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It ’s winter now, and one of the primary considerations is the condition of your tires. Many years of experience and statistical data clearly shows that tires are a very important part of safety when it comes to automobile travel, as well as other vehicles such as trucks, vans and smaller vehicles such as motorcycles. 


As when considering tires for winter driving the vehicle owner must decide whether to keep the same tires that they had been riding on for the balance of the year rather than putting on special tires that are designed especially for winter travel. Tires designed for winter travel, and a variety of designs and functions. Some are designed to increase traction in both wet and freezing environments. One of the designs which really tend to help him freezing conditions is studded tires


What are studded tires? 


Certain tires contain tungsten carbide pins that stick out a certain distance from the edge of the tire. The studs grip the ice and snow and give the tires better traction in these conditions. Some tires contain heavy rubber studs instead of the metal ones. 


The jury is out as to how to best utilize studded tires. Some say leave them on all winter. Some say only put them on when you know that the conditions warranted. In addition, some say only put them on the drive wheels, whether that be front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel drive, or four-wheel-drive. Regardless of how they are applied, they do provide extra traction in freezing conditions. 


What are the important considerations when using studded tires? 


Some states only allow you to use these tires during certain times of the year. The reason is obvious, because these tires tend to grip the road better. They also tend to tear the road up when those conditions do not warrant the use of them. 

Another important consideration is that only new tires that have not been driven on can be studded. The reason is that tires that have been driven on cannot be studded evenly and tend to risk serious tire damage from rocks and sand getting trapped under the stud. In addition, the studs are manufactured in different links, and they must be matched correctly to the tires are being studded. The reason for this is that different tires are manufactured with different tread depth. 


Studded tires are a distinct advantage when environmental conditions warrant them. They provide excellent traction and therefore increase safety for not only the vehicle owners, but those around them. Anyone using studded tires must understand that once started, they tend to wear down to a proximally 5/32 of the remaining tread depth, and therefore do not perform very well in deep snow. 


Why would you want to use studded tires? Because they are safer in the right kind of conditions as long as you keep in mind some important considerations. Those considerations include when you’re allowed to use studded tires, using them only in the right conditions, and understanding that they must be placed on new tires that have not been used.




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