Studded winter tires
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City
Studded winter tires
I know, I know, it's only August, but I'm starting to think of winter already (I live at 8000 ft, and winter genarally lasts from Halloween to Memorial Day...)
On my old F150, I changed out my tires each winter to a set of studded tires(on a second set of steel rims). This will be my first full winter with the new rig, and I'm looking for others experience/recommendations/usage with studded winter tires - Brands/models/sizes. I'm buying some stock steel rims (16"x7")on ebay, and thought I'd ask here.
Any words of wisdom?
Thanks
Phil
On my old F150, I changed out my tires each winter to a set of studded tires(on a second set of steel rims). This will be my first full winter with the new rig, and I'm looking for others experience/recommendations/usage with studded winter tires - Brands/models/sizes. I'm buying some stock steel rims (16"x7")on ebay, and thought I'd ask here.
Any words of wisdom?
Thanks
Phil
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
I had studs one year. That was the last time I'll do that....I run bridgestone blizzaks. I have a real steep drive and the truck never slides unless there is ice. Then I sand..
If you have just snow or mostly snow I would go with a good snow tire. Don't fall into the trap of using a all terrain tire.They will kill you on warm snow. The difference is night and day. Oh yea 800 lbs in the back does wonders without it you only have 2wd.
If you have just snow or mostly snow I would go with a good snow tire. Don't fall into the trap of using a all terrain tire.They will kill you on warm snow. The difference is night and day. Oh yea 800 lbs in the back does wonders without it you only have 2wd.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
I have run studded on 4 corners with a Taurus SHO(retired) and I have run Blizzaks on my chebby SS and wife's minivan, 4 corners. I run regular street tires on my F2504x4.
My experience is that studded tires work best in ice, I like them better than the Blizzaks. Studs suck on dry pavement and wet slush. I think they actually slip more than regular street tires in these conditions. Blizzaks seem to work well in snow and slush which seems to indicate the treads throw snow better than the studded's I had.
The Blizzaks got a work out this winter. We had a week of ice that was so bad it took me maybe half an hour to walk to my mail box and back(about 1200 feet rt). I fell several times even though I had on boots and a spiked walking stick. My SS with Blizzaks did OK but it was pretty dicy on the smoother parts. Even with Blizzaks I did not feel confident enough to drive to work for several days, awwww.
With my 250 and street tires I was able to get around in 4x4 but there were seveeral spots where I definitely was not in control, just creeping along at maybe 1mph and sliding sideways. The 250 does fine in snow and slush but is a nightmare on ice.
I was surprised the Blizzaks did not do better. I had thought that on ice they should be great according to the advertising since the little bubbles in the compound are supposed to act like millions of tiny suckers on the ice. Like I said I did not feel confident enough to go to work and even my 1 mile drive around the neighborhood was nerve wracking. I liked the studded tires better but was unable to make an apples to apples comparison.
I would guess that if you live in snowy slushy areas Blizzaks are good. If you live in ice the studs seem to work better for me. Kind of wish I had the money to try both on my 4x4, but snow tires get expensive for 3 vehicles when you only get a really good snow every 3 or 4 years. In the 7 years I have owned my SS, I have only required snow tires once, and driven thru snow maybe 2 or 3 of those years for just a day or two. Maybe things are different where it is snowy or icy for longer periods.
Just my experience,
Jim Henderson
My experience is that studded tires work best in ice, I like them better than the Blizzaks. Studs suck on dry pavement and wet slush. I think they actually slip more than regular street tires in these conditions. Blizzaks seem to work well in snow and slush which seems to indicate the treads throw snow better than the studded's I had.
The Blizzaks got a work out this winter. We had a week of ice that was so bad it took me maybe half an hour to walk to my mail box and back(about 1200 feet rt). I fell several times even though I had on boots and a spiked walking stick. My SS with Blizzaks did OK but it was pretty dicy on the smoother parts. Even with Blizzaks I did not feel confident enough to drive to work for several days, awwww.
With my 250 and street tires I was able to get around in 4x4 but there were seveeral spots where I definitely was not in control, just creeping along at maybe 1mph and sliding sideways. The 250 does fine in snow and slush but is a nightmare on ice.
I was surprised the Blizzaks did not do better. I had thought that on ice they should be great according to the advertising since the little bubbles in the compound are supposed to act like millions of tiny suckers on the ice. Like I said I did not feel confident enough to go to work and even my 1 mile drive around the neighborhood was nerve wracking. I liked the studded tires better but was unable to make an apples to apples comparison.
I would guess that if you live in snowy slushy areas Blizzaks are good. If you live in ice the studs seem to work better for me. Kind of wish I had the money to try both on my 4x4, but snow tires get expensive for 3 vehicles when you only get a really good snow every 3 or 4 years. In the 7 years I have owned my SS, I have only required snow tires once, and driven thru snow maybe 2 or 3 of those years for just a day or two. Maybe things are different where it is snowy or icy for longer periods.
Just my experience,
Jim Henderson
