You should get snow tires if living in a region with lots of snow and ice. Snow and winter tires exist both as non-studded tires and studded tires. Whether to choose studded or non-studded tires depends on the winter conditions where you live. Studded tires are best suited for hardpacked snow and ice, so if these are the conditions you live in, you should consider studded tires. If choosing studded tires, you should be aware that they come with some limitations due to the legal restrictions of their use in many areas in the United States. Metal studs are actually not allowed in 11 states, and only six states allow studs without regulations. However, date restrictions are applied in all States, which makes sense as winter and snow tires are not made to be used on dry asphalt.
There are areas of the United States like the Rocky Mountains in Colorado that have traction laws that require drivers of 2-wheel drive cars to have snow chains or winter-approved studded tires when driving on I-70 through the Rocky Mountains. In areas like this, studded tires make a lot of sense. They are more flexible than having to use chains as chains are pretty cumbersome to put on and take off, and usually, weather conditions that require chains are precisely the kind of conditions that you don’t want to be in a while putting them on or taking them off.
The main advantage of studded tires, as mentioned above, is the superior grip on icy and hard-packed snowy roads. The studded tires provide an additional level of grip because they are not just interacting with the road surface conditions; the studs penetrate frozen precipitation and dig in like miniature anchors. When you accelerate, brake, or turn on ice with studded tires, you will have the combined advantage of the winter tire compound and the studs clawing into the ice, which will improve the grip and handling responsiveness.
With many winter tires available on the market, it is essential to choose wisely. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 studded tires offer new innovative studs that provide superior grip, driving comfort, and eco-friendliness. These tires provide next-generation safety with the “Nokian Tyres’ Double Stud Technology” with an innovative combination of excellent winter grip, driving comfort, and eco-friendliness. This new double-stud technology allows the center studs to help improve grip while braking and accelerating, enabling maximum control on ice and snow even with lane changes.
Whether studded or non-studded, snow tires offer exceptional grip on snow and ice and have passed all requirements in snow testing to be considered severe snow-service rated. They thereby hold the “Three Peak Mountain Snowflake” emblem. Snow tires need to be changed after the winter season into either all-weather tires or all-season tires. To make this transition easier, it might be worth considering keeping a second set of wheels to facilitate the changeover. This way, when winter or spring arrives, you will be ready.
For more information regarding snow tires, visit: https://www.nokiantires.com/