Choosing the Best Studded Snow Tires — 2025 Buyer’s Guide

As winter approaches, it’s important to be sure that you have the appropriate tires to handle the worst weather conditions. While we believe that every commuter in New England should have a good set of winter tires, you should also consider if you need a set of studded snow tires.

A type of winter tire, studded snow tires are designed to provide you with maximum traction on packed snow and icy roads. However, studded tires aren’t right for every condition, and some states restrict their use to certain times of year.

This guide will help you determine if investing in a set of studded snow tires is the right move for you. Let’s dive in.

Winter tires vs. studded snow tires

The terms “winter tires” and “snow tires” are interchangeable. Winter tires are distinct from all season tires by the industry-standard symbols on the tire sidewall:

• M+S (Mud and Snow): This mark means the tire works well in muddy and light snowy conditions. However, it doesn’t promise the best performance in very harsh winter weather.
• Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF): This symbol shows the tire has been tested and proven to handle heavy snow, making it a good choice for severe winter conditions.

You can also recognize winter tires by their open tread pattern that helps dispel snow, slush, and ice. They are manufactured with special rubber components that keep the tire flexible in cold weather, which provides maximum traction and stopping ability. This flexibility helps the tire maintain more contact with the road, greatly improving your control in cold weather conditions.

However, non-studded winter tires have limitations on icy and unplowed roads. They may not provide sufficient grip on hard-packed snow or ice.

Studded winter tires, also called studded snow tires, contain actual studs built into the tread of the tires. Often made of metal, these studs are small rivets that act similarly to cleats on a shoe, allowing the tire to dig into snow or chip into ice.

There are also studdable winter tires, which are winter tires that have molded holds where studs could be screwed into. These tires will operate as a regular winter tire on their own, but can be converted into studded winter tires by adding the appropriate tire studs.

What are winter tire studs?

Modern studded tires were first widely used in 1950s Scandinavia as small, nail-like inserts to increase the traction of winter tires on icy roads. Studded tires first took hold in the U.S. in the 1960s and enjoyed growing popularity through the 1970s. By the 1990s, new technical improvements enhanced their performance, while state governments started to pass restrictions on their use to limit excessive pavement wear.

Tire studs consist of two primary parts:

• The cylindrical metal jacket (or body) is the outside part of the stud that is inserted and held in place within the tire tread rubber.
• The pin is the head of the stud and protrudes beyond the tire tread by about 1/32″ and is the part that contacts the pavement surface.

While the pins are usually made of tungsten carbide, tire studs can also be made from rubber or hard plastic.

Examples of Studded Snow Tires

Winter tire studs are manufactured in various lengths to match a range of hole depths within different makes of tires. You can identify different stud sizes by their Tire Stud Manufacture Index (T.S.M.I.) number, the stud’s overall length in millimeters (mm), and their housing color.

Studded winter tires will have anywhere from 80 to 100 studs per tire, each inserted into molded holes within the tire’s tread. A specialized stud gun spreads the rubber and inserts the stud so that the pin is the only element that protrudes from the tire surface.

Only studdable winter tires that have been engineered with preset locations (holes) can have studs installed. Do not attempt to insert studs into regular winter or snow tires, as this will damage the tire and compromise its performance and safety. Studdable winter tires are sold without studs, which must be acquired and installed separately.

How are tire studs installed?

While you can install studs into a studdable tire with the right equipment, professional installation is recommended. Required stud size will vary depending on the tire, with the appropriate stud size listed on the tire sidewall. Here is the step-by-step process professionals follow:

1. Tire Selection — Only studdable tires, designed with pre-molded holes in the tread, are chosen for the process. These holes are strategically placed to hold the studs securely without compromising the tire structure.
2. Stud Size Determination — Professionals measure the tread depth to select the correct stud size. For example, a tread depth of 12/32” requires a TSMI #12 stud, while 13/32” would need a TSMI #13 stud.
3. Tire Preparation — The tire is carefully cleaned to remove any dirt, stones, or debris that might block the stud holes or cause damage during installation. The pre-molded holes are lubricated with water, which helps with smooth insertion of the studs and prevents wear on the stud gun.
4. Stud Installation — A pneumatic stud gun is used to insert each stud into its designated hole. The tool positions the studs at the correct depth, with a portion of the stud protruding above the tread to grip ice and snow. The studs are installed individually for precision placement and alignment.
5. Inspection — After all studs are installed, the tire is inspected thoroughly to confirm that all studs are evenly seated and protruding to the correct height. Uneven or improperly installed studs could affect performance and safety.

Stud installation, depending on the type of tire, can take up to one hour. Most shops and professionals will only stud new tires, as used tires may have pebbles or debris in the moldable holes, which could lead to a leak or flat when inserting a stud. For this reason, most shops may not remove tire studs. Once a studdable tire is studded, it remains a studded tire and should be swapped out for all-season or all-weather tires during the seasonal changeover.

Businesses typically do not pre-stud tires because many can be sold unstudded. If you want your tires studded, it’s a good idea to contact your local tire shop ahead of time and consider placing a deposit to reserve the service.

Sometimes studs can come loose, but this does not usually affect the tire’s integrity as long as the missing studs are properly replaced.

When’s the Best Time to Install Studded Tires?

Just like winter tires, it is recommended that studded and studdable tires be installed when the average temperature is below 40 degrees. Be aware that studded tires have additional seasonal restrictions depending on the states you live in. This is for a few reasons:

• Studs actually decrease traction potential on dry and wet roads. This is because the studs can interrupt the contact between the tire tread compound and the road surface, which can have a negative effect on stopping distances.
• For a similar reason, the traction advantages of studs in snowy, slushy, or mixed conditions are minimal. You’ll experience better performance with a traditional snow or winter tire.
• Studded tires may be good for ice traction, but they aren’t good for the roads. When roads aren’t covered with snow or ice, the tire studs will noisily chip into the pavement. This not only produces additional noise, it increases the wear on road surfaces.
  

  Studded tire laws by state

  Studded tires, while highly effective for traction on icy and snowy roads, are known to cause increased wear and tear on road surfaces. Their continued use can result in millions of dollars in road maintenance and repair costs for taxpayers. Additionally, the metal studs on these tires can create ruts in the pavement, which collect water and lead to hazards such as pooling, excessive tire spray, hydroplaning, and loss of vehicle control during wet weather conditions.

  To mitigate these issues, each state has specific laws governing when and where studded tires can be used, with restrictions set by state legislatures. Below are the regulations for the four New England states serviced by VIP Tires & Services:

  	Permitted	Restricted	Penalties for Violations
  Maine	October 2nd to April 30th	May 1st to October 1st	Fines up to $500
  Massachusetts	November 1st to April 30th	May 1st to October 31st	Fines up to $50 per offense
  New Hampshire	Year Round	N/A	N/A
  Vermont	Year Round	N/A	N/A

  Search your own state’s DOT page for further details on studded tire restrictions.

  5 key factors to consider when selecting studded winter tires

  Should you invest in studded snow tires? That depends on a number of different factors. Ask yourself the following questions to see if studded tires are a good choice for you:

  1. Location

  • How often are roads you use the most covered in ice?
  • How often are your roads covered in wet or hard-packed snow?
  • Is your commute on mostly straight, main roads or on the highway?
  • Do you have to deal with icy hills or sharp curves?

  If your daily commute in the winter requires you to travel on icy or unplowed back roads, then studded tires start to make sense. If you’re mostly traveling on main roads or the highway, you may be better served with a set of regular snow tires.

  2. Legality

  • Are you in a state that allows studded tires?
  • Does your state have a restriction on when you can use studded tires?

  There are some states, such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Carolina, that do not allow studded tires at any time of year. If you regularly travel to those states during the fall or winter, it may be worthwhile to purchase regular snow tires. If you’re a resident of a state without restrictions, such as New Hampshire or Vermont, then a set of studded tires can make sense, especially if you live in a remote area.

  3. Commute

  • How often are you driving in icy conditions?
  • Do you need to travel on icy or unplowed roads?
  • Are you driving long distances?
  • Do you often drive before roads are paved?

  Consider your regular commute in the winter. Are you able to stay home during heavy snowstorms or icy weather conditions or are you regularly out on the roads before most of the plowing is done? If you’re regularly driving in the worst conditions, then studded tires can be the safest and most sensible option.

  4. Price

  • Are studded winter tires an affordable choice for your needs?

  Winter tires generally cost about the same as high-quality all-season tires, but studded versions can be more expensive due to the added materials and installation process. If you’re considering studdable tires, keep in mind that you’ll need to budget for both the studs and professional installation. While pricier, the added safety on icy roads can be worth the investment if you regularly face severe winter conditions.

  5. Road conditions

  • Are the roads in your area frequently icy, or do they stay clear of hard-packed snow?
  • How well does your city or town maintain roadways during winter storms?
  • Do you drive on gravel or dirt roads that freeze over?

  Studded tires perform exceptionally well on icy or hard-packed snow but are less effective on bare pavement. If you live in an area where roads are regularly cleared, or temperatures often rise above freezing, studded tires may wear prematurely and cause unnecessary damage to the pavement. For roads that remain icy or frozen throughout winter, studded tires provide invaluable safety and traction.

  Studded vs. non-studded vs. studdable tires: which is right for you?

  	Non-Studded	Studdable	Studded
  How to identify	Blocky tread with fine slits that grip snow & push away slush	Similar pattern to winter tires with molded holes for studs	Similar pattern to winter tires w/ 60–120 small metal studs
  Ideal conditions to drive in	Muddy, wet, mixed and light snow conditions	Muddy, wet, mixed and light snow conditions w/out studs	Packed snow and icy conditions
  Advantages	Great for wintry conditions, won’t damage roads or produce loud noise	Same advantages as non-studded, but can have studs added to handle icy conditions	Best option for driving on packed snow and icy conditions
  Disadvantages	Limited to no traction on ice or hard-packed snow	Limited to no traction on ice or hard-packed snow w/out studs	Lower performance in non-icy conditions, can damage road surfaces
  Recommended tire options	Vredestein Wintrac Vredestein Wintrac Pro Goodyear WinterCommand Ultra Michelin X-Ice Snow	Sumitomo Ice Edge Vanderbilt Arctic Claw WXI Toyo Observe G3 Ice Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 Goodyear WinterCommand Falken Winterpeak F-Ice 1	Toyo Observe G3-ICE Studded Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 10 Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta LT3 Nokian Tyres Nordman North 9

  “Also, seriously consider snow tires. These will give your car extra grip on snow and ice covered roads … Studless snow tires are quieter than studded and are effective in getting around on snow covered roads. Studded snow tires provide better grip on ice, but make sure you pay attention to wear and tear. Worn studs can poke through and ruin your tire (and your day).”

  — VIP Master Tech Michael Corella (Source)

  Studded tires FAQs

  What are studded tires?
  Studded tires contain actual rivets or “studs” built into the tread of the tires. Often made of metal, these studs dig into ice and hard-packed snow to provide extra traction.

  Do I need studded tires?
  If you find yourself driving in icy conditions often during the winter months, either because of your location or other requirements of your commute, then you may want to invest in a set of studded winter tires.

  What are the benefits of using studded tires?
  Aside from using chains, studded winter tires provide the best possible traction in the worst snow and ice conditions. They provide greater control and more stopping power compared to regular winter or snow tires.

  What are the drawbacks of studded tires?
  Studded tires actually suffer in performance in conditions that aren’t ice or hard-packed snow, as they provide less surface contact with the road. Studded tires will also increase the wear on road surfaces, and so some states restrict when they can be used.

  How long do studded tires last?
  Like other tires, the life expectancy of a studded tire will depend on its usage. As long as they are used correctly — such as being used only on ice and packed snow-covered road surfaces — you can expect around 5 to 6 seasons of use.

  Can tire studs be removed?
  If the tires are relatively new, with significant remaining tread depth (more than 7/32”), it’s possible that it’s worthwhile to remove the studs. For older tires with less tread depth, it’s usually not worth the effort. Note that not all tire or service shops will offer a de-studding service.

  Find The Best Studded Snow Tires With VIP Auto

  The service experts at VIP Tires & Service recommend that you should only install and use studs if you feel there’s a distinct performance and traction advantage in doing so. If you want to discuss your options for winter, studdable, and studded tires, contact one of our Certified Automotive Professionals at any time.

  Looking for Winter Tires? Show our full selection.