Can you guys tell me the pros and cons of studded snow tires? Thinking of putting a set on for the winter. Here in New England sometimes we can get heavy snows, sometimes we get rain. I can get a really good deal on some new studded snows, under 40 bucks per tire, mounted and balanced, BF Goodrich P195/60R14 Winter Slalom tires. Any input? PS...there going on a diesel if it matters.
I wouldn't bother with the studs in New England. Snow tires aren't a bad idea, but won't help that much over the original tires or something with equally open sipes in good condition. The reason I say the studs aren't really worth it is that you would mostly notice the stud's effect at takeoff and the power pulses of the diesel are strong at low RPM and the studs really don't make much of a difference. Not to mention that they sand and salt the hell out of the roads there and studs are ungodly noisy. I drove my TDI four winters in New England, two with the original tires, the other two with snows, now I am on my second winter in AK and chose to go without snows or studs this year. Can't say I miss them and I don't have to turn the radio up as loud.
--TW Sand? Ha. Salt? Ha. Peagravel and ice, six months out of the year, baby!
My impression is that studs help you on ice, don't really add or subtract in snow, and may actually decrease traction a bit in wet weather. Aren't studs illegal in some states due to the damage them cause to roads?
Yup. They're illegal here in Frostbite Falls, Minnesota.
OTOH, I can't agree with Tundra Wookie that proper snow tires are only a minor improvement over the tires VWs come with or over siped "no-seasons" (though there are a few good no-season tires out there). Here in Frostbite Falls we see a lot of compacted snow and ice, and there's a world of difference between, say, Michelin Arctic Alpins, or Nokian Hakkas, or Bridgestone Blizzaks, and the Badyears and Continentals that come standard on a lot of VWs. The OEM Michelins might be a little better than those two, but they'll all be choking in the snow thrown off by real snow-rated tires.
sd
Eh, I must have fond memories of the Goodyears when they were new. Currently, I'm running some oversize Eagle GPS and besides when I've ended up in packed snow that the underside hangs on, I haven't had problems and they shed snow in a fashion notable of regular snows. YMMV
--TW
Get a set of studless snowtires instead, such as Nokian Hakka Q, Bridgestone Blizzak, etc.
Espen
86 Golf GTI 92 Golf GL 94 Golf GL 95 Golf GL
I have run studded snows for 9 years (every year a new set) as I put on about
55,000 miles a year and drive in Northern New England. I would not leave my garage without them in the winter months, they go on in late Nov and don't come off till mid April. I drive somewhat fast being on the road all the time, however I have never had a problem with "skating", according to my tire guy the newer type of studded snow tire is a soft compound (why you get a couple of seasons out of them) and generally holds the road fairly well even with studs. The only problem I ever encountered was with wet pavement but I would have regardless of what tire I was using. IMHO - the benefits far outweigh any risks.I have a set of non-studded Dunlop Graspics 185-60R14 for sale off my moms
92 or 93 Jetta - only 2000 miles like new on OEM steel rims with OEM VW wheel covers. 4:100 mm bolt pattern fits all A1 and A2 and 4 Cylinder A3 VW's. Awesome set of snow tires. Great in snow - makes winter driving fun. $250 for the set of 4 plus shipping. e-mail me for pictures and anymore information.Kevin
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