studded tires for truck?

[steeleywhopper]

I have a older chevy 1/2 ton 4x4. I was wondering what your take is on studded tires for a truck? Do they really help that much or is 4x4 good enough till the going gets too tuff and you need to chain up. Thinking late archery over east and possible icy crappy roads.

[washelkhunter]

Studs are awesome for snowy/icy roads w/out speed reductions throw on the chains when heading in deep snow esp on the gravel and dirt/mud.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

They won't be much better than regular tires.  Chains are the only things that really improves traction.

[CAMPMEAT]

Studs work great. I have them on my truck, but of course I live where you need them and chains are a pain in rear.

[boneaddict]

They're pretty nice for black ice country.   I try to run them, but a new set costs me about 1800 bucks, so not this year

[duckman nale]

chains are so much better especially when going downhill because the chains help slow your momentum i only run chains on my yota when it is bad out because i have a locker in the rear

[Mudman]

Goodyear duratracs are dot snow tires.  Great in snow.  Junk on ice like any other tire. Im good in 18inch of snow but ice is slick as ever. Great tires overall.

[shoot-em-dead]

Real men don't use studs.


Sorry, I couldn't resist. But I also grew up in Michigan and studs and chains are illegal and we drove everywhere. I can see how they would benefit on black ice though. I never had studs and get through just fine. I tried cables on a two wheel drive ranger but they broke and tore off my brake lines so I gave up on that system.

[MIKEXRAY]

I pull a trailer for work over the pass a lot and I have run the Cooper  M & S   studded for 12 years and I think studded tires are awesome. They have saved my ass plenty.  I also carry chains, tow strap & snow shovel but rarely use these items.  The studs won't help in deep snow but you will be a lot safer getting to the deep snow on the icy roads. I get my Coopers with studs @ Discount tires for about $ 800 & the studs last me about 4 years. 

[Special T]

Studs, Cable chains and Link Chains each have a specific use/purpose. Snow tires and studs work well on roads that have ice and have been plowed. They are all that is really necessary in that situation.  Cable chains are a great investment for those who don't want the expense of snow tires and studs. You toss them on over your standard  tire and they work great for mountain passes and paved roads that have snow on them. I think EVERYONE should at a Min own Cables and know how to use them.   Link Chain are the ultimate in traction. If you are hitting USFS or logging roads they are a must. Link chains are harder on tires than cables but get much better traction. I have link chains for my Hunting 4x4 and cables for my 2wd work truck.  The KEY to chains is getting them tight. Most people just toss them on tight and then run them. You should actually run them a little then get out and tighten them.    If i were you I would at leasts buy 1 pair of LINK tire chains. a good pair will run about $100. Less than the cost of one tire... If your really feeling froggy get 2 pair of links and you can go anywhere...

[Rick]

Studded tires actually decrease traction on dry or wet pavement. Not worth it unless you drive a ton of miles on icy roads IMO.

[steeleywhopper]

Looks like I will just stick with my good ole rubber and not worry about the stud's. I appreciate all your input.

[CAMPMEAT]

Real men don't use studs.


Sorry, I couldn't resist. But I also grew up in Michigan and studs and chains are illegal and we drove everywhere. I can see how they would benefit on black ice though. I never had studs and get through just fine. I tried cables on a two wheel drive ranger but they broke and tore off my brake lines so I gave up on that system.

Real men don't dive Subaru's either................

[huntingfool7]

Studded tires actually decrease traction on dry or wet pavement. Not worth it unless you drive a ton of miles on icy roads IMO.

I like studs a lot but your stopping distance will increase under "normal" wet side conditions and cornering suffers.   Can't beat them for icy conditions.

[high country]

Goodyear duratracs are dot snow tires.  Great in snow.  Junk on ice like any other tire. Im good in 18inch of snow but ice is slick as ever. Great tires overall.

I work in Prudhoe bay, Alaska. We have about 500 trucks in our fleet.....they all run the dura trac tires. I run them on my rig here in Idaho too. Studded, they are gonna be tough to beat.

[Mudman]

Thats right!  If more people knew how good duratracs are they would be running them instead of that garbage and expensive toyos!  No comparison.  Alot cheaper too!

[Jingles]

I have to agree with Shoot - em - dead studs and chains are for women only. Also being from Michigan you learned to drive on Ice by going and driving on a frozen lake in the winter and that was without 4 wheel drive.. Good tires on a 4x4 and a knowledge of how to control your vehicle should be all your need. Get out on a frozen lake and learn out to start stop and control the vehicle in slides.....

[romaknows]

I have to agree with Shoot - em - dead studs and chains are for women only. Also being from Michigan you learned to drive on Ice by going and driving on a frozen lake in the winter and that was without 4 wheel drive.. Good tires on a 4x4 and a knowledge of how to control your vehicle should be all your need. Get out on a frozen lake and learn out to start stop and control the vehicle in slides.....

I can guarantee you wont be going UP any STEEP  roads that have been iced over without chains , if you think you can you are probably one of those guys that gets stuck on a skinny road and screws everyone else that comes prepared ( seen it many times ).

[runamuk]

I have to agree with Shoot - em - dead studs and chains are for women only. Also being from Michigan you learned to drive on Ice by going and driving on a frozen lake in the winter and that was without 4 wheel drive.. Good tires on a 4x4 and a knowledge of how to control your vehicle should be all your need. Get out on a frozen lake and learn out to start stop and control the vehicle in slides.....

I can guarantee you wont be going UP any STEEP  roads that have been iced over without chains , if you think you can you are probably one of those guys that gets stuck on a skinny road and screws everyone else that comes prepared ( seen it many times ).

its our hills that throw a big ol wrench in the whole driving on slick roads thing.....all the ability to know what to do and the comfort with doing it goes out the window when going up a hill and the guy in front of you starts sliding backwards.....

I just avoid driving in the crap anymore I used to enjoy it even when I was going sideways now the people on the road with me scare crap out of me in normal conditions....

[ICEMAN]

I love studded tires for glazed over roads. I believe they are a great improvement in traction.

I miss the old walnut shell tires, they sure seemed to work nice...

[Mudman]

We all know chains are best but a pain in rear.  Michigan is pretty flat country-lil different then here.  Problem is every situation is different but a good snow stud tire is good solution for general use.  Plus you can still chain em up. Once you start sliding on a hill its mostly game over no matter how good you think you can drive.  You stop when the vehicle wants to!   :chuckle:Duratrac is good in snow, good in rain, good in mud and dirt,and quiet on road.  It doesnt run 60000miles.  I paid 1050 for them at discount tire 285 16s f350 10ply.

[high country]

Michigan, Minnesota....etc, they have different ice than we do. At work in Alaska we don't use studs or chains, we don't need them. Our temps stay subzero and it causes our snow to have pretty good traction.....now when it warms up to 20 above or so, the ice gets pretty slick. Around our country in the northwest we don't get the super cold near as often as the freeze/thaw cycle and that makes for slick roads.....and that is where studs shine.

If you are pushing a corner so hard you wash the rig out on wet pavement, studs and chains are not gonna help you, you need air bags and a lobotomy. It's winter, you have to drive like it.

[Mudman]

 

[thinkingman]

Real men don't use studs.


Sorry, I couldn't resist. But I also grew up in Michigan and studs and chains are illegal and we drove everywhere. I can see how they would benefit on black ice though. I never had studs and get through just fine. I tried cables on a two wheel drive ranger but they broke and tore off my brake lines so I gave up on that system.

I've lived in snow country and never once wished I had studs.
Proper tires and some skill is what you need.
Avoid wide tires.
Michelin LTX MS2 in a size more narrow than stock will get you anywhere studs will.
Studs just tear up pavement.
They should be illegal.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

And studs do not help on black ice. They only help on ice thick enough for them to dig into. 

[ICEMAN]

Wouldn't tearing up pavement" be considered "traction" to some degree?  They obviously help on all levels of icing.

[KFhunter]

studs on small front wheel drive cars - yes
studs on 3/4 ton diesels - no


tried that once on my Dodge diesel, studs didn't hold up at all. 

Run skinny tall tires and sipe them + get some chains that fit and learn how to drive

that is all

[Mudman]

studs on small front wheel drive cars - yes
studs on 3/4 ton diesels - no


tried that once on my Dodge diesel, studs didn't hold up at all. 

Run skinny tall tires and sipe them + get some chains that fit and learn how to drive

that is all

Duratracs!

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Wouldn't tearing up pavement" be considered "traction" to some degree?  They obviously help on all levels of icing.

No, what has more friction against pavement, metal or rubber?  We used to throw studs on our little trucks in high school so we could roast our tires easier and leave some nice grooves in the school parking lot.  Yeah we were cool ; )
I don't think there is anything that will really help on black ice besides always expecting it and knowing how to keep your vehicle in control if you start fish tailing.  I hate the stuff.  I'd rather have a foot of snow than black ice.

[cohoho]

After living in AK for ten years around Anchorage, yes Studs are great for those freeze thaw times and early season black ice.  Ran them for years on a separate sets of rims and Cooper tires for winter versus my summer tires.  The roads normally had intermittent ice from late fall to spring and you still had to get to point a to b without the hassle of chains at anything over 25mph.....  Many a days the weather would thaw and then freeze by evening and all roads in and out of Anchorage would be impassible without studs and/or chains...  Here on the Wet Side - Washington I think they are useless for the three or four days a year of "What is considered bad roads days".