studdable vs studless
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AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
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studdable vs studless
I'm in portland and we got a huge winter storm,18 inches of snow on steep hills.
I had a huge problem getting out of my street. had to install some cables
but it seems like some folks on here are able to do without?
what's the recommendation: studdable or studless, and if you go studdable do you get the studs put on?
have read good things about winterforce.
and saw another post about chains/cable messing up the car. is this true?
I had a huge problem getting out of my street. had to install some cables
but it seems like some folks on here are able to do without?
what's the recommendation: studdable or studless, and if you go studdable do you get the studs put on?
have read good things about winterforce.
and saw another post about chains/cable messing up the car. is this true?
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Re: studdable vs studless
For the love of God, don't bring up chains. There is a jackass in Illinois having a bad holiday season that will get really pissed.
There is a thread from a while ago that seems to indicate that chains are all right, but apparently the folks on at this hour seem to feel, rather vehemently, that that is not the case. I tried to get some snow tires at Les Schwab today and they were out, but I would think with the allroad that you would be all right without the studs. Plus, you won't have to be rushing to change them out if you miss the spring deadline to change them out.
here is the thread about chains if you must:
https://forums.audiworld.com/allroad/msgs/178260.phtml
There is a thread from a while ago that seems to indicate that chains are all right, but apparently the folks on at this hour seem to feel, rather vehemently, that that is not the case. I tried to get some snow tires at Les Schwab today and they were out, but I would think with the allroad that you would be all right without the studs. Plus, you won't have to be rushing to change them out if you miss the spring deadline to change them out.
here is the thread about chains if you must:
https://forums.audiworld.com/allroad/msgs/178260.phtml
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Joined: Mar 2003
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studless
They will let you travel in peace and quiet, not destroy the roads, and a good snow/ice tire will perform in the type conditions that you see around Portland (more often then not).
We have been for the past three years using a Michelin Alpine 2, and have driven them all year round. No not a great hp road tire, but It's not bad ether and works for us, milage returned 24k use. This year we went with the Alpine 3, its as good if not a better all around tire.
There are other tires that give the same if not better performance, and at this time of year you may have to get what ever is available.
Also a sad sighting yesterday; an allroads with chains on. That's what you get when you come to the mountains with HP summer tire (or thats what they looked like).
Mark.
We have been for the past three years using a Michelin Alpine 2, and have driven them all year round. No not a great hp road tire, but It's not bad ether and works for us, milage returned 24k use. This year we went with the Alpine 3, its as good if not a better all around tire.
There are other tires that give the same if not better performance, and at this time of year you may have to get what ever is available.
Also a sad sighting yesterday; an allroads with chains on. That's what you get when you come to the mountains with HP summer tire (or thats what they looked like).
Mark.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Also in PDX
Unfortunately my allroad has been in the shop during all this snow
I have a '03 Acura MDX with a new set of the Nokian WRG2. I live at about 500 feet (Hillsdale) and have don't have a flat exit from our neighborhood. I've been the first out of the street every morning and they have been great in the deep snow (scraping the bottom of the MDX). I ran the WR SUV for the previous 40k and they performed well in all of our runs to Mt. Hood and Central Oregon. (Last winter they were down to average all seasons).
Studs vs Studless, my IHOP:
In Portland with the occasional Ice/Snow you are driving on wet/dry pavement 99% of the time. The noise, damage and reduced grip on dry roads with studs on makes it an easy choice for me, studless.
Ho Ho Ho
I have a '03 Acura MDX with a new set of the Nokian WRG2. I live at about 500 feet (Hillsdale) and have don't have a flat exit from our neighborhood. I've been the first out of the street every morning and they have been great in the deep snow (scraping the bottom of the MDX). I ran the WR SUV for the previous 40k and they performed well in all of our runs to Mt. Hood and Central Oregon. (Last winter they were down to average all seasons).
Studs vs Studless, my IHOP:
In Portland with the occasional Ice/Snow you are driving on wet/dry pavement 99% of the time. The noise, damage and reduced grip on dry roads with studs on makes it an easy choice for me, studless.
Ho Ho Ho
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From: Denver, CO/ABQ, NM
myself and others on here have been very happy with Hankook Winter iPike W409 tires
they are studdable(mine are not studded) tires, have a tread pattern similar to Nokian Hakkapiittas, but for half the price. I was able to pick up a set from Discout Tire for about $450 installed(similar pricing to Winterforces installed)
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
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studless. highly recommend Dunlop Winter Sport 3D's
If you lived in Maine or northern Minnesota or parts of Canada, I'd say studded.
Someplace slightly less arctic but still snow/ice covered much of the time, go for a hardcore studless like Nokian Hakkapalita's, Blizzak WS-60 or Hankook iPike 409.
But living in Portland, if I were you I'd go with a performance winter tire like the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D - rides great, long tread wear, and is still *very good* in snow and ice. I live in Boulder, CO (dry roads most of the time in winter - with some very notable exceptions) and drive up to the mtns to ski regularly (severe winter driving conditions frequently) and I'm a big fan of the Dunlop Winter Sports. No tire will be the absolute best at everything, but IMO these tires are the best combination of characteristics for driving in conditions I experience -- which I'm guessing are not too different from yours.
Someplace slightly less arctic but still snow/ice covered much of the time, go for a hardcore studless like Nokian Hakkapalita's, Blizzak WS-60 or Hankook iPike 409.
But living in Portland, if I were you I'd go with a performance winter tire like the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D - rides great, long tread wear, and is still *very good* in snow and ice. I live in Boulder, CO (dry roads most of the time in winter - with some very notable exceptions) and drive up to the mtns to ski regularly (severe winter driving conditions frequently) and I'm a big fan of the Dunlop Winter Sports. No tire will be the absolute best at everything, but IMO these tires are the best combination of characteristics for driving in conditions I experience -- which I'm guessing are not too different from yours.
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Re: studless
Dunno where that chained-up allroad was from, but if it came from Florida, for example, it makes no sense to have snow tires; buying chains from a local auto store makes more sense.
One very important thing about studs - they fly out from the tires if you drive fast...great way to destroy cars behind you!!!
That's why in Europe all studed tire cars are limited to low speed limit...around 60-80km/h max., from what I recall.
One very important thing about studs - they fly out from the tires if you drive fast...great way to destroy cars behind you!!!
That's why in Europe all studed tire cars are limited to low speed limit...around 60-80km/h max., from what I recall.
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Michelin X-ice Xi2, 'tested' better than Nokian Hakkas, Blizzak et al. $93/ea
I installed some in 215/60/17 and they work very, very well.
Per some reviews, studless outperform studded tires, generally on everything but sheer ice.
Tirerack has the Michelins on closeout for $93 each in the above size. I highly recommend them.
Per some reviews, studless outperform studded tires, generally on everything but sheer ice.
Tirerack has the Michelins on closeout for $93 each in the above size. I highly recommend them.