Are studded tires really necessary?

Soon enough... we'll have to drive around in the ice and snow more often. During the winter season, a lot of people tend to switch over to studded or winter tires for added traction. But those studded tires may not be as necessary as you think.

[paydenking]

i’m in northern canada and my studded tires saved me, one winter i bought the best winter tires i could and i could barely make it down my road, got studded tires and now can comfortably make it to where i need to go

[nodriveknowitall]

Featuring footage of a plow truck fitted with chains...lol.

[GG-cnes]

Studless winter tires are really just cold-weather tires. Winter = snow and ice. If you want the most grip possible on snow and ice, you need studded tires.

[ViveSemelBeneVivere]

Yes. Studded of course on ice. Studless winter tires are more comfortable, quieter, and more fuel efficient than studded tires. And they are as good as studded in snow, if not better. However, remember studless tires are not as effective on ice as studded tires. Nor are they recommended for beginner winter drivers. Studless tires require a lighter foot, more anticipation of road conditions, and generally more cautious driving. It is not about generations, it is not about marketing, it is about *safety*.

[Filipinopanda]

Every winter tire is good in the first season. Let's see how good they compare to studded after a year.

[johnbs]

Studded is wayyy better on ice and snow for stopping power and traction this is the dumbest news I have ever seen.

[jasonmohawk]

I grew up living and driving across eastern Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Alberta. I've been in Calgary Alberta(Snow melt freeze is a daily occurance here as we get Chinook winds melting the snow/ice each day, then frigid cold freezing each night and salt and gravel do little to nothing except cause rust) for 9 years and had a license for only 21 years but in that time I've experienced some of the worst winters imaginable. From Fargo ND in '97 where in 3 days it dropped 111 inches of snow to regular minus 40 temps in both Montana and Alberta that last weeks at times. I now work at a Custom Auto shop specializing in tires for our diverse terrain and seasonal changes. We sell every major brand and inexpensive Chinese tires for the budget conscious folks. No matter the brand any winter/snow/ice tire will outperform any summer and every all season I've tested or heard of. But if you could put studs in a summer drag radial I'd still say they'd outperform a studless winter tire on glare ICE! Studs on winter tires give so much more traction to an already great design. The real truth about winter tires, and where the focus should be when choosing which one is how deep the siping is. Some manufacturers only partly sipe the tires. By this I mean the sipes are only in the first 20% of tread life in some brands. So although a good Nokian winter tire may do well on snow and ice a set for a small SUV might run $900 up here in Alberta, (and I absolutely love Nokian for winter tires), but a decent winter tire with studs will be night and day when you hit ice which is where we need winter tires the most. I buy decent winters for about half the cost, plug them with studs, and run circles around people with studless winter tires. Don't buy into micro silica being a replacement for studs. Its a sales tactic to get people use to purchasing tires every, or every other season. If cared for properly a winter tire, that's only run in winter temps, should easily last 4 to 5 years and still be in DOT spec with or without studs. I've thrown on 10 year old studded tires that were worn and they still perform incredibly well, so be weary about tire sales people giving advice that suggests you don't need something that will make your tires perform better for longer. And keep in mind that Nokian(arguably the best winter tire manufacturer in the world, as they are a company out of Finland where winter driving is life) have factory plugged winter tires as there highest priced and most capable.

[HalifaxHercules]

In some parts of Canada, especially Newfoundland, studded winter tires are a necessity due to the rugged terrain, slippery roads, and harsh weather conditions.

[cmputer]

Weird that the guy who SELLS regular snow tires says you don’t need studs.

[andershommeversland]

I live in South Norway and on a hill with a steap incline. We drive on icy roads arpund 1/3 of the winter and yes studless tires work great here too. the problem comes when you have ice with a layer of water on top. Then they have no grip. The problem arise whrn you can not stop your car.

[dkhill]

Think about it. If you walk on ice you want to be wearing dome ice cleats on your boot right? So if your driving on ice you would want to have something that can bite into it and grip. Let's not forget black ice. Studded tires are the way to go for snow and ice

[stevenh]

Even the best snows now dont have a chance when studs are installed

[organicvids]

I call bs. Someone trying to sell u some patented tires.

[destruxandexploze]

A generational thing? Tf is this guy talking about?

[stepansopin]

As a siberian i'm definitely about studs

[pugmalley]

0:57 they say studs won't necessarily make your car perform better as they show a truck with chains on it.

[mwilliams]

As an Alaskan, studded tires are a must.

[alexandersampson]

In Northern Canada bar down studs are a unbelievably better in icy -40 to -50 weather

[arshvirsingh_boparai]

Is it safe to drive with the studded tires on clean roads.

[masonjarhillbilly]

Used to have garnet tires years ago. Garnet snow tires were than snow tires, but studded tires worked best.