waterboyjlw

It really warmed up here in Anchorage last friday and alot of snow melted then refroze as ice on the road. So I slid about 70' through into an intersection (luckily I was able to steer into a snow bank before hitting anybody), I was only going about 15mph as I approached and began sliding. I had been holding out on studded tires...but no more, after changing my shorts I drove to the tire shop and picked up a set of Hankook I-Pike RW11 studded tires in the factory size of 275/55R20. This is the only studded tire available in this size (at least the only one I could find in two months of looking).

Knot@Work

This coming from a complete Southerner... I would have expected to see a lot more studs on there. Is that pretty much normal?
Why not use chains?
(again, i don't drive in the snow/ice, so forgive the dumb questions)

Btw, "after changing my shorts". LOL

SkiSmuggs

Chain are a pain to install, rough to ride on, damage roads even more and damage your vehicle when they break. Plus you are limited to about 35mph.

bradseabridge

I agree for everyday use studs are the way to go, but for me here in VA where I need to be at work even if it's a blizzard, chains FTW! It doesn't snow often, but when it does.. I need to be at work.

waterboyjlw

This is my 11th winter in Alaska, probably my 4th set of studded tires. These are pretty "normal" so far as the amount of studs. I once manually removed the studs from a set of BFG Commercial KO and they had 106 studs each. Sipping and durometer of the rubber is almost as important as the studs. Chains are first and foremost a pain in the *****, secondly, chains would destroy the tires if left on for the entire winter. Yes, I have a set, but will only use them if I need to get unstuck. A good set of winter tires (non-studded) would be fine if it was just a little snow every now and then but, we get "sheet ice" on the road up here in lots of places. I have posted it before and stand by it now...The stock pirelli tires SUCK for winter driving. I had been using 4WD continiously, now i'm back in 2WD and MPG is going right back up.

waterboyjlw

Yep, I got one of those jobs too. I run a water plant and 35,000 depend on me for there cup of morning coffee and the "first flush" in the morning. My plant is 3 miles up a road that is always the last to be plowed because nothing else is there. Funny thing, weather is not an excuse for us, however, a moose in the front yard is. Nobody wants to get stomped.

jcain

What is this white powder you speak of?

waterboyjlw

this.

jcain

Neat

Alex_Mp

Nice tires! I just installed the same on my 11 platinum, studded as well. I debated putting studs in them, but I don't think I'll regret it!