GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hi...I own 2006 Pontiac Vibe (205/55/R16)I live in NB where studded tires are legal, so let's get that out of the way ;Just wondering...I am getting new winter tires this month and I am debating whetherI should have them studded or not (probabably going with General Altimax Arctic)There are variety of opinions on whether studs make a difference or not in snow and ice.What has been your experience with studded tire vs non-studded tires (or non studdable tires) ? I am mostly interested in those people who had high quality winter tires non-studded vs studded Thank you

Yes, stud them!

It depends upon where you live and what you get in the winter time. If you only get snow, and not much at that, run snows. The studs become annoying and noisy as you travel mostly dry roads.If you live where the snows are deep and get packed down into ice, or if your weather produces Ice storms, by all means get the studs. The studs are wonderful on ice, there is nothing to compare.Whatever you do, get done on all 4 wheels, if you only do 2, you'll pay for it with an accident or a really fearful close call!Dave

If you have ice on the roads during most of the winter then I would suggest getting them. I lived in Oregon last winter and bought some. I had to pull and plug some of the studs because the roads were dry most of the time so the studs heat up and wear holes in the tire. It was a pain. Plus if you drive over 55 mph they can be a hazard since the tires have less contact with the road. I would just get good snow tires. In the end I think you will get another year out of them and won't tear up the roads. Some of the roads in Oregon had ruts because of the studs. They need to be banned or require an extra tax for people that buy them.

In downtown Montreal, some underground parkings don't allow studded tires, I guess it will wear out their painted pavement.Since I need to go there a few times every month, I can't use those tires even though I'd really like to try some someday...

i live in ohio and have studded snow tires, there really amazing how much grip you get in the snow its ridiculous!! the only down side is yes you gain tons on traction in snow/ice/dirt but loose all of it on normal wet/dry tarmac

Bump the the colder weather. Here is a link for some good information on what to look for and even includes studded vs non-studdedhttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=39220

Quote, originally posted by B14CK_H4WK »i live in ohio and have studded snow tires, there really amazing how much grip you get in the snow its ridiculous!! the only down side is yes you gain tons on traction in snow/ice/dirt but loose all of it on normal wet/dry tarmacDing Ding Ding Ding...... Studs are great, but as outlined, they DO have drawbacks.... This is a perfect example... So maybe you don't get a "full" compliment of studs?? maybe you have them staggered up through the tread? I can't say, i've never personally driven them... Though I would love to, on my Subie, out on a frozen lake...

Stud your winters if you drive on a lot of ice.Don't stud your winters if you only drive on snow.Studs do nothing for snow traction... and everything for ice traction.Studs are noisy on pavement. Fully studded tires are for frozen lake driving. Partial (every other hole) studing is very effective and a little less noisy. Fully studded tires can be a little less grippy on bare roads.High speed driving will tend to decrease the stud count you started with originally.Look up Dunlop Graspic snow tires. There are other tires with similar technology and special winter compounds and siping that are almost as effective and studs on ice and are realatively quiet. As you probably know, there is very cold and fairly grippy ice and milder weather ice (wet) that is super slick. Over many Winters, I have tried full studding... half pattern and no studs. I like the no stud solution better. You just have to be more prudent on ice, without studs. Good luck.

The studded tires I had for the Sunfire went through 3 winters and only lost maybe 4 studs. Many hours of 110km/h+! Spinning studded tires on dry pavement is what really tears them out!+1 on the frozen lake...

working at a tire shop, there are certian things you can do and cant do, as for the only studding certian holes, youll have to check with the shop as to were you go. yes spinning tires on dry pavement is the worst yo ucan do with studded tires. Studded tires on wet roads are like having regular tires on ice. If you can look into the goodyear ultra grips, or teh mastercrafts blizzaks, and there are some others that are really good. I would lean more torwads those tires being they are designed specially for ice and dry roads and that. they are really great tires. i have neveer liked studded snow tires being living in ohio, you get alot of mixed weather one day rain ,next is ice, the next is snow. i have only ever rain a good set of snow tires.o and on a frotn wheel drive car, most if not all will make you stud all 4 tires on a fwd car, and install all 4 snow tires. just a heads up.

Nothing you can get today but talking about alternatives to studs it applies.Back in the 70's I once purchased snow tires that had a blue tread. Mixed into the tread compound were Pecan shells which provided traction plus as they fell out left little suction cup type holes.Very unusual and obviously died an early technological death.If you don't have constant winter ice, just get some really good winter tires without the studs. The noise and decrease in wet traction really aren't a good thing.As I mentioned previously though, whatever you get, get for all 4 wheels! This is a non negotiable point, you must get four.Dave

My favourites for glare ice traction are Bridgestone Blizzak WS60s. Michelin X-Ice Xi2s have good snow traction and solid wet road braking. Continental ExtremeWinterContacts have excellent snow traction & road handling and are best for highway driving. General Tire Altimax Arctics have excellent snow and ice traction. General Tire Altimax Arctics with studs have incredible ice traction, but give up a little braking traction on dry and wet roads; also they're noisy.I like narrow winter tires because they have worked for me on all my cars. 9 years ago I liked the Blizzak WS50s. The last 2 sets that I purchased were Blizzak WS60s, which are better.However, nothing beats chains - they take the tire out of the equation. Unfortunately, even if there's adequate clearance in your inner fender wells, top speed is reduced. Top speed is about 30 mph (50 kph), but 50 mph (80 kph) may be possible. See for good info. If you frequent mountain passes, carrying a set of 4 chains for emergencies is a good idea.

Its TWENTY FREAKIN TEN why the heck dont they have retractable Studs yet????

haha, now that's some innovative thinking there!!! Kinda makes ya wonder in our world of technology if such a thing could exist. I'm sure, however, that the price wouldn't be worth it though. Here's a thought though, people with enough money to throw around driving AWD exotics like a Lambo could get them and do some lake driving. Now that would be an awesome sight to see!!!

Here you go.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lated and here's another http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...=fvwp

Awesome finds!!!

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Stud your winters if you drive on a lot of ice.Don't stud your winters if you only drive on snow.Studs do nothing for snow traction... and everything for ice traction.Studs are noisy on pavement. Fully studded tires are for frozen lake driving. Partial (every other hole) studing is very effective and a little less noisy. Fully studded tires can be a little less grippy on bare roads.High speed driving will tend to decrease the stud count you started with originally.Look up Dunlop Graspic snow tires. There are other tires with similar technology and special winter compounds and siping that are almost as effective and studs on ice and are realatively quiet. As you probably know, there is very cold and fairly grippy ice and milder weather ice (wet) that is super slick. Over many Winters, I have tried full studding... half pattern and no studs. I like the no stud solution better. You just have to be more prudent on ice, without studs. Good luck. I live in the mountains of south-central Pennsylvania and we get a full winter mix of deep snow, ice, and everything in-between. I have tried Pirelli 190s, Bridgestone Blizzaks (WS-15, 50 and 60), Yokohama Guardex 600s, Michelin Arctic Alpin, Mastercraft studded, and Dunlop Graspic DS-1 & DS-2. After living here for the last 20 years and having up to four vehicles in the family fleet equiped with winter rubber at any time, I can enthusiastically say that the Dunlop Graspic DS-1 and DS-2 winter tires are the best winter rubber for the snow conditions we get. DO NOT GET THE DS-3 GRASPICS IF YOU HAVE EXTREME WINTER CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND. They are NOT a worthy successor to the previous generation Graspics, and are good for moderate winter conditions, at best. Sadly, I am running a set on a car this winter and they do not have the wet road traction or lateral traction on ice and snow that the DS-1 and 2 had. As for studs, I hve found them to be superior in only one winter driving condition: soft ice covered with melt-water. Most of the q-rated snow tires out there will be as good or better in all other winter driving conditions.