Bend drivers and studded tires
In the last 5 years or so, the number of people running studded tires has grown. This is a shame, as traction technology has been improving and more and more cars offer AWD.
I mean really, a ridiculous amount of people run studded tires. And people put them on rigs that just plain don’t need them. Subaru Outbacks, for example (of which there are 3.1723 per licenced driver in Bend). Have any of you that have an Outback tried driving it in the slick without studs? They are completely solid. No problems at all, unless you drive too fast for the conditions, in which case, studs will do little to save you.
SUVs. Brand new 4Runners and Honda Pilots and Xterras and such, running studs! This, my friends, is totally unnecessary. I have a 92 Pathfinder, and if you put that thing into 4WD, it holds the road like a tank. You can drive HARD, and unless it’s solid, thick ice on the roads, it performs admirably. You have to flog it to get it to slide. And as for iced over roads in Bend, it just doesn’t happen often enough to necessitate studded tires. Of course, even in the Pathfinder, you have to be more careful on solid ice, but that thing is extremely capable in all winter conditions.
I have a set of studless winter tires on rims for my Protege. The stock tires are 195/50/16, which is quite an uncommon size, and not a size which lends itself to a wide selection of all-season radials. The Toyo Proxes I have on it in the summertime get really bad really quickly when the temp gets cold. I find my winter tires to be better all-around in winter than studs. I hate driving on studded tires.
The winter tires, a set of Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50s in a 195/55/15 configuration, are really excellent tires. They are unfortunately very soft however, and I wonder how many seasons they will last. I know I’ll get a third year out of them, but I would doubt much more.
Studs, since they actually have metal bits protruding, actually *lessen* traction in dry conditions, and even wet conditions where the temp is above freezing. Bend roads are most often wet, not icy, during winter days. At least that’s what I’ve noticed in the last 12 years or so since I’ve been on the road in wintertime.
Anyway, if you are one of those “OH MY GOD IT’S NOVEMBER I HAVE TO GET MY STUDDED TIRES ON RIGHT NOW OH MY GOD OH MY GOD” people, and you drive a Subaru, or really anything with AWD/4WD, try studless winter tires if you really think you must have another set for the winter. You likely will discover you don’t really need them.
Subaru drivers: Try a set of Toyo Z800 Ultras all year long. They are great tires, and coupled with AWD, you’ll have plenty of traction to get around.
SUV people: Open Country A/Ts. These are conservatively styled but incredibly capable.
Everyone: Winter driving is not anything to get completely freaked out about. Just slow down, and make sure you know what your rig will do when you try to stop quickly in the slick weather. Try it somewhere when no other cars are around. Slow down - that’s the most important part.
November 21st, 2005 at 4:30 pm
Everyone’s moving here from snowless California…are you really surprised? Studs let you keep driving like an idiot without paying the price (usually). With the way most people drive around here I say give ‘em all 4-wheel drive with full chains.
November 23rd, 2005 at 3:23 pm
No way…you want to give them all tires with no grip. If you try to accelerate and you car slides off the road, at least you crash going slow. The fuckers with studs and/or AWD are the ones you have to look out for. They think just because you can gain speed means that you are in control.
December 7th, 2005 at 3:30 am
Here in Maine black ice is more common. since the state spends more and more tax dollars on salting and sanding the roads, more and more depend on useless all-season tires on their suvs. I’ve been on the interstate watching them pile into each other when ice starts forming on the road. I have driven out to the shoulder and had them slowley slide past and crash. Some of the events I have been in have involved 20-30 cars. I have always been able to escape with only studded front tires on my front wheel drive car(not recommended by tire dealers). Careful driving for the conditions is great but studs help you avoid the idiots out there.