Stud Debate
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
Well to Hreeds words of wisdom I would add.
Make shure the studs are put in, BEFORE the tires touch the ground.
If you don't have lots of, or long peiods of, ice & or hard packed snow, you probably don't need studded tires.
Something akin to Michelin's "Artic Alpin" on all 4 wheels, would probably do well.
If you judge you really NEED studs, put them on all four wheels, you need to steer good on ice too.
But as Hreed noted, they wear rapidly & COMPROMISE your stopping, turning & handling, on bare pavement.
They saved pawpaw on my first experience with "BLACK ICE". I had never see it before & was in it before I knew what was going on.
I suddenly became aware of something wrong, when I saw cars in the median, up on the shrubbery & off the right shoulder, when the guy on my right suddenly passed me, rear end first.
The last I remember seeing him in my rear view window, he was doing 360's.
My studded radial snow tires, got me through that slippery, white knuckeled, three mile section, with only the slighest hint of fishtailing, if I got on or off the gas to quickly. So I know they work!!!!
I still have chains, but have not used nor needed them in years. They have gotten me through, when others couldn't go at all though.
So, I don't know where you live nor how much or how long the hard pack snow & ice is where you drive, but if it's plentiful & long lasting, with not much operation on bare roads, I'd probably opt for a set of four studded tires.
If you only occasionaly have periods of hard pack snow or ice, I'd probably opt for a set of four Michelin Artic Alpin without the studs & carry a set of chains.
Make shure the studs are put in, BEFORE the tires touch the ground.
If you don't have lots of, or long peiods of, ice & or hard packed snow, you probably don't need studded tires.
Something akin to Michelin's "Artic Alpin" on all 4 wheels, would probably do well.
If you judge you really NEED studs, put them on all four wheels, you need to steer good on ice too.
But as Hreed noted, they wear rapidly & COMPROMISE your stopping, turning & handling, on bare pavement.
They saved pawpaw on my first experience with "BLACK ICE". I had never see it before & was in it before I knew what was going on.
I suddenly became aware of something wrong, when I saw cars in the median, up on the shrubbery & off the right shoulder, when the guy on my right suddenly passed me, rear end first.
The last I remember seeing him in my rear view window, he was doing 360's.
My studded radial snow tires, got me through that slippery, white knuckeled, three mile section, with only the slighest hint of fishtailing, if I got on or off the gas to quickly. So I know they work!!!!
I still have chains, but have not used nor needed them in years. They have gotten me through, when others couldn't go at all though.
So, I don't know where you live nor how much or how long the hard pack snow & ice is where you drive, but if it's plentiful & long lasting, with not much operation on bare roads, I'd probably opt for a set of four studded tires.
If you only occasionaly have periods of hard pack snow or ice, I'd probably opt for a set of four Michelin Artic Alpin without the studs & carry a set of chains.
