If you're thinking about buying studded tires for winter - read this!
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Jersey
Vehicle: 2004 Tib I4
If you're thinking about buying studded tires for winter - read this!
AN OVERVIEW OF STUDDED AND STUDLESS TIRE TRACTION AND SAFETY
1. Studded tires produce their best traction on snow or ice near the freezing mark and lose proportionately more of their tractive ability at lower temperatures than do studless or all-season tires.
2. The traction of studded tires is slightly superior to studless tires only under an ever-narrowing set of circumstances. With less aggressive (lightweight) studs being mandated, and with the advent of the new “studless” tire, such as the Blizzak, since the early 1990s, the traction benefit for studded tires is primarily evident on clear ice near the freezing mark, a condition whose occurrence is limited. For the majority of test results reviewed for snow, and for ice at lower temperatures, studded tires performed as well as or worse than the Blizzak tire. For those conditions in which studded tires provided better traction than studless tires, the increment usually was small.
3. The precise environmental conditions under which studded tires provide a traction benefit are relatively rare. The maximum frictional gain (in comparison to nonstudded (not studless) tires) is found for new studded tires on smooth ice, where they have been shown to provide up to 100 percent gain in certain tests. However, the relative frictional gain of studded tires diminishes or becomes negative on roughened ice, as the temperature drops, as the studs wear, or if the comparison is made with studless tires.
1. Studded tires produce their best traction on snow or ice near the freezing mark and lose proportionately more of their tractive ability at lower temperatures than do studless or all-season tires.
2. The traction of studded tires is slightly superior to studless tires only under an ever-narrowing set of circumstances. With less aggressive (lightweight) studs being mandated, and with the advent of the new “studless” tire, such as the Blizzak, since the early 1990s, the traction benefit for studded tires is primarily evident on clear ice near the freezing mark, a condition whose occurrence is limited. For the majority of test results reviewed for snow, and for ice at lower temperatures, studded tires performed as well as or worse than the Blizzak tire. For those conditions in which studded tires provided better traction than studless tires, the increment usually was small.
3. The precise environmental conditions under which studded tires provide a traction benefit are relatively rare. The maximum frictional gain (in comparison to nonstudded (not studless) tires) is found for new studded tires on smooth ice, where they have been shown to provide up to 100 percent gain in certain tests. However, the relative frictional gain of studded tires diminishes or becomes negative on roughened ice, as the temperature drops, as the studs wear, or if the comparison is made with studless tires.
Another test with these results is the comparison test done by the Tire Rack, comparing studless tires against a studded tire; the studded tire didn't grip as well on ice. You can see it here.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/rep...orts/551.1.pdf
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 11,732
Likes: 5
From: Leesville, Louisiana
Vehicle: 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
Ok,
1. This article reads that studded tires are better then non studded tires.
2. This article reads that studded tires don't grip as well at lower temperatures, but better then regular tires.
This article seems to be trying to sell tires.
1. This article reads that studded tires are better then non studded tires.
2. This article reads that studded tires don't grip as well at lower temperatures, but better then regular tires.
This article seems to be trying to sell tires.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: tacos
Vehicle: 2000 Elantra
in a real world comparison that i did MYSELF using the wagon as a test vehicle nokian studded tires stopped roughly 15 feet faster than blizzaks on the same road going the same speed within 1 hour of each other
studded tires > non studded
studded tires > non studded
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 11
From: Denver Co
Vehicle: 1999 Hyundai Tiburon
Agreed, I dont by this BS article either. I've lived in Colorado my whole life. I've owned blizzaks and studded snows. The studded snows DEFINITELY outperform the studless variety, AND the blizzaks where toast after 1 season.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 11,732
Likes: 5
From: Leesville, Louisiana
Vehicle: 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
I'm assuming that they did not stud this studdable tire
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=94
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=94
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,515
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From: Lacey, WA
Vehicle: Two Accents, Mini, Miata, Van, Outback, and a ZX-6
I've driven in some of the worst winter conditions around on a large variety of tires from premium studded to summer competition tires. There is no substitute for studs when the going is icy or very rough. Studless are a lot better than all seasons, but they have their limits.