Who runs studded tires in Winter?

alaskaman

Senior Member
Just got off the phone with my new employer in Anchorage. She (and father in law) say studs are a must...for ice.

Any thought/experience appreciated.

I honestly think the Scrorpions will be just fine, but she lives there.
 
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Its all about striking a balance between the ultimate in traction (studs) and what you can live with. I seriously considered ordering my Hakka 5's w/ studs. They have evolved to provide more traction and the studs now are quieter due to the way they are pinned. In the end it was cost, road noise and performance payoff that kept me from studding.

The Scorpions will be good for about the first 15-20k, when they wear down, you will need better tires.

http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211.fall2000.web.projects/woodrow dau templeton/Data.htm

http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211.fall2000.web.projects/woodrow dau templeton/Data.htm

http://www.usroads.com/journals/p/rilj/9809/ri980904.htm
 
interesting study.........scorps have about 9 k on them now.......will sure keep you in the loop as I get there. Loading the beast onto the Ferry Halloween in Washington.......
 
I'm rarely in MN for the winter anymore, but my dad has Bridgestone dueler alenza's on his LX470 and they work just fine all season.

Back in high school, I drove through 2 winters on no name all season tires in an 87 nissan 200sx. It was rear wheel sports car with a V6, so a little powerful for its size, no abs, or rear breaks for that matter.

I never had a problem, just stay easy on the throttle and brake early and smoothly. With a 'modern' vehicle, i dont see why studded tires are necessary.
 
Studs will give you better traction than nothing at all on icy roads. I don't think there's a tire out there that is ice proof. We sometimes get iced-out roads here in CO (especially in the neighborhood where the city would not plow through) and that's when i just stay home. And if i have-to work that day, i'll just call-in sick OR just be honest to my boss that i cannot drive out my neighborhood.
 
MikesToy said:
Studs will give you better traction than nothing at all on icy roads. I don't think there's a tire out there that is ice proof. We sometimes get iced-out roads here in CO (especially in the neighborhood where the city would not plow through) and that's when i just stay home. And if i have-to work that day, i'll just call-in sick OR just be honest to my boss that i cannot drive out my neighborhood.

Lol, that never works up here, I wish it did though!

In all honesty, I've never considered studs either. My stock, worn down Duellers worked fine last year for me. I replaced them with Long Trails, and I have full confidence they will work. Many up here say the worst vehicle for ice driving is a 4x4 because you end up writing checks your tires can't cash (like you say, no tire is ice proof).
I don't think studs are legal to use up here in MN, but I'm not sure on that.
 
The studs where down so fast it is not even worth dealing with. Once they are flush with the rest of the tire surface (doesn't take long if you're not driving on snow/ice ALL the time) they do not help at all and just create loud driving.

Tire treads and compounds have come a long way in the last decade. Bridgestone Blizzaks perform better than studded snow tires studies I've read, due to their tread compound and design. I used to have those on my old RX-7, and I could get anywhere in town I needed to get in the snow.

If it were me, I would just look for a good snow tire. NO tire works great on ice. Some better than others, yes. But I think some people get a false sense of security. Just drive slow and cautiously on ice, and you should be fine with even an all-season or AT tire.
 
If they told you to get studded tires then by all means you should. They are speaking from experience. Chances are you will be driving on snow or ice much more often then you would else where.
 
it hardly even snows here anymore

don't listen to anyone but where you are moving to. I get the impression even the cities of Alaska are quite different than the Yukon.

They know the roads and conditions. I hope they are saying all the way around with the studs not just the rear drive wheels.

Winter driving is 10% tires and 90% attitude was a favorite quote I got from VW beetle drivers. Acceleration and braking are gentle slow manuevers on snow and ice.

And you will likely be in 4wd what automatically for you 4th gens?

you can just set it in 4 wd manually right? I hate those electric decision makers myself....

mikes toy- cmon our Runners cross rivers and climb Everest and the ice in Iceland >

we can not be admitting we can't make it to work dude-we make it to work and then come home because no one else showed up. that's what happened...yeah

honestly my Runnah makes it out for every blizzard we ever get. I love getting out there and tormenting the soccer moms in the Select Tracs or other Heeps and Vitaras and Sorentos-spray some snow across the bow and then offer to pull em off the curbs. Or how to engage the 4wd!!

The cops in their rear drive Chargers and the Crown Vics even the "Burbans go inside and warm up their coffee for the snow and I come out and play and slide and donut the parking lots like a 16 year old whewwwww

We just do not even get those kind of storms that much anymore. sigh

why back in the day (circa late 60s) we used to get storms every other month or so and miss school !! and build igloos
and the snow would crust so you could walk across it without sinking through.

I feel a movie script coming on....
 
It is really great getting these opinions. Snowed in Anchorage yesterday and I am looking forward to the Yukon and crossing over between Alaska and Canada. I am going to ask the boys and girls at the border their opinion on studs. if it's a nice lady without a ring, I might make it a long conversation over coffee. Ya know, nice and friendly like. Eh?
 
:awais: >>> I Live in Chugiak, AK. Trust me ... you'll prefer to have the studs when winter hits. I have studded Nokians and they are well worth the $$$.

For summer I got the standard 265/65/17
For Winter I got Studded Nokians 275/60/17 ... perfect fit.. no rubbing or bumping...

To save you $$$ :
Get a set of OEM takeoffs from Wheelworks, BigO tires or the HUGE salvage place in Sacramento for cheap... throw it in the trunk and drive it up here. If you can get the TPMS ... no annoying reminder light for 5 months. I got a SET for $200 from So. Cal

Get a set of Nokians during the AFTER winter sale. MSRP is around $1600/set. After winter .... the set goes for about $600.

Cheapest set of 17" rims here are the nasty black steel rims =$98.00 each.

Change the tires yourself when the snow sticks.... and not wait in the store for 3 hours trying to get the tires changed over.:bash:
 
Allthumbs said:
:awais: >>> I Live in Chugiak, AK. Trust me ... you'll prefer to have the studs when winter hits. I have studded Nokians and they are well worth the $$$.

For summer I got the standard 265/65/17
For Winter I got Studded Nokians 275/60/17 ... perfect fit.. no rubbing or bumping...

To save you $$$ :
Get a set of OEM takeoffs from Wheelworks, BigO tires or the HUGE salvage place in Sacramento for cheap... throw it in the trunk and drive it up here. If you can get the TPMS ... no annoying reminder light for 5 months. I got a SET for $200 from So. Cal

Get a set of Nokians during the AFTER winter sale. MSRP is around $1600/set. After winter .... the set goes for about $600.

Cheapest set of 17" rims here are the nasty black steel rims =$98.00 each.

Change the tires yourself when the snow sticks.... and not wait in the store for 3 hours trying to get the tires changed over.:bash:

Thanks for the tips. I just put a deposit on an apt near work so at first should not be an issue. the Scorpions have been phenom but also my realtor runs studs and lives in Wasilla commutes to Anchorage. will see when I get there. Cant imagine for the 1st winter and really no commute that I would need them but sure willing to switch over if needed. Thanks for the valuable insight. Car will be FULL so really dont have a place to put them in now anyway.
 
State of Oregon allows it. niosy on the roads. Not much need in Southern OR but surrounded by the mountains.

_______
'07 SE Titanium V6 4x4
 

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