To stud, or not to stud

Hello everyone, I have lived in Atlanta and Phoenix and need some education about part-time winter driving.

I need some opinions regarding winter tires with optional studding. I live in the Seattle metro area, and snow is not hard to go out and find. I have a 99 4Runner, and an extra set of rims to play with. I don't plan on going to the snow very often, but if I do it could be on both unplowed forest trails as well as a snowy/plowed highway. I have been looking at the General Altimax set based on some of the good feedback I have been seeing on here, and they have an option to get studs. Now I obviously don't need them here around town, but should I have them for the mountains? Should I worry about getting studs?

Finally my other option is to just get good all terrain tires and go with that. Currently I don't have a set of chains either, so I would probably get some if I go the AT route. Would I need chains still if I go the winter/studded side?

I live in Juneau and get the full winter gamut. I've found non-studded superior for everything except glaze ice, or glaze ice with a thin snow covering. If the mountains you've got are similar to ours, most of the time non-studded is fine because the roads are either packed snow, snowy asphalt or loose slush/snow mix. But if the mountains are mostly snow packed down to shiny ice you'll appreciate the studs.

Studs are a pain in the ass on bare asphalt and don't do anything in regular old loose snow.

Non-studded will probably be better as an all-around winter tire. In that situation, go for something studless (not a studdable tire without the studs installed). You'll get better ice grip that way (although the studdable tires are often a little better in deep snow).

^^ I don't think I could have said it better myself.

Studs work better in a very small defined condition - glare ice. That's it.

Many good all terrain tires carry the RMA severe snow service certification, you can run those year round.

Anything with this on the sidewall is legally a snow tire.

I live where they aren't legal (Michigan roads are chewed up enough as is) so I have no direct experience, but I've never heard a really positive review on studs. They give you an edge on glare ice and either do nothing or hurt everywhere else.

My experience in snow area, PNW & Alaska mainly. Proper non-studded snow tires work on most everything except glare ice but not much works well in that situation anyway. For cases when a bit more traction is needed then chains (or something similar) will get you out of that situation. Also, in some areas in some cases chains are mandatory so having them wouldn't hurt.

Winter Tires has been a popular topic around here recently.

Here too

In reply to JohnRW1621:

Agreed, that's what started my thoughts about the tires to get, but never having purchased winter tires, I started going down the rabbit hole of specific types

I run an aggressive AT tire with the severe snow rating, i run them year round, but if you looking for a winter only tire I would go studdless. Studs are good for ice, and thats about it. I find its not ice very often, its generally polished snow. Packed and lots of traffic over it. Studs may help a bit there, but I am not sure how much. Otherwise its slush.

Also Your required to carry chains over the passes in winter in WA.

In reply to java230:

Which ones are you actually running? Since I know you are up here as well and I believe have a 4Runner

In reply to LifeIsStout:

Im running Duratracs. They are not the best snow tires, but they are a good snow tire, but the tread blocks are large and large ish voids. Its a trade off for me, I use them year round, lots of gravel roads trails etc too. But the compound is very soft and works well in the snow. We ski a lot, so they get plenty of time in the snow.

EDIT: I run the Toyo AT2's on our Rv, less aggressive AT (smaller tread blocks and voids) but also severe snow rated and do very well.

For an A/T in snow, Duratracs are about as good as it gets.

FWIW studded snow tires are a substantial public cost as they are grinders that grind troughs into the lanes and the concrete dust is bad for peoples lungs. The dust is in the noise category of health risk but was measurable enough along roadways in Japan that they were regulated out of use there with health as a component of the decision. Much of Oregon gets lots of ice and is lots of hilly so there are lots of studded snow tires in use and therefore lots of ruts in the roads that fill with water and it gets spooky in the wet. It's painful to hear studded snow tires on cars in August grinding everything up...

But If I had the wrong spot in my life (consistently icy roads/ long driveway access to home or business) studded snows handle that lots better than snow tires. Other than that scenario snow tires are better performing across the board, easier to live with, and more economical.

Back in the day of 15" wheels I always ran snow tires on all corners of 4x4's, F-150's and Eagle wagon w/ good results. Later switched to studded snow's after a couple of particularly icy winters... and definitely worth it.

There's ways around ice w/ snows, like two wheels on the shoulder in the marbles for traction. That is, if you catch it early enough, otherwise you're just along for the ride. Witnessed two fatal accidents on ice that swayed me to run studs, rather run 'em than not. It's all a compromise though.

Currently on Goodyear A/T's on the truck and Arctic's on the E92. BFG A/T KO's was a good snow tire also. Road conditions around here aren't the best late night/ early morning on my commutes. We've had more freezing rain than snow days so far this year, just being cautious so far w/o studs.