studs or studless snow tires??

[bearhunter59]

I have a 07 Saturn VUE that according to the owners manual, I cannot put chains on the tires that came with the vehicle. (Didn't read this until after I had already purchased two sets of chains).  What kind of BS is that to #1 even manufacture a vehicle with such tight clearance that you can't put chains on the vehicle.  (My wife has a Saturn Aura that you can't put chains on period...), and #2 how can you sell a car in one of these states that does get snow often enough that you'd need the chains? 

Anyway, back to the original topic...so I went to Les Schwabie the other day and told them I either need studded tires, or I needed a set of the new studless tires, in a size that I can put chains on incase they don't work good enough.  So $700 later I had new studless tires all the way around.  And, I gotta say, I am happily very surprised by the traction of these tires.  I have driven to and from my place in Covington, and down into Renton and back everyday since getting them on and haven't slipped or spun tires hardly once.  Hell, I can't hardly even get the tires to spin from a dead stop on ice.  These suckers grip!!!  I like em.  I'd recommend the studdless from Les Schwabiee!!!
I drove down to Lacey and drove my friend around and over to Cabela's and never had a problem once.  I just wish all these other idiots would either get these tires, or chains, or studds, or stay home.  Too many idiots out there with regular street tires, thinking because they have AWD, or 4x4, or front-wheel drive that they can go anywhere...as long as they only go 5mph.      Idiots...STAY HOME or get some decent traction tires or devices. 

[Bofire]

it all depends, ice alot and studs are cool flip side is wet paving alot and stopping distances are terrible with studs.
Carl

[Grizzly95]

I worked at Schwabs for 10 years, an alternative to chains for low clearance vehicles is a product called spider spikes. The will usually clear the strut and are easy to put on and take off. Downside is they take up a bunch of room in the trunk.

[demontang]

I put a set of nitto terra grapplers on my wifes 06 explorer and man want a difference it made. She runs them year round and they seem to be great tires, I would look into them if you get a chance. We have drove the explorer in some nasty ice and never had a problem, I have thought about putting some on my bronco tell I found some mud grapplers which seem to do about the same but it does tend to kick out a little more at street pressure.


If you want just a winter tire go studless, studs in dry weather wear fast, make stoping a pain, and tend to tear up the road if you spin them at all .

[sisu]

I vote for no studs and if need be use cables or chains.

[dbllunger]

I have used and currently use both.  If I had a choice I will continue to use a studless tread pattern/design that accepts studs.  Current stud quality sucks as most are aluminum with a hardened core.  Don't last for crap.  The old steel bodied and carbide core lasted and worked much better.  Studs do make a difference on ice and glazed hard packed snow.  I also do not put my snow tires on until the snow is here for good.  This year was just last week, and they will come off the end of Feb or First of March. 

[shorthair-on-point]

no studs

[jackelope]

thanks again, gang. i have the toyo A/T's on my truck and they are a realllllyyyy good tire in this weather, i think she might end up with a set of them on her rig too.

[rasbo]

I drove through Spokane earlier this year.Are the ruts on I-90 there a result of studs and chains..Wow those are bad

[ducksdoom12]

i work at les schwab so i like to think that i have some athority on this subject nothing can beat studed tires as far as traction is concerned, (with the exception of chains witch i would not recomend because most people dont know how to use them or when and unless u have 6 inches of slush on top of solid ice dont use them), but if you dont like studs for what ever reason, impact on the roads or other wise studless tires do well too cuz they are made of a different type of rubber that stays soft in cold weather that helps to grip the road better and in addition to that the ones we sell have ground up acorn shells in them that give some extra gripping power, dont run studless snows year round however because they will run down QUICK in warm weather due to the different type of rubber
so just rember that nothing beats studs, however studless will work just as good in anything but extreme road conditions

hope this helps

[robodad]

i work at les schwab so i like to think that i have some athority on this subject

Your a pretty funny guy !!!

[thinkingman]

studless
Tire technology is so good right now, no need.
I've driven countless thousands without.
Plus, look what they do to the roads.....