL]

I am a firm believer in proper winter tires, as they have a huge safety advantage compared to regular a/s in Calgary, my family will never go a winter w/o proper winter tires.

As far as studs, well I have a differing opinion.
Studs on a proper winter tire (ie. have the snowflake on the sidewall), are a waste of money. They are not doing anything at all. Today's winter tire technology is very advanced and a studless winter tire will be just as safe (if not safer)than a legally studded winter tire. The best winter tires out there have tons of sipes, soft compound, and good spacing between the blocks to clear snow. Hakka's are hands down the best winter tire out there, that money can buy, and yes they are expensive.

Studs on a M&S tire will help, but getting those tires siped will help more.

The problem with studs, is they do nothing on black ice. What causes the most accidents? Black Ice.

Hell, I'll even bring in the Rally references.. Last 2 years in a row, Big White Rally (out in Big White Resort in Dec.), all of the top teams ran studless tires (yoko A034's). We've been there running course opening both years, and let me tell you there was alot of snow & ice covering the stages. These teams take rallying very seriously, they have the ability to cut, groove, sipe & stud on site. Very few decided to runs studs because the amount & size of legally allow studs doesn't warrant it.

FYI, those tires up there are ice racing tires not rally tires..

This is a proper studded rally tire

Which BTW is not road legal in Canada. These studs are too large, and stick out too far.

[couleefolk]

you take the same winter tire, one with studs and one without, park it on an incline and see which one is easier to push down the slope. I have run near bald tires on a beater and not slid off the road, but these days i prefer all the extra safety i can get. They said years ago that butter was bad for me to, but i'll take butter over margarine any day, no matter which government funded studies can 'prove' otherwise. my 3 cents.

[BrownBear416]

I think studded tires are overkill for winter and not worth the money...

Get a good set of of tires for your vehicle and drive right and you should not have any problems..

I run cooper stt's on my truck and have great traction and control all times of the year, in any condition and at most speeds..

[209x50]

There is no way that studs come close to the traction of a good set of chains. I've done both.