Dedicated winter tires

[ColoradoSteve]

First - snow tires work. They also wear quickly. Studs are not needed with the current snow tire technology and only put unnecessary wear on the streets and are noisy. Just don't.

I've had snow tires and I now run Michelin LTX tires on both cars. They are all season tires that do pretty darn well in the snow. When I'm buying tires, I go to Tirerack and search for the all season's that get good reviews in snow and ice. The Michelin's are rated very well (deservedly) and last a long time. I live in Denver and the temps in winter can be -10 to 75 on any given day. Snow tires wear very quickly when it's warm and I got tired of storing them 6 months out of the year only to replace them every 2-3 years.

All that said - there are some all season tires that are terrible in the snow and ice. Do your research. On our old Ford Freestyle, it came with a set of Pirelli all seasons that were horrible in the snow (not saying all Pirelli's suck in the snow - only this one particular version). Replaced them with a set of all seasons that were rated well in ice and snow and there was a world of difference.

Slow down, anticipate stops and turns when it's snowing and you'll be good

 

[Poser]

It’s also important to get specific tires for your local conditions. If you drive a lot of packed snow vs unplowed snow, for example, there are better tires for those exact conditions. Same goes for ice vs. packed snow. If you live in Leadville, you may drive different tires than someone who lives in Denver.

 

[commandoNate]

Great thread. I just picked up a cheap older Jetta for my teenagers to get around in. It will be my daughter's car when she gets her license but for now my son drives it and its saving a ton of gas over his V8 K5 Blazer. But it needs some winter tires!!!

 

[ODB]

We have a set of studs for our Highlander and also for our previous CRB. They are awesome. I’ve never had a dedicated set for my tundra, it’s probably because we always had the studs. The CRV with studs was THE best snow car I’ve ever had. Not a bunch of “smart” technology, but the AWD system worked very well. You had to work HARD to break it loose. The highlander is good, but much heavier and you feel it.

 

[Teaman1]

Thanks everybody. A bunch of real world experiences is exactly what I was looking for. Was a little surprised with the lack of love for studs haha. Looks like I’m in search of some Blizzaks.

 

[Ralphie]

I don’t understand the dislike for studs. Yes they cost a little more and they are a little more noisy. Mostly I notice the noise at slow speeds. I drive all over western Wyoming all year. Studded snow tires are simply Outstanding.
Maybe you give up a little performance on dry pavement, I guess I’m not a cool enough driver to notice. Especially in a corolla or highlander.

 

[ljalberta]

I always have a dedicated set of winter tires for both my vehicle and my wife’s. Makes a huge difference. I’ve been happy with both studded and non studded models. Yes, new, non-studded tires have come a long way, but if you’re looking for the ultimate performance on icy roads, I think studs are still the way to go.

 

[steelhauler34]

Nope and never have had a problem but maybe it’s because I drive a lot more than the average person? Not sure but a waste of money for me.


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[ljalberta]

Nope and never have had a problem but maybe it’s because I drive a lot more than the average person? Not sure but a waste of money for me.


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I think a lot depends on where you live. There’s a number of roads we drive in the winter that you’re legally required to have chains or winter tires on to drive during the winter months. This is not because there’s too many inexperienced drivers, but because winter tires do in fact make a large difference in traction and there’s been no shortage of stalled 4x4s with all season tires causing significant accidents, let alone the ones that have slid off the road. You just can’t overcome physics.

 

[Jbake108]

Last post is spot on all depends where you live. Pulling a boat with a camper down an icy highway I want studs. Then pull off in a 6” of snow I want mud terrains. The m/t’s drilled and studded are ideal for this situation obviously. winter stud less are the best option for all around cause studs are annoying and suck on wet pavement. Don’t worry about tearing up the roads that’s very minor compared to the 80k lb semi with 4 three railers and a trailer with a pair of single chains on chewing up the road

 

[michihunt]

Same as a lot of guys here. I put blizzaks in my wife’s Honda Odyssey and it actually does pretty well. I just use BFG all terrains on my pickups though as 4WD and decent tread does just fine. Definitely recommend snow tires for front wheel drive vehicles though.


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[steelhauler34]

I think a lot depends on where you live. There’s a number of roads we drive in the winter that you’re legally required to have chains or winter tires on to drive during the winter months. This is not because there’s too many inexperienced drivers, but because winter tires do in fact make a large difference in traction and there’s been no shortage of stalled 4x4s with all season tires causing significant accidents, let alone the ones that have slid off the road. You just can’t overcome physics.

Yeah for those that live out west I get it. I am up in Michigan and it just isn’t hilly enough to warrant it.


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[ahhyut]

I run studded on my wife's car. Makes it a tank. I drove a friend's 4runner with studded tires and it was excellent. They still don't replace chains for icy logging roads but when you get a winter storm 1-2x/week they're worth the noise and added stopping distance.


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[Terrapin]

We are up in the snow belt in N Idaho. For some weird reason based on topology, we get 3-4x as much snow and ice as 10 miles away. In addition to hunting, we have circumstances that force driving in inclement weather... travel hockey teams, early and late school sports, teenage boys with girlfriends that live 20 miles away

Both boys drive all wheel drive Subarus (Forrester and a Tribeca) with studded snow tires. The wife drives an all wheel drive Toyota Highlander with studded snow tires. I drive a Toyota Tundra with M/T tires. On packed snow and ice (and random slick spots)or snow under about 4 inches, I’ll take any one of the all wheel drive vehicles with studs... especially the Subaru Tribeca, it’s virtually impossible to make it skid or slide. The Tundra only excels over the other vehicles when it is locked in 4 Hi in slush and deep snow. All of the above little vehicles have been pulled out by the Tundra. Without it being in 4WD, it is pretty easy to make it break loose.

I generally go into Les Schwab’s Tires and try and meet the guy that actually has real world experience driving on bad roads (Jack in Rathdrum, ID) and explain exactly what kind of driving I expect to do. Then tell him I want the best. Then I close my eyes when they hand me the invoices and swipe my card.

On my Tundra I am switching to a tall, narrow M/T that they are drilling and studding on a staggered pattern, then center siping. That is what they recommend for the loggers and hound hunters for their winter tires.


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[Jbake108]

What terrapin stated is all spot on. I worked at Schwab’s and we sold many of that exact setup to very pleased customers who hated us for the price on the invoices

 

[Poser]

I don’t understand the dislike for studs. Yes they cost a little more and they are a little more noisy. Mostly I notice the noise at slow speeds. I drive all over western Wyoming all year. Studded snow tires are simply Outstanding.
Maybe you give up a little performance on dry pavement, I guess I’m not a cool enough driver to notice. Especially in a corolla or highlander.

I think it largely depends on the vehicle and the location. If you have a AWD Subaru, you don’t need studs. I don’t even know if I’ve seen a Subaru with studded tires before. If you have a vehicle that isn’t so ideal for mountain driving, then they come more into play, particularly if you face hard ice on a regular basis. Studs are only good for about 10,000 miles, though, and tire shops won’t replace them once they are worn down. I have replaced studs on fatbike tires by using a stud wrench and blowing out the hole with pneumatic air, so I don’t see why you couldn’t replace them on a vehicle.

Also, In Colorado, it is legal to drive to studded tires 12 months out of the year, but many states restrict their use.

 

[ahhyut]

I think it largely depends on the vehicle and the location. If you have a AWD Subaru, you don’t need studs. I don’t even know if I’ve seen a Subaru with studded tires before. If you have a vehicle that isn’t so ideal for mountain driving, then they come more into play, particularly if you face hard ice on a regular basis. Studs are only good for about 10,000 miles, though, and tire shops won’t replace them once they are worn down. I have replaced studs on fatbike tires by using a stud wrench and blowing out the hole with pneumatic air, so I don’t see why you couldn’t replace them on a vehicle.

Also, In Colorado, it is legal to drive to studded tires 12 months out of the year, but many states restrict their use.

That's odd. Many have them over here. We get so many ice/snow storms I think it's just common for people to do it. Studs will work after they have been worn flat to the touch since the rubber flexes and compresses. The real issue is when you drive too aggressively on dry pavement and tear studs out.

 

[keller]

Been running cooper snow tires for years wouldn't go without them.good for 3 season's if you only run them in winter