To stud, or not to stud?

just the thought of that is the reason i live where i live!!

 

been there, done that. back when i was a kid, we took an overnight trip to Grayling from Cheboygan. the next day, we were supposed to drive back. well we left at 7 am and it was a clear bright sunny day...problem was, we had about 3 feet of snow overnight and there were no tracks ahead of us.

we could not stop because we would never get going again, so we simply aimed down the middle of what we thought would be the road and went on. a trip that normally takes about an hour took us about 10 that day.

if the snow plow had not passed us twice, we would have never made it.

 

Sissy

 

The VTI Swedish studies on winter road safety are far more technically accurate than anything done here

 

Personally, I just hate the sound of studs clicking away on the bare asphalt, which is what they'll do on all but a few days of winter (unless you're up in the mountains).
Regarding the traction control limitations, my Honda Odyssey does the same thing. Went up to Seattle area for Thanksgiving and couldn't get up a hill. Tires would barely start to spin and the power would be cut. Those tires were getting pretty bad and have now been replaced.

- D

 

Lol...ya around here due to budget cuts they have not plowed residential streets for at least 3 years.

Remember the big snow we had a few years back? It took over a month for the ice to clear out of our neigh orhood!

 

Your situation illustrate one of the big improvement over the older models. I can actually spin tires on my 2010. So I can get a run up a slippery slope and did it frequently back when we got our snowfall.

Makes a huge difference. Yep I can light up "the squigley" any time I want!!

 

Hi! I am outside of Portland, OR. You've probably read the thread I started "Snow tires or what?". If not, it's some good info from a lot of people here. We are leaning toward the Toyo Observe from Les Schwab or Nokian Hakkapeliita RSi (maybe from Les Schwab). Now just trying to decide whether to mount them on the wheels I have (16" Touring) or getting some 15" wheels.

 

Good tires will make a world of difference. :thumb:

 

OK, here's our final solution. We are getting the Toyo Observe from Les Schwab mounted on some 15" steel rims. Les Schwab can't get the Hakkapeliitas. I am also opting for their $40 set of hubcaps (a girl's got some vanity ). As suggested by someone on my thread, I will keep some Toyota lugs in my car in case I ever need to put the spare on. I know people will say it's an unnecessary expense, but I am getting tire pressure monitor sensors for the winter wheels. We did consider Costco for winter tires, but they didn't have all of what we needed in stock or they couldn't get it. To avoid running around, trying to put all the parts together, we are just going with Les Schwab who can take care of everything. Besides, they are only a few miles from my house and they have helped us out at NO charge many a time and we've never bought tires there. We do feel some loyalty to them. Hope this all helps.

 

I think that's a fine choice. They'll take good care of you. Be sure to report back next time we get some snow!

- D

 

Got the Toyo Observe put on today at Les Schwab. They could not program the TPMS to my car for some reason that I can't remember. They said they tried for 2 or 3 hours. So, saved myself a few hundred $ and will just ignore the tire pressure warning light. The hubcaps they had wouldn't fit properly. Went down the road to America's Tire and got a set that fit AND was $5 less at $35. My husband think they look nicer than the Les Schwab hubcaps, too! Now, watch, we will get no snow! =D