Studded Snow Tires

Studded snow tires still beat studless tires in some tests

Studdable snow tires can be used without studs, although once you've driven on them without studs, you lose the option of having them installed later. It's possible to install studs, then remove them later if the tread hasn't worn too much, but with 80 to 100 studs per tire, removing them all can be time-consuming.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 (*Est. $140) is costly, but it consistently outperforms all other studdable snow tires available in the United States. It shines in all of this year's most demanding Scandinavian snow-tire tests, taking top honors at Sweden's Vi BilŠgare and Teknikens VŠrld magazines and the runner-up spot at Sweden's Aftonbladet and Norway's Motor magazine (the top finisher in those two tests isn't sold in the U.S.). Experts rave about the Hakkapeliitta 7's tenacious snow-and-ice grip. It doesn't brake or handle as well on bare pavement as good studless tires, though.

A less expensive tire, the General Altimax Arctic (*Est. $80), is also studdable. Minus its studs, it impresses critics enough to be named the Best Reviewed among budget winter tires (see our Best for Harsh Winters section). None of our sources tests the General Altimax Arctic tire with studs, however.

Studded snow tires aren't legal everywhere

Most U.S. states and Canadian provinces permit studded tires during the winter months, but some (including Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin) severely restrict their use. A few (including Illinois) outlaw studded tires completely. Even in Sweden, where nearly 70 percent of drivers use studded tires in winter, studded tires are banned on one congested Stockholm street to combat pollution and road damage.

But are studded tires safer on ice than studless? In Scandinavian tests, the answer is often yes. "Year after year tire tests show that studded tires provide better traction than studless winter tires. This test is no exception," says Sweden's Vi Bilagare magazine, one of the most respected Scandinavian winter-tire test sources. "It is entirely apparent that on our most dangerous winter road conditions, the difference in traction and safety between the two tire alternatives is considerable...That does not mean that Vi Bilagare advises against Nordic studless tires. They are a good and safe alternative for many -- but not for everyone, or for all road conditions."

Another Swedish auto magazine, Teknikens Varld, finds in its extensive testing that studded tires provide "a little extra safety on sheet ice," but they wear out faster than studless tires. "In the past we used to say, 'If you didn't know what kind of winter tires to get that you should buy studded.' Now we believe that you must check your needs and purchase accordingly. Remember that studded tires often give a greater sense of security resulting in you perhaps driving faster, eliminating the benefit of studded tires."

Note that when studless tires perform well in Scandinavian tests, there's a catch: they're performing well on roughed-up ice. If nobody's using studded tires, nobody's roughing up the ice. By themselves, studless tires have a "polishing effect," Vi Bilagare says. If no studded tires are chewing up the surface, you wind up with "perfect, life-threatening ice." In North America, studded snow tires are not as common, and experts at TireRack.com test winter tires on a hockey rink to approximate the slickness of roads here.

Should North American drivers buy studded or studless winter tires? It depends on how harsh your winters are, says Canada's Automobile Protection Association (APA). "For the vast majority of motorists, modern, non-studded winter tires are the preferred choice," APA says. "In addition to offering plenty of grip on both snow and ice, they perform much better on asphalt and are significantly quieter. They are also not subjected to the restrictions affecting studded tires.

"For a few motorists who frequently drive under very difficult conditions, studded tires can offer an added margin of safety on ice. Consult a specialist to know if you are among those who need studded tires."

To find out whether studded tires are legal in your state, check with your state road authority. Tire-Information-World.com provides a list of laws in each state, and Canada's APA maintains a similar list for the Canadian provinces.