To stud or not to stud

[Click]

So winter is going to be here in a few months and I saw tire rack is running some deals on winter tires. This is going to be my first winter with an e30 and first winter with a rwd car in general. I plan on getting winter tires but I'm not sure whether to get them studded or not. I do have a LSD so thats big help. I'm thinking of getting a set of General Altimax Arctics or Firestone winterforces in 175/65R14.

Thoughts?

[devon.818]

im in the same situation bro. in for the opinions!

[kts]

You don't need studded tires for the winters in PA and MD. Just get a good set of non-studded winter tires and you'll be fine.

Studded tires are more for places with really harsh ice and snow all winter long and doesn't go away. (Alaska, Canada, Norway, etc.)

Studded tires are actually illegal in MD.

I've used Pirelli SnowSports and Hankook Icebears on my STi and they have done well. I'll probably pick up a set of either one of them when I get rid of my STi and daily my E36. A lot of my friends also swear by the Dunlop WinterSports and the Bridgestone Blizzacks.

[slammin.e28]

I thought this was going to be a thread about race horses. I want my click back.

[Brezzi]

I've daily driven a 325is through Philly in the snow for a season and it held up fine b.c of the LSD imo. I was on Regattas and they were good wet and dry.

[JubJub]

I've used Pirelli SnowSports and Hankook Icebears on my STi and they have done well. I'll probably pick up a set of either one of them when I get rid of my STi and daily my E36. A lot of my friends also swear by the Dunlop WinterSports and the Bridgestone Blizzacks.

How can you possibly reference the ability of snow tires like this on an awd car? I feel it negates, or possibly blurs the obvious ability of the tires themselves...

[chrisesteschiro]

Stopping is usually the problem and your brakes dont care if its awd or not

[Eecen]

I thought this was going to be a thread about race horses. I want my click back.

I came here to make that reference.
















Studs aren't really needed unless you get lots of ice where you live. Good, skinny winters are all you need.

[kts]

How can you possibly reference the ability of snow tires like this on an awd car? I feel it negates, or possibly blurs the obvious ability of the tires themselves...

I was just trying to offer my experience with winter tires since I live in the same general region as the OP and the 1st reply poster, sorry if I only have winter tire experience with AWD cars. :roll:

[Unearth078]

dont get studs. you dont need them in your area. good all seasons and done.

[maniacmatt]

I'm a vote for no studs. You will love them on ice, but HATE them on a dry road, annoyingly loud. I am running Nokian Hakka's without studs on my winter beater IX and they are fantastic.

[nick526]

Pretty much the same topic, sorry if I'm thread jacking...

I'm thinking of getting a set of cheapo bottlecaps with a set of nice snow tires for the upcoming ski season. Only took my e30 up to the mountains once last season (on new all season tires) and it did ok except for a little skid that put me pretty close to oncoming traffic and scared the shit out of me!

Any of you cold weather peeps care to offer any suggestions for a nice snow tire? Will I tear up a set of snow tires driving 1-1/2 hours on dry pavement before and after I hit the snow/ice? I usually make 15-20 trips locally per season.

I voted studless, for what it's worth...

[Kershaw]

i've been running bridgestone blizzaks on my rx8 the last few years.

love them. the car is unstoppable in the snow. until the snow reaches 5" (too much snow to push out of the way) and then i cant drive around anymore cause i'll break the bodykit. :rofl:

[Click]

You won't rip up the tires in 1.5 hours of driving. I know people who drive year round on winters, of course they won't last near as long as a set of all seasons.

[dannyyisntt]

I'm a vote for no studs. You will love them on ice, but HATE them on a dry road, annoyingly loud. I am running Nokian Hakka's without studs on my winter beater IX and they are fantastic.

Virtual high five for also running a beater ix in the winter. Lol.

I run a set of unstudded winter Dunlop tires and they work great. I also use them in the mud, sand and just about anything else Michigan can throw at me.

Whenever my ix is out, the winters are on them. I drove on them from bay city down to Lima Ohio and back (like 3 1/2 hour drive) on mostly dry roads without having any excessive tire wear. I daily drive the car from late September till mid April and always have the winters on during that time and I can't really report any horrible tire wear from them.