How important is a large number of studs?

Studded tires are rightly considered the leaders in the winter segment. Despite the fact that so-called "stickers" have gained a loyal audience, it is still smaller than the number of car owners who choose studded tires. The number of studs is associated with an interesting story about the race of manufacturers for their quantity. Today, we will tell you about the results of this race and the advantages and disadvantages of a large number of studs.

Studded tires are common in a small number of countries, of course, Russia and the Scandinavian countries. In other countries, such as Japan, studded tires are prohibited, despite the fact that icy and snowy roads are encountered quite often. Studs have been banned due to their negative impact on roads and the environment, namely, their impact on human health. Although studded tires do not contribute to a greater emission of CO2, they destroy road surfaces and raise small dust particles into the air. Roughly speaking, even if we don't see it, roads where studded tires are used are more dusty. At the same time, this dust remains at a sufficient height for a person of any height to inhale it. There is no environmental disaster here, as there are pollutants in the air not only from studded tires.

Nevertheless, in Finland, it was decided to start improving this situation, and a law was introduced on the maximum number of studs per meter of tread - 60 pieces. Interestingly, some manufacturers have presented their new products with fewer studs, while others, with Nokian as a pioneer, have increased the number of studs on the tread. The fact is that the Finnish company found a loophole in the Finnish law and decided to use it. To avoid restrictions on the number of studs, it is necessary to pass the so-called OVERRUN test, where the tire must drive 200 times over granite inserts at a speed of 100 km/h on a special installation and cause damage no greater than that of a standard tire with a minimum number of studs. The degree of destruction is determined by weighing.

It was after the Nokian manufacturer opened this "Pandora's box" and showed that in the winter studded segment they are significantly better than other manufacturers that everyone else joined the race. Now, it is already possible to call 190 studs in size 205/55/16 a standard, although according to Finnish standards, there should be 90. The initiative with the law turned out to be strange, and its implementation even more so. However, the question of the benefits for our driver remains. They, without a doubt, exist.

There is no need to talk about the advantages on ice; studded tires significantly surpass non-studded models. But, contrary to popular opinion, studded tires also lead on dry asphalt. Yes, studs do not worsen the characteristics on asphalt at all, but even improve them. This can be easily verified by opening any tire test where the record holder for the number of studs, Michelin X-Ice North 4, is present. Having 250 studs in size 205/55/16, these tires outperform all competitors in non-studded tires in most tests. We will tell you about the reasons and details of such superiority in one of the following articles.