Studs: Better grip on ice, n

zhangyl

To see whether studded tires really perform better on ice and snow than unstudded tires, we tested two winter-tire models, the Cooper Weather Master S/T 2 and Nokian Hakkapelitta 2 with and without studs.
Most studs are metal posts a tire shop imbeds into the tread that protrude slightly for added bite. Besides the models we had studded,in our group, only the Mastercraft Glacier Grip II, Kelly Wintermark Magna Grip HT, Hankook W404, and Dayton Winterforce accept studs.
The studs hardly made a difference in traction on moderately packed snow, but they stopped better on ice. In our tests, the Coopers without studs needed the longest distance among winter tires to stop, 36 feet from 10 MPH. The Coopers with studs stopped in the shortest distance, 20 feet from 10MPH. Studs proved less effective with the Nokian 2s. Stops ranged from 29 feet without studs, to 25 feet with them.
The gains that studs provide come at the expense of noise. We judged the noise levels of both models poor, compared with good or fair for the non-studded versions.
Also, the studs can damage roads, which is why some states limit studded tires to winter months, and others ban them entirely. Studded tires have their place in some icy regions, but winter tires are best for most.