Thanks for the heads up.
Running studded snow tires
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
Wasn't impressed.. They are great on a car just not my plow truck.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,361
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I'll believe it. That's why I'm looking at the General Altimax Artics.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Blizzaks and siped tires have a softer compound and when you hit the brakes the hundreds of little cuts **** up and produce sharp corners which dig in and help stop but you can't beat studs on ice which is where the real danger is. They will help on hard packed snow and ice when plowing but you have to be careful not to spin them on bare pavement because that could only pull a few and scar the pavement. I drove mine 2000 miles in the summer one time and didn't loose one. Pretty quiet and you can't hear them with the windows up. They sound kinda cool to me. 
..Pinky, your avatar is funny but a little distracting.
..Pinky, your avatar is funny but a little distracting.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
I have 5 plow trucks, a combination of all 3 American automakers, and they all have 3 things in common: a Fisher snow plow, 800-1000lbs of ballast, and studded tires.
I would not use the Altimax tires on a plow truck. They are not aggressive enough. They appear to be a performance snow tire for cars and SUVs. Nor would I use a Blizzak for the same reason. You need deep snow traction far more than ice traction and you need the studs for deep snow traction over ice. Keep in mind that you will wear your studs down to nubs long before your tires are worn out. So when your studs are junk you will still have a useful tire with aggressive tread.
I look for the narrowest and most aggressive tire I can find that will take studs. I go into the tire store and ask to see the loudest, studdable, load range E tire they have. This will be the first year for this F350 and I am currently looking at the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac for it. But, I have a Dodge 2500 that has Goodyear Workhorse Extra Grip tires on it that I have been very impressed with so I may get these instead.
I would not use the Altimax tires on a plow truck. They are not aggressive enough. They appear to be a performance snow tire for cars and SUVs. Nor would I use a Blizzak for the same reason. You need deep snow traction far more than ice traction and you need the studs for deep snow traction over ice. Keep in mind that you will wear your studs down to nubs long before your tires are worn out. So when your studs are junk you will still have a useful tire with aggressive tread.
I look for the narrowest and most aggressive tire I can find that will take studs. I go into the tire store and ask to see the loudest, studdable, load range E tire they have. This will be the first year for this F350 and I am currently looking at the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac for it. But, I have a Dodge 2500 that has Goodyear Workhorse Extra Grip tires on it that I have been very impressed with so I may get these instead.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
The studs won't wear down if you avoid hard pavement. (maybe not possible)........I don't plow. I doubt if they can be too aggressive though.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,362
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From: Juneau, ALASKA
On hills and ice covered roads they really shine. On hard to wet or dry they can decrease traction and increase stopping distance. They can be a little noisy on hard top but not to bad. THey make a distinct sound in fact during the summer the cops around here just roll down there windo wand listen and can pull you over for having them on in the summer. When everyone in a area drivces with them on they really tear up the roads
Check local laws up here we can only have them on from Oct 1 to April 30 forget what fine is but it is pretty stiff if you get caught with them on during the summer.
If your going to get them get all four.
I didn't get a set for my new truck simply becasue I couldn't afford them after buying a new truck. I have had them on all my previous vehicles in the winter and they have served me well roads around here are flat or straight up and down nothing much in-between.
Check local laws up here we can only have them on from Oct 1 to April 30 forget what fine is but it is pretty stiff if you get caught with them on during the summer.
If your going to get them get all four.
I didn't get a set for my new truck simply becasue I couldn't afford them after buying a new truck. I have had them on all my previous vehicles in the winter and they have served me well roads around here are flat or straight up and down nothing much in-between.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 2
From: Flagstaff
As far as wearing out the studs..... the rubber wears faster than the carbide studs, so you can run them all day long on dry pavement and it doesn't "wear" them any faster than the rubber surrounding the tire.
I drive my vehicles down of the mountain to race dirtbikes all winter long in Phoenix, and get great tire wear.
Buy Coopers for your truck, made in america, owned by an american company.
I drive my vehicles down of the mountain to race dirtbikes all winter long in Phoenix, and get great tire wear.
Buy Coopers for your truck, made in america, owned by an american company.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
We don't do large lugged tires up here..The General tires work great in the east.. the more sipes the better..Normally when you plow you don't drive through snow you plow it so the large lugs are a waste.. Even in a foot of snow when you drop the plow the tires are on hardpack. If you want to have fun in the fields then by all means get big lug tires with no sipes. Pretty much everyone up in north east vermont uses the generals or something close to the tread pattern.
Dick
Dick
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 3
From: So Oregon
ETA: "Studded tires" are tires with studs that are made of a rigid material that wears at the same rate as the tire tread. The studs must extend at least .04 inch but not more than .06 inch beyond the tread surface. Studded tires are only legal for use in Oregon from November 1 through March 31.
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