studded snow tires?

50922 Views 26 Replies 20 Participants Last post by kbamvakais, Jan 30, 2010

solaceofwinter

Discussion Starter · Dec 9, 2008

i have a 1994 dr Ford explorer 4wd. last year i didnt have very good tires on it and it did TERRIBLE in the snow. i have gotten some new "street" tires that are good like all season tires, mostly street only etc. I still need to get a set for the front for summer but want a dedicated winter tire. a good friend gave me a set of his 225 m/t style tires that have studs in them. the tires have good tread and there is still a fair amount of studs left.
over the last several years we havent had any good snows. the whole time i had my jeep rubicon i can only recall one good snow, as soon as i sold it it was terrible. last year several times we had nothing but inches of ice on the streets. no snow just solid sheet of ice about 1 -3 inches thick. the whole town looked like an ice sculpture, we also had several snows that i didnt know if i would make it home from work in, 4wd or not...
so should i run these studded tires from now until feb/march?
my wife and i work at the same job and ride together and its fairly critical we make it to work else we get fired, snow or not lol.
ive read studded tires on dry pavement doesnt make for a great scenario but they are nice in ice/snow. if i use these studded tires i still have to buy a set for the front and i think i can get the same tread pattern but doubt i can get studded ones. no big deal?
we have already had a good snow here in eastern KY that covered the road and was very slick and caused several wrecks here locally on my street. (5 car pileup right down the road)
so do you guys think i should run the studded tires or take the studs out?
there are no laws here to prevent running studded tires.
chains i dont know if i can do because i drive highway to work and im not sure how they would do.

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JeepHammer

· #15 · Dec 19, 2008

AgentFlounder said:
I would think chains would only be appropriate for being in deep snowfall. My understanding is that chains don't hold up to pavement well unless they are extremely high quality (e.g., Pewag). And who wants the jarring ride? With 4x4 you just need good tires.

This will probably get deleted, most everything from anyone with any actual experience is getting deleted by the 'moderators' lately...

First off, Studded snow tires and even chains are ILLEGAL in most states and under most circumstances.

There are a few mountain passes that require chains, and all most everywhere else they are illegal.
I don't know anywhere studded snow tires are legal anymore.

http://www.lacledechain.com/ makes EXCELLENT tire chains, and some cables.
I use them not only in snow/ice, but for off road use, like mud cleats.
They make tire chains that will stand up to FARM USAGE, and that's saying something!

If you have a 4x4 with heavy lug tires, it's a bad idea to use chains, the chains simply fall into the lugs and do you little to no good.

Use a smoother tread, highway type tire with chains, and you will keep much more of the chain in contact with the road where it will do some good!

Remember, It's MUCH EASIER to chain up BEFORE you get stuck than to try and chain up afterwards!
Go slow, drive like you have some sense and realize you are driving on tires that are WAY out of balance,
And that there is lots of weight way far from center on your tires!

Don't use chains on a vehicle the fenders are close to the tires!
As you drive faster, the centrifugal force will expand the chains and they WILL EAT YOUR FENDERS!

If you are only a 'Little' stuck, remember, you can just throw the chains down on the ground and get traction on them, then pick them back up once you are 'Un-Stuck'...
You don't have to 'Chain Up' for every little slick spot!

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