Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV and Graphite TRD wheels (Studded for Ices pleasure)

[pitstain]

Man those studs are noisy, and I can't believe I am saying i can't wait for a good snow/ice storm. I went with the graphite wheels because I just always like to run different looking wheels in the winter, but they aren't as light as I expected.


nokian by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr

greys by Ian M Schwartz, on Flickr

 

[salong53]

I know nothing about studded tires, but how much can you drive around on pavement with studs before it starts to wear them down?

 

[Jono.ful]

I know nothing about studded tires, but how much can you drive around on pavement with studs before it starts to wear them down?

Hardened steel studs are harder than asphalt - to the point that they will actually degrade the road surface, hence why a lot of municipalities limit stud use or ban them all together. I've run my studded Duratracs for 3 winters now and the studs still have their points. The nokian studs are supposed to be vastly superior to just about anything else, so they should stand up to blacktop even better than mine

 

[nb rob]

nice tires! Or tyres, rather. Nokian sure makes a great winter tire. I had 2 sets for the ex wife's stable of subarus. The studs stood up very well.

I'm on the fence about running the Blizzaks another year. These and the Toyo Gsi5 are at the top of my list for new tires to try this winter.

 

[jtc44]

OP, I don't mean to crap on your new tires, which are an excellent choice as I've driven on a few sets of studded Hakks in the past, but I've always read that studded tires perform significantly worse on roads that are anything but ice/packed snow. I get why the Canadians are driving on them, but in NJ?

It has been awhile since I looked into them, though, so maybe the technology has changed.

 

[pitstain]

OP, I don't mean to crap on your new tires, which are an excellent choice as I've driven on a few sets of studded Hakks in the past, but I've always read that studded tires perform significantly worse on roads that are anything but ice/packed snow. I get why the Canadians are driving on them, but in NJ?

It has been awhile since I looked into them, though, so maybe the technology has changed.

I've read that as well but the design of current tires has changed quite a bit over the years and the reduction in rubber to road traction is mathematically true but the actual surface area of the studs is exceedingly small as well as the stud material and design over the years has improved greatly.

Studies in Alaska, Minnesota, Etc. have show negligible differences in stopping distances on dry pavement over all season and studdless tires.

That being said I live in the northwest corner of NJ a mile from the largest lake in the state and at 1000 feet elevation, it can be sleeting 5 miles south of me but we will get a foot of snow, and my job requires I make it where i have to go no matter the conditions.

Also seeing as the 4Runner runs in RWD normally as opposed to my previous Subaru's AWD system I determined the studs would be a good safety net for any unexpected black ice situations which are pretty common in my area. I have previously always run studless snow tires suck as Blizzaks, Michelin X-ice, and General Altimax Arctics without studs and combined with full time AWD they have proven to be great for 95% of what I had to deal with, so these studs are as much an experiment as anything.

I can tell you from just driving home from the tireshop, they are LOUD and may eventually wear me down to the point where I just go back to Blizzaks or similar.

I'll update this thread throughout the winter with my experiences so hopefully it will contribute useful data to the community and help others make more informed decisions based on a fellow 4Runner's experiences.

Thank you guys!

 

[CNJ Runner]

shame on you!! You are part of the reason our roads are so ****ed up!!! Studded tires are still illegal in NJ , no matter what your job requirements are. Non studded Duratracs will get you up and down your hill with no problem with out degrading our roads further.

 

[pitstain]

shame on you!! You are part of the reason our roads are so ****ed up!!! Studded tires are still illegal in NJ , no matter what your job requirements are. Non studded Duratracs will get you up and down your hill with no problem with out degrading our roads further.

In New Jersey, motorists may use studded snow tires between November 15 and April 1 (N.J.S.A. 13:20-15.2g).

I am a few days early with the studs based on my work schedule, but please don't post misinformation in a place where people come for factual information.

The studs do much less harm than the salt and snowplows, and my life is worth more to me than a glass smooth road for people with sports cars.

Thank you,

 

[philsey]

shame on you!! You are part of the reason our roads are so ****ed up!!! Studded tires are still illegal in NJ , no matter what your job requirements are. Non studded Duratracs will get you up and down your hill with no problem with out degrading our roads further.

.... says the guy with illegal headlights!

Great mod! I still get high beamed every once and a while, just flash em back and dont worry about it they still arent on par with projectors tho

(It's usually interesting to go read the judgemental type's old posts - just sayin').

 

[LandCruiser]

I know nothing about studded tires, but how much can you drive around on pavement with studs before it starts to wear them down?

They don't wear down, but they can sometimes launch out of their holes with amazing results.

If I lived in the mountains, I'd stud my MT tires.

 

[Watchdogg]

In New Jersey, motorists may use studded snow tires between November 15 and April 1 (N.J.S.A. 13:20-15.2g).

I am a few days early with the studs based on my work schedule, but please don't post misinformation in a place where people come for factual information.

The studs do much less harm than the salt and snowplows, and my life is worth more to me than a glass smooth road for people with sports cars.

Thank you,

I agree with you as I am always in north jersey. But I would at least wait until there was snow in the forecast before putting them on just for safety sake. Have you ever had to make a panic stop with studded tires on a dry road. Not fun. Metal on blacktop doesn't work very well.

 

[pitstain]

I agree with you as I am always in north jersey. But I would at least wait until there was snow in the forecast before putting them on just for safety sake. Have you ever had to make a panic stop with studded tires on a dry road. Not fun. Metal on blacktop doesn't work very well.

Normally I just get the tires mounted on the rims and change them myself at home once they forecast the first snow. That was with my old Subaru, this year I am recovering from major back problems and had to have it done at a shop so it really limited my freedom of when to put them on.

I am going to do a panic stop or two to see how they perform, Thanks.

 

[Watchdogg]

Normally I just get the tires mounted on the rims and change them myself at home once they forecast the first snow. That was with my old Subaru, this year I am recovering from major back problems and had to have it done at a shop so it really limited my freedom of when to put them on.

I am going to do a panic stop or two to see how they perform, Thanks.

No problem. Do you have the studs on all 4 tires. I've only had them on the rear of a rear wheel drive car and panic stops were not fun. I couldn't even imagine what they'd be like with all 4 wheels done. Be safe.

 

[pitstain]

No problem. Do you have the studs on all 4 tires. I've only had them on the rear of a rear wheel drive car and panic stops were not fun. I couldn't even imagine what they'd be like with all 4 wheels done. Be safe.

All 4 wheels, I also (unlike most drivers) do my best to always maintain a safe following distance to avoid the need for those stops, but thank you for your concern, I will be testing the limits of adhesion on these tires.

 

[jtc44]

I've read that as well but the design of current tires has changed quite a bit over the years and the reduction in rubber to road traction is mathematically true but the actual surface area of the studs is exceedingly small as well as the stud material and design over the years has improved greatly.

Studies in Alaska, Minnesota, Etc. have show negligible differences in stopping distances on dry pavement over all season and studdless tires.

That being said I live in the northwest corner of NJ a mile from the largest lake in the state and at 1000 feet elevation, it can be sleeting 5 miles south of me but we will get a foot of snow, and my job requires I make it where i have to go no matter the conditions.

Also seeing as the 4Runner runs in RWD normally as opposed to my previous Subaru's AWD system I determined the studs would be a good safety net for any unexpected black ice situations which are pretty common in my area. I have previously always run studless snow tires suck as Blizzaks, Michelin X-ice, and General Altimax Arctics without studs and combined with full time AWD they have proven to be great for 95% of what I had to deal with, so these studs are as much an experiment as anything.

I can tell you from just driving home from the tireshop, they are LOUD and may eventually wear me down to the point where I just go back to Blizzaks or similar.

I'll update this thread throughout the winter with my experiences so hopefully it will contribute useful data to the community and help others make more informed decisions based on a fellow 4Runner's experiences.

Thank you guys!

I can appreciate that approach. I once jumped from the studded tire ship when I transitioned from a FWD Jetta without any traction control doohickeys OR ABS to an Audi Quattro wagon with all sorts of traction aids. Growing up in Northern NY, and 45 minutes from Montreal, I received a fair share of difficult winter driving lessons. The short story is the Audi was just fine on good 'ol Blizzaks, but the Jetta was downright deadly on anything but studded Hakks in the winter!

Anyway, fast forward to present day and I've never been so impressed with how well our (relatively) large 4Runners handle winters. I happily made it through 2 ski seasons in Park City on the stockies before upgrading. I still think studded might be overkill, but if this is your first winter in this truck, you'll be psyched on probably any tire you land on.

Cheers and report back :thumb:

 

[pitstain]

I can appreciate that approach. I once jumped from the studded tire ship when I transitioned from a FWD Jetta without any traction control doohickeys OR ABS to an Audi Quattro wagon with all sorts of traction aids. Growing up in Northern NY, and 45 minutes from Montreal, I received a fair share of difficult winter driving lessons. The short story is the Audi was just fine on good 'ol Blizzaks, but the Jetta was downright deadly on anything but studded Hakks in the winter!

Anyway, fast forward to present day and I've never been so impressed with how well our (relatively) large 4Runners handle winters. I happily made it through 2 ski seasons in Park City on the stockies before upgrading. I still think studded might be overkill, but if this is your first winter in this truck, you'll be psyched on probably any tire you land on.

Cheers and report back :thumb:

I hear you, I have driven through blizzards in my 2002 SVT Lightning (RWD 450Lbft Tq) with a set of Blizzaks and 300 pounds of sand in the bed and had to be VERY light on the gas but overall they worked well enough. The wife had a golf that was 100% useless in almost any snow. My Subarus were great on snow tires but still could lose it on ice.

I agree the studs may be overkill, but this is the first new vehicle I've had since 2002 and I just want to spoil it with traction for my first winter driving it.

Thanks!

 

[NorthwoodsRunner]

I've read that as well but the design of current tires has changed quite a bit over the years and the reduction in rubber to road traction is mathematically true but the actual surface area of the studs is exceedingly small as well as the stud material and design over the years has improved greatly.

Studies in Alaska, Minnesota, Etc. have show negligible differences in stopping distances on dry pavement over all season and studdless tires.

That being said I live in the northwest corner of NJ a mile from the largest lake in the state and at 1000 feet elevation, it can be sleeting 5 miles south of me but we will get a foot of snow, and my job requires I make it where i have to go no matter the conditions.

Also seeing as the 4Runner runs in RWD normally as opposed to my previous Subaru's AWD system I determined the studs would be a good safety net for any unexpected black ice situations which are pretty common in my area. I have previously always run studless snow tires suck as Blizzaks, Michelin X-ice, and General Altimax Arctics without studs and combined with full time AWD they have proven to be great for 95% of what I had to deal with, so these studs are as much an experiment as anything.
I can tell you from just driving home from the tireshop, they are LOUD and may eventually wear me down to the point where I just go back to Blizzaks or similar.
I'll update this thread throughout the winter with my experiences so hopefully it will contribute useful data to the community and help others make more informed decisions based on a fellow 4Runner's experiences.
Thank you guys!

I have Nokian Hakka R2 SUV tires on my T4R and bought these so I can stop better in winter condition. My Hakka is noisy but probably not as bad as your studded tires. However, I am sure your tires will stop faster than my winter set on ice. I believe your studded tire set is rated as the best among available studded tires. I believe in the Boy Scout motto of "Be Prepared".

 

[TheOgre]

OP, I don't mean to crap on your new tires, which are an excellent choice as I've driven on a few sets of studded Hakks in the past, but I've always read that studded tires perform significantly worse on roads that are anything but ice/packed snow. I get why the Canadians are driving on them, but in NJ?

It has been awhile since I looked into them, though, so maybe the technology has changed.

The Nokians go somewhat more flush than post sale mounted studs. This is a pretty good video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHbesH6B5QI

 

[pitstain]

Just an update after about 60 days and 1700 miles I am happy to report that with Nokian's special factory studs and tire design that emergency braking and handling is basically identical to my factory rubber.....well I embellished, the factory rubber actually is worse in the wet than these.

I don't need to say these did fantastic on ice and snow, i am most impressed with their behavior daily driving other than the noise which is mitigated by the fairly decent stereo in the 4Runner.

Do not hesitate to buy.

P.S. the tips of the studs feel as sharp as the day they were mounted.

 

[Xtremluck]

I am seriously laughing out loud at the thought of someone running studded tires in NJ. A good set of winter tires and 2WD is all you need there.