sand is your friend...lots and lots of sand...and salt, if you are ok with that eating your car and pitting your concrete...
Stuck, icy steep driveway
- Thread starter UCrazyKid
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For most of N America studless tires are fine. Winters are short, roads are salted, variable weather. But in Alaska (and most of Canada). We drive on packed snow and ice every day at least half the year. We banned salt a long time ago so my tires rarely touch asphalt Nov-April or May. And when it gets really cold studs are your only hope especially when you would like to stop. 2 weeks ago at -20 (F) I towed a grand Cherokee spinning all 4 tires with first winter blizzaks up the hill to my kids school with my LX on Hakka 7’s.
The authority on winter tire testing is the Norwegian Auto Federation. They do a test every year and group into studded and non studded. Use the same criteria for both categories. Test indoor in controlled environment, outdoor in the real world, ice, snow, wet, dry. And on all conditions test acceleration, breaking, cournering, noise, and driving feel.
Studded tires have the highest overall scores every year. On the most recient test Of what is available in N AmericaThe Hakka 9 was the highest scoring studded tire and the Hakka R2 the highest studless. Hakka R2 was 13th overall and Blizzak were 19th overall and 7 th for stud-less.
Here is the 2017 test
Test av piggfrie vinterdekk og piggdekk 2017
And a more English friendly translation from Canada
Enter Hakka 9 – The 2017 NAF Winter Tire Test | Saskatchewan Studded Tire Club
Here you go Hakka 9 vs Blizzak. Not to mention tire life. I get 5-7 winters out of a set of Hakka’s. Studless performance greatly decrease after 1-2 winters. I know a few people up here that put on a new set of blizzaks every winter (thanks Costco).
While I agree the Haakas are awesome, when I looked at the Hakka 9, but they were something like $300 a piece and hard to find. Interesting to see the Haaka was third in the review you linked. I know Nokian also puts a stronger metal stud that is supposed to last a long time. If I lived in AK, I'd definitely spring for a high quality studded tire in winter.
Question: Are the reviews/comparison numbers you listed above for the Blizzaks for the DMV2 or the older WS80s or DMV1s? The DMV2s are supposed to be much better than their older counterparts. FWIW, my Falkens have a silica compound that are awesome in the winter for an AT, better than any AT I have ever owned after running them for two full winters, and I have owned a ton of AT tires over the years. Put the same rubber on my FJ40. But since I run winters for my wife already (picked up after a scary night on new KO2s) I bought a second set of winters for me as well. I figured since I already have 4 stacked in the corner of the garage, I figured it wouldn't take up any space to stack four more on top...Although getting that last one on top can be a pain.
I put on Cooper Discoverer M+S Studded on my LC in the winter. They are awesome on ice, especially for the price. Got a set of four for $515 from TireBuyer. My wife is on her second winter on the DMV2s and they are still doing awesome, but I know they probably only have one more winter left. When it comes time to replace them I'll probably spring for the Haakas, but for the price I may be tempted to go the Cooper route. They do surprisingly well in snow and ice and are less than half the price.
As an aside, my neighbor across from me has a steep (incline) driveway and a rwd blazer with studded tires. Our road out of our 'hood also has a steep incline, so he can't get out of the neighborhood without backing in my driveway and getting momentum to get up the hill. He backs up fast to my driveway and brakes and his studs are tearing up my driveway. Annoying as hell.
This is last years test so last years Blizzak WS80 (and the Hakka R2 not R3). They haven’t released this years test info yet. Also the two tires that rated above the Hakka 9 are not available in North America.
There are very few places where studs make sense any more. When we spent 4 years in NE TN I ran xIce.
And yes Hakka’s are $$$. But the good side is they last a long time. As for dealers, Every tire shop I know of up here carry nokian.
I have a longer steep driveway also and went hakka 9s this year. They are pretty incredible it just walks up no issues. I have slid backwards to many times in our van even with blizzaks. It's not fun, but sometimes your in a hurry and risk it without taking time to gravel it.
I ended up buying my hakkas on amazon for $208 and had them installed by les schwab for under a 100. Cheaper then the ridge grapplers I run during summer and I am sure they are way more valuable....
I ended up buying my hakkas on amazon for $208 and had them installed by les schwab for under a 100. Cheaper then the ridge grapplers I run during summer and I am sure they are way more valuable....
Sac Cerevisiae
Reid
Blast from the past! I had one of those.
I run the DM-V2's on my 200 and Taco during the winter and replace them often. I would bet the Scandy's rate their tires highly. I don't really see any other legit tests or reviews out there that rate the Hakka's over the Blizaaks or IceX (current versions). I've driven on all 3 and I'd take the IceX or Blizzak over the Hakka any day. Here is more info on studs vs. studless and testing done at the Winter Driving Course in Steamboat, CO.
Don't Put Studs on Your Tires This Winter
The Kings of Cold: Pickup Snow Tire Shootout
I love my studded Hakkas
I don't agree with the studded argument as I have driven mine in all kinds of conditions and have driven the same vehicles in the same condition with clear superior performance of studded vs unstudded. Ye,s I previously had 2 100 series trucks and one had studded and the other didn't but had dedicated snows. I also ran my 200s one with studded and 1 without studs but dedicated snows but now won't go without. There is no comparison.
Unfortunately in Maine it is not always snow and we get ice fairly regularly
Also unfortunate I live down a dirt road quite a distance and it frequently becomes a skating rink. I always make it out without issue.
Also we tend to go to the mountains regularly and often it is snowing in the mountains and it can be any kind of mix on the way up.
But I guess I should have read the outside magazine to understand that I am wasting my time and money on studs. I guess my experience is purely in my head. Oh well it is my money to waste and my family to put in my cruisers and previously my wife and kids went in the trucks with studs.
I bet outdoor magazine knows more than the Norwegians.
I don't agree with the studded argument as I have driven mine in all kinds of conditions and have driven the same vehicles in the same condition with clear superior performance of studded vs unstudded. Ye,s I previously had 2 100 series trucks and one had studded and the other didn't but had dedicated snows. I also ran my 200s one with studded and 1 without studs but dedicated snows but now won't go without. There is no comparison.
Unfortunately in Maine it is not always snow and we get ice fairly regularly
Also unfortunate I live down a dirt road quite a distance and it frequently becomes a skating rink. I always make it out without issue.
Also we tend to go to the mountains regularly and often it is snowing in the mountains and it can be any kind of mix on the way up.
But I guess I should have read the outside magazine to understand that I am wasting my time and money on studs. I guess my experience is purely in my head. Oh well it is my money to waste and my family to put in my cruisers and previously my wife and kids went in the trucks with studs.
I bet outdoor magazine knows more than the Norwegians.
Studless are obviously better for the roads, and they do have advantages in a lot of conditions, but I agree with you that on ice nothing compares to studded. My studded tires also have a very soft rubber compound with tons of siping which hold snow really well (snow on snow gives the best traction). The scariest situations I have encountered are on ice, not snow.
We have been happy with our studded Cooper M+S and studless Bridgestone DMV2s.
I'm way off here but curiously, from a macro lifecycle study of studded tires, it's been scientifically proven that studded tires cost more lives than they save. Due to the micro-particulates that are emitted from the roads impacting long term health for those that live nearby. That doesn't in any way account for the convenience advantages it brings:
How studded winter tires may damage public health as well as pavement - American Chemical Society
How studded winter tires may damage public health as well as pavement - American Chemical Society
Markuson
SILVER Star
There is a “study” somewhere by someone...to support banning.......basically everything.
Adding the “May” before ANY statement turns even the silliest stuff into a supposed rationsle for this or that.
Studies like that are great...
-Right up until you slide off the icy road and kill someone because some bloke said they might lead to road dust.
That’s how we often end up with such interesting bans...
-We don’t ban the huge plastic 64oz Big Gulp cup...but feel we’re good if the tiny straw is paper. I’m all for preserving the environment...but hopefully with a sense of priority & proportion.
If I ever live in the arctic zone...I’ll own whatever tires I need to safely travel.
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Air Pollution Exposed: Why You Might Be Breathing In Tire Waste | HuffPost
Tire particulate can cause similar issues. And studless tires wear out super fast.
Driving alone causes microparticulate deaths.Large gas guzzling 4x4s also put out more emissions that kill people.
I drive a 5,800 lb 4x4 with studded tires to protect my family, definitely not for the greater good. No disrespect to the rest of society, but for me, I protect mine first.
I guess I’ll be safer if I drive around in my gas guzzling 4wd, studded beast wearing a respirator?
ColeAk, I think that you are being pretty irresponsible. Given the population density and the crowded roads that you are travelling on when you have studded tires on you should reconsider those studs. With all the convertibles and people driving around with their arm out the open windows, especially on your crowded roads, the particulate would never get a chance to settle on the ground before it is inhaled. And with the outdoor lifestyle you enjoy the danger of that particulate floating around and poisoning the food at the always popular backyard barbecue is pretty high. The neighbours might have to close the windows at night just to keep their air safe. Please reconsider those studs for the good of our children, the real victims here.
Good one. There is a guy I see from time to time who drives a Ural with a side car around all winter, but I’m pretty sure he has studs. He works at Cabelas, I’ll try and figure out who it is and recommend a respirator
. JOE ^^^. I feel you. We just got hit with a Pineapple Express. Went from <0 to 40 and rain in 48 hours. So now it’s water on top of 4”+ of solid cold ice. On everything...
Good one. There is a guy I see from time to time who drives a Ural with a side car around all winter, but I’m pretty sure he has studs. He works at Cabelas, I’ll try and figure out who it is and recommend a respirator
Rides a aural in the winter in Alaska? Damn. That’s hardcore.
