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jmacmaster said:
........If studs keep the rubber from gripping the hard surface of dry pavement as much as the rubber would grip dry pavement without studs, then the same thing should happen with studs on an icy road, because both dry pavement and an icy road are hard surfaces. Yet, studs increase traction on ice. In fact, as CapriRacer says, stude provide "a tremendous improvement in pure ice traction". So I conclude that on ice, the rubber grips as much as if there were no studs. I still say that its a myth that the studs make the rubber stand up off the pavement to some extent and that if you look at a studded tire on a vehicle the rubber is solidly planted on the pavement and is on the pavement just as much as for a tire without studs.....
Unfortunately, actual traction tests don't support this.
Here's where I think the flaw in your logic is: Dry pavement has a great deal of macrotexture, where ice does not. Plus, ice melts at higher pressures - and while I am not 100% sure of this, I seem to remember a study where ice was observed changing phase (becoming water) due to the footprint pressure. In essence one of the problems of ice is that you are riding on a partial layer of water.
I think this also explains Bluemax1's comments about studs not working as well in colder temps - the pressure of the studs is partially melting the ice.
YPW said:
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.......Even CapriRacer (whose reputation on tires is pretty good) claims that the difference on dry pavement is minor and probably not detectable by most people who don't use ten-tenths of the capability of their tires.......
Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I want to make sure this is understood:
I would not consider the decrease in traction "minor". However, most people don't drive near the limit of adhesion and are never in a position to correctly assess the traction of their tires. (This comment is directed towards those who say "I've been driving for 30 years and never had a problem".)
Having said that, I want to put this in perspective - most people DON'T ever drive near the limit of adhesion and WON'T experience the loss of traction - BUT, there IS less traction and in an emergency situation you could come up short!!
This is more of a cautionary note. DO NOT think that getting studs is 100% the answer. There is a compromise and you have to be aware of it.
If I were in a position where I was considering studs, I would carefully assess how often I needed them. If it is only once or twice a year, then I would "opt out" - and call in "sick" (as in "I am sick and tired of the other drivers and their less than skillful driving.")
But if encountering ice was the norm - sure - studs is the way to go.
This should not be a "one size fits all" - but, once you've made the commitment (in other words installed the tires - with or without studs), then you have to be aware of what your limitations are.
Hope this helps.