Help: Are Studded Snow Tires Illegal on a Vibe??

[Corny_04963]

I live in Maine on a gravel road which is icy all winter. I did not look at getting the AWD Vibe, since we have had excellent results on our icy road using studded snow tires on our Chevy Prizms. With winter now approaching, the VIP Tire Dealer refuses to install studded snow tires, as they only come in the S or T speed rating and Maine Law says the Vibe must have an H tire to pass inspection!!!Give me a break- how come this little 1.8 liter 4 cylinder that can't get out of it's own way requires a "speed" rated tire. I don't believe it could even go over 100 mph, although I have never tried.Is it really true that I cannot put studs on the Vibe??? I was planning to drop down to the 15" wheel size to improve aspect ratio for snow traction. I have asked the dealer to check this out. Being from the "People's Republic" of Maine, the most over-taxed and over-regulated State in the Union, I would not be surprised if it really were illegal. If it really is true that I cannot have studs, then I am going to have to try to get a good trade on the AWD version. I don't really blame the dealer for not knowing. It is really this state which overregulates everything.

[ragingfish]

There's more to speed ratings than just speed!The speed rating determines the overall performance of the tire relative to the vehicle characteristics. Changing to a lower speed rating can affect you, or your vehicle's, handling during:1. Steering Response 2. Braking3. Traction4. Cornering5. Evasion/RecoverySpeed ratings indicate the maxium speed a car can operate safely on that tire. But it also represents the ability of the car to handle properly at ALL speeds.Remember, your tires are the only thing between your car and the road. Don't mess around with speed ratings...you can always go higher, never lower though. If your dealer can't get a speed rated tire in the proper speed rating, get another tire dealer. I'm sure the right tires exist...TRDvibe lives in Alaska, I believe she uses studded tires...And of course, remember, studded tires are permitted or prohibited by your state DOT regulations. Check with them for laws on studded tire use...

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[AKLGT]

you should call DMV and find out if they are legal or not. they are a staple here in AK. i have an 03 GT and wouldn't get anywhere w/o my studded snows! although i hear it warmed up today and all the snow melted!

[Raven]

Check with your local department of transportation or whatever they call it in Maine. Studded tires are illegal in most Canadian provinces but I live in Quebec where they are legal. I bought my snow tires when I still lived in Ontario and so they are not studded. A base Vibe will go 117 mph and a GT 138 mph I think. I have Z rated summer tires for performance. As far as tire size, most Vibers go with 195/65/15 snows. With four snow tires they handle pretty well even in the snows of Quebec (or Maine). I drive a lot of gravel roads every day also.

[joatmon]

that sounds crazy, but I confess to being no tire expert and can't remember what the S, T and H ratings mean. The Vibe is a corolla wagon, pretty much the same platform as the Prizms were really corollas (but Vibes are way more cool)I live in Maryland, and studded tires are illegal unless there is a "snow emergency" in effect, which around here usually means that snow is forecasted and everyone is rushing to the store to buy bread, milk, and toilet paper, as if the inch or two that may fall will keep them stuck at home for a month Ragingfish just got some green diamond tires, not really studded but pretty close to the same effect, may be an alternative if you really are not allowed to put studded tires on a Maine Vibe. Or, get a set of spare rims with the studded tires on them, and put them on the Vibe yourself. If it is an inpsection item, then you can swap off the studded tires when it's inspection time.

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »that sounds crazy, but I confess to being no tire expert and can't remember what the S, T and H ratings mean.

[joatmon]

thanks mike, now I have to see what the rating is on the tires on my vibe

[ragingfish]

I believe the factory equips vibes with "H" rated tires.

[joatmon]

yeah, I replaced my conti's at 45K miles with bridgestone turanza LS-T's, so I guess that means my tires are rated to about the max speed of my base vibe, as if I would ever drive any distance at that speed.Corny, do you have a base Vibe or a GT? Top speed on a GT is higher than a base, so maybe there is some Maine law that says you have to get tires rated at your vehicle's top speed, if you have a GT then you'd be above the S or T rating.search turned up this thread http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=12770, not sure if it helps though.

[AKLGT]

i would make my way to another state that will install them! and certainly would never use the dealership here! lol.

[03VibeGT6Spd]

Hope, Can you get me a stud gun and studs?Or know of a place that sells them?I use to have one for the old Zamboni, but I sold it when I move the Nawlins many years ago.

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by 03VibeGT6Spd »Hope, Can you get me a stud gun and studs?Or know of a place that sells them?I use to have one for the old Zamboni, but I sold it when I move the Nawlins many years ago.well, i used my vibe as a stud gun and got me a real stud (if i do say so myself). but i don't think that's what you meant. lol. i have no idea where you would get one! up here, studded tires are just a norm. i'll have to get some other winter tires studded here come feb or march sometime most likely. depends on the weather then. usually march or april winter is coming to a close, so i may get lucky and not have to do that til right before next winter. i imagine, you might be able to find something like that at JC Whitney? i can get you a spud gun, but again, not what you're wanting.

[Corny_04963]

I realize that changing tire ratings would have some affect on high speed maneuvering, HOWEVER, when we get lots of good, old fashioned, wet, icy, stuff on our roads, which is frequently up here, then traction, maneuvering, and evasive maneuvers become fraught with peril. Believe it or not, but studded tires perform better on wet ice than 4WD. I have a K1500 GMC pickup that is horrible on wet ice, but the little Prizm with studs performed admirably. It sounds like a lot of people have used the 15" studded snows quite successfully. Since most of my driving in the winter is on secondary highways, I would think the T series would be adequate.I just want my studs!!!!! BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!!!

[Corny_04963]

Studs are legal in Maine seasonally. (Hear that guys!)The concern is that we cannot obtain an H speed rated studded tire. I have the base vibe, not the GT.Seems like other people are running studs, so it must be safe enough and I assume legal in other states. What is not safe is running a car with a wide series tire on the ice and snow up here. Believe me, we get some real slippery stuff, and the ice never melts on my gravel road to my house (1/2 mile) all winter long. My son had an accident on the ice on this road a couple of years ago, so we really would hate to wreck this pretty little car.

[AKLGT]

you have a base vibe so the car doesn't need H rated tires, only the GT then. you should be fine w/ T rated tires on a base.

[MadBill]

I suspect the problem is that the regs are written based on what speed the OEM tires are rated for, not how fast the vehicle can go. E.g., if our base Vibes came with Z rated rubber, that's what the authorities would insist on. BTW, there might also be a problem with the maximum rating a studded tire can carry, regardless of the rubber and carcass characteristics. In the early '70s, when they were still legal in Ontario, I had studded tires for my 1970 Z 28. An ill-advised blast to over 120 MPH one clear winter's day resulted in shot-gunning dozens of dents into my wheel wells with ejected studs...

[LavaMyVibe]

Following the state law would require any high performance sports car, example as a Porsche 911, to have Z rated snow tires (that's the base 911's tire speed rating)? I've yet to see any performance snow tire with a rating higher than V. Don't make sense to me.

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by LavaMyVibe »Following the state law would require any high performance sports car, example as a Porsche 911, to have Z rated snow tires (that's the base 911's tire speed rating)? I've yet to see any performance snow tire with a rating higher than V. Don't make sense to me. yep. that's the dumbest law i've ever heard! you don't want performance tires in the winter! that's WHY you're changing them to WINTER tires!!! duh!

[russ257]

i am pretty sure if you have a porsche you garage it in the winter and pull out your land rover

[AKLGT]

you would think, but last weekend i saw some lady driving her 944 turbo in the SNOW! i was thinking what an idiot she was cause she was fish tailing all over the parking lot trying to miss other cars and people heading into walmart and the mall!