Re: Snow tires, studded, etc?

["Scott F. Williams" <sfwilliams@worldnet.att.net>]

Rich Zuk wrote:

>     So I can buy studded tires and I can also take my tires to the shop to
> be studded?

Yes and yes, sort of. When I said that any tires can be studded, I meant any
*class* of tires. That is, while the only sane thing to do is to stud snows, it
is *possible* to stud high performance tires. I don't really know which
non-snows can be studded; nor do I know the entire list of snows that can be.
But studding anything but snows is silly anyway...

> What is the most cost effective (I mean cheapest!!) way to get good results in
> winter weather?

Forget the studs and just get yourself some Hakkas. You'll be truly amazed at
the traction. We US rallyists are barred from running studded tires and some of
us have cars with 400hp. Trust me, you don't need the studs. -not to mention the
fact that tire studs are illegal in some states.

> 165/70/14?

Yes! -to clear your 10.1 brakes.

> 175/50/13?

No, because a) they won't clear your front brakes and b) skinnier is better in
the snow.

> 155/80/13?

This would be the ultimate traction solution for deepest snow but you'd have to
change your front brakes. You can also expect the shittiest dry traction
imaginable.

> I just want to be able to drive safely this winter in the NYC streets,
> and in the hills of Vermont.

Well, if you're planning on any pavement (NYC) driving, you'll not only tear up
the road -throwing sparks everywhere -but you'll turn your expensive studded
tires into shredded non-studded tires. This can happen in one day of driving.
So, the moral of this story is get yourself some 165/70/14s and call it a day.
--
Scott F. Williams
NJ Scirocco nut
Hotrod Rabbit GTI
SCCA ProRally driver



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