Tire Rack Tire Testing - Ice Traction: Studded Vs. Studless

Their website has the particulars of their test(s). For the most part, I find The Tire Rack to be a reputable company from whom I've bought most of my tires for the past 14 years.

Funny how they don't tell you which actual tires they are testing- I'm pretty sure there are more than a few choices for studded tires. If they are testing the cheapest crappiest studded tires against the most expensive studdles then this is pointless. In the real world there is usually snow on top of the ice too.

I am the former VP of Nokian Tires North America... This stuff is nonsense... I can say no more that that... Aweful, aweful stuff... This is should be illegal...

This is bullshit! Propaganda!

Studless tires will NEVER be better than studded tires!

less talk, more *SNOW!*

z28fitzie: actually it's true, i just got out of a meeting with nokian, and they stated that studdable tire technology hasn't advanced as quickly or as much as studless tire technology. their is a lot more that goes into the tires than just the compound and studs (i.e. sipes, tread design, how the sipes are cut, speed rating, etc.) one of the biggest factors in severe weather traction is water dispersion, that's one reason why there has been a big shift to studless in the tire industry.

...try testing some Nokian Hakka 4 or Hakka 5studded tires. You will see a difference compared to the Winterforce studded tires and difference to the current generation of friction snow tires. Winterforce tires unstudded are still excellent snow tires.

doesn't it feel weidr to see a car without licence plates ? it like it's ugly :)

why would you test 40 year old compounds when you can get studable new generation snows??!! new compound + new studs = Good. Studded tire technology didn't stop evolving in the 1960's! they have improved them in Europe to the point that they are not even close in comparison to '60's studs. If you want to do a proper test of the best os both technologies, do it right. Don't rig the test to sell more snow tires from your website.

less talk, more show