Why studded or winter tires in August?

[chassis]

I’m in a mountain state on vacation. I have heard a few Audis and Infinitis (brand is irrelevant) with the clear sound of either studs or aggressive winter tires growling down the street. Elevation where I am is 10k feet and higher. No snow on any except the highest and non-drivable summits. I didn’t notice the license plate. Likely not rentals, but I’m speculating on that.

Why winter or studded tires so early?

[Alfisti]

I'd bet they were never taken off. I have run winters since covid broke out as I have done less than 1000 miles since March 2020.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by chassis

I’m in a mountain state on vacation. I have heard a few Audis and Infinitis (brand is irrelevant) with the clear sound of either studs or aggressive winter tires growling down the street. Elevation where I am is 10k feet and higher. No snow on any except the highest and non-drivable summits. I didn’t notice the license plate. Likely not rentals, but I’m speculating on that.

Why winter or studded tires so early?

Because they never took them off.

Same thing happens here in Anchorage. Supposedly you can get fined/ticketed for it, but pretty much no one does, so it generally is not enforced.

Unless it's a summer performance car, like my 1LE, hopefully you have some AS tires and won't be caught completely by surprise at the first snow.

And don't anyone start talking about how you don't need studded tires because you drive a corvette down bobsled tracks with racing slicks. Stopping and starting on ice and impacted snow (basically ice) is damn near impossible in some situations without them, especially on grades. Winter tires only take you so far and work fine for some heavy vehicles, but for lighter ones, you'll be the one at the intersection spinning the tires while the light changes from green, to yellow, to red and everyone behind will be pissed that you just blew the entire time to turn. Stopping is dramatically difference with studs. Unfortunately, most winter tests don't really make a point about this, instead comparing studded tires on snow, rather than ice. When it's cold enough on snow, like down well past 0F, traction becomes very good on snow, it's more like sand at those temps, winter tires work great then. Unfortunately stopping and starting at intersections tends to turn all snow into impacted ice. There are lots of spots that the plows can't clear as well that turn into the impacted ice. If every surface was treated like the highway, it wouldn't be a problem, but the resources just don't exist for that (plus that's brining and that'll rust your car too). Lots of people also *think* they are driving in snow when in reality the are driving on relatively warm surfaces that have melted at the bottom and it's just slush or in places where the sun blasts the surface and removes the main hazard.

[chassis]

Thanks, so they left them on. Don’t studs or winters give worse fuel economy and wear out quickly?

I have only owned one vehicle that used winters. Nice performance in snow but jelly-like handling at high speed and from memory they wore out quickly. Have things changed?

[RM7]

Originally Posted by chassis

Thanks, so they left them on. Don’t studs or winters give worse fuel economy and wear out quickly?

I have only owned vehicle vehicle that used winters. Nice performance in snow but jelly-like handling at high speed and from memory they wore out quickly. Have things changed?

The studs don't wear as much as you'd think, they hold up pretty well driving on pavement. The tire tread, not so much, but IME, the cars that are doing this mostly are not well-kept, so the worn winter tires kind of fits the bigger profile. I doubt they care about fuel economy. I also doubt the hit is huge. There is a little more drag, but again I'd point to the tread compound well before the studs. The studs simply make a ton of noise.

[Alfisti]

Not sure of wear as my miles are insanely low but they do feel like driving on cheese on a hot day.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by chassis

Thanks, so they left them on. Don’t studs or winters give worse fuel economy and wear out quickly?

I have only owned vehicle vehicle that used winters. Nice performance in snow but jelly-like handling at high speed and from memory they wore out quickly. Have things changed?

Definitely they will wear out much faster. Over 7c winter tires shouldn't be driven on as they are useless and will wear fast. That's not to say they can't be used, just kinda a waste of money.

Regarding performance, they do make winter "sport" tires which I assume the handling is better but I personally never tried them. I go for for full traction/safest tires rather than handling when snow is around.

[Alfisti]

Sport winters are absolute garbage, don't do it.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Sport winters are absolute garbage, don't do it.

Lol thanks for the advice. I assume they are garbage in regards to traction and not getting stuck?

Currently I run Nokian hakkapeliittas r3 never got stuck. Wanted to try a sport winter this year but I think I'll pass.

[Alfisti]

They stink. Yeah they handle GREAT on a fully cleared road but as soon as you get some light snow they go to shit. Not much better than all seasons. And the Nokians, jesus H, they're basically the grippiest winter tyre on the market, you'd have a heart attack on sport winters.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Lol thanks for the advice. I assume they are garbage in regards to traction and not getting stuck?

Currently I run Nokian hakkapeliittas r3 never got stuck. Wanted to try a sport winter this year but I think I'll pass.

The sport winters are more so you can drive your Aston Martin on cold pavement. Cold pavement. Not ice or snow.

For all winter tires, it’s the high silica content that keeps them pliable at low temps. It also makes them wear much faster in the warmer temps and dry.

[DenverSteve]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

....Currently I run Nokian hakkapeliittas r3 never got stuck. Wanted to try a sport winter this year but I think I'll pass.

Best tire ever made.

[Josh-PA]

Stick with the Nokians or don't bother with snows (IMO). Agree with the other comments, "sport" snow tires are only slightly better in the snow than something like a Conti Sport DWS all season and don't drive well anyway. the Nokians are invincible in bad weather, which is the whole reason you're putting them on in the first place.

[Alfisti]

The DWS are actually amazing until they start to wear.

[freakystyly]

....Something, something right tool for the job.

[zx10guy]

I just put on a set of Michelin Cross Climate 2s on my C-HR. They're supposed to be all season tires that are winter tire rated. The tread pattern is very aggressive compared to common all seasons. But surprisingly, there isn't much tread noise. So far after 6k miles, I'm very pleased with them. I am still considering getting a separate set of full on winters to mount on the car when snow hits. But at least with these tires, I won't have issues when the weather transitions between fall/winter and winter/spring.

Only gripe I have is there is some sloppiness with cornering. But you really have to be driving aggressively to feel it.

[Alfisti]

The DWS were really surprising but by about 10,000KM the snow performance dropped right off. I just run winters now, so much better. I scour kijiji (craigslist) for used sets, lots of off lease cars with winters barely used and I save a solid $800 on a new set.

[RM7]

Another aspect is that most tires are rated to 119mph, so do you really need the high speed ratings from the high end "performance winter" tires? If you do, chances are you aren't really driving in winter conditions anyway...

[jnj2455]

I was in a hurry to get winter tyres as temps started dropping and my rear was starting to kick out at the slightest rip of the throttle but then with the Northeast (and global warming) I'd have mild days of upper 60s/lower 70s in the middle of winter and I felt "guilty" for even driving the car as I was unnecessarily wearing down the tread.

I foresee a future where I'll change my then-worn summers to AS, and just keep the winters for the once a season storm. Or even go more cavalier, and just stick w/ summers and use AS for winters.

[Alfisti]

Is there such a thing as summer tyres that are not absolute on the edge sports rubber? They are basically wall to wall all season here unless going ultra sporty.

[freakystyly]

It's a temperature thing, summers turn into hockey pucks around 0-5C and winters turn into butter at 20C give or take...

All seasons just have a larger range but compromise in absolute grip in exchange for longer tread life.

[Fritzer]

Why on earth would you live with a car for half a year with studded tires when you don't need them. Quite affordable to get a summer set/winter set to quickly change out when needed.