Are Studded Snow Tires Actually Better? Ice Testing!

[sgtsandman]

While quite a few of us don't live where studded tires make sense, the testing done in this video is interesting and could be quite useful for those who do live in an area where studded tires make sense. As a side benefit, it goes over why and how snow tires work and why they are designed as they are.

 

[Dirtman]

That guys hair upsets me.

 

[snoranger]

That guys hair upsets me.

He doesn’t have facial hair... would you take advice from someone without facial hair?

 

[adsm08]

He doesn’t have facial hair... would you take advice from someone without facial hair?

No.

 

[Paulos]

I spent a winter in the panhandle of Idaho in '90, and knew somebody with a mechanic shop that convinced me to buy a set of "studded snows" for my '88 Ranger. It was a night and day difference when driving on ice or hard packed snow. It might be a little bit of exaggeration to say it was like comparing driving on rims with no tires to driving on rims with tires, but I have no doubt that they kept me out of "the ditch".

 

[Dirtman]

He doesn’t have facial hair... would you take advice from someone without facial hair?

People without facial hair are known as children. And what good advice have you ever gotten from a child?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Ohhh, there's been a few times I should have listened to that child....

And I run studded snows on everything in the winter. All 4 tires too.

 

[don4331]

The street out front of my house is currently sheet of ice. Even though Ranger is only 2wd, studs on all 4 wheels, 'cause, you need to steer. Without studs, truck would be parked until April.

You can channel your inner Ken Block at about 2 mph.

And I'll admit to taking advice from the wife - at least once or twice.

 

[snoranger]

People without facial hair are known as children. And what good advice have you ever gotten from a child?

I let my daughter pick out what color to paint my rims...

 

[insaneranger]

I used to keep a set of studded tires for the winter & they were 100% worth the investment. I used to live on a back road with steep hills & no four wheel drive. These always got me where I needed to go. On a side note; doing burnouts with them on asphalt is the next best thing to a fireworks show. ?

 

[sgtsandman]

We don't get enough snow and ice here on a regular basis to make studded tires worth it. I tried that once. It was nice to have that first year but since the pavement is bare so much of the time, the studs were worn down in just one season. So, for around here, they are a waste of money. Those who live in the great white north, or live in areas that never get salted, they would probably be great.

Funny thing about the no facial hair comments. The guy actually complained about not being able to grow a beard. I think he said that he is 50 some years old in one of his videos.

 

[19Walt93]

Studded tires work great on ice if you can stand the noise they make. On dry pavement I think they lengthen stopping distance.

 

[sgtsandman]

Studded tires work great on ice if you can stand the noise they make. On dry pavement I think they lengthen stopping distance.

They do. Since sections of the tread will be lifted up away from the pavement and metal isn't exactly the best material to generate grip on pavement either.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I disagree. The stud isn't backed into a rim, it will deflect up when it hits pavement. It doesn't deflect up as much on ice. But a test would be best....

They do. Since sections of the tread will be lifted up away from the pavement and metal isn't exactly the best material to generate grip on pavement either.

 

[Dirtman]

I wear metal studded boots when fishing rocky jetties. Metal studs grip hard surfaces way better than any rubber known to man...