Affordable studded tires for your car

Find the best alloy wheels and tires here

How to choose studded tires for winter?

When choosing winter tires, ask yourself these three questions: Where do I drive? How often do I drive? How experienced am I? Don’t rush into choosing the winners of tire tests announced in popular car magazines because our climate is not the same as in Northern Finland, Northern Sweden or Northern Russia.

A good studded tire has perfect traction on icy surfaces both when braking and making a turn. Whatever the manoeuvre, a studded tire does its job. It is the perfect choice for the Estonian climate.

One of the advantages of a studded tire is slower wear; however, many users complain about distressing noise created by studded tires. It should be noted that after 1,000–2,000 kilometres the studs will “sit” at their place and create less noise.

Why can the choice made based on the test results published in car magazines be wrong? Many people buy tires based on what they have read in magazines or websites, and the general assumption is that a tire with higher ranking is automatically one of the best in the world. We have tested many tires in the Estonian climate and know that it is not that simple. Majority of tests have been carried out in places that differ significantly from the conditions in Estonia. When was the last time we had freezing cold winter that lasted long? Whereas the problem with noise pointed out in tests cannot be associated with our climate at all because at temperatures as low as –30°C it is totally quiet outside as the noise is muted. Naturally, the noise created by tires inside the car is louder than under normal circumstances. We at Rehvid Pluss are convinced that you shouldn’t always choose the winner of a test. Instead, consult our specialists who know which tire is the most suitable for you.

There is a common perception that studded tires cause damage to asphalt, which happens to be true. However, choosing a tire with fewer studs will ease this problem significantly. Security is the priority. Studded tires will bring your car to a safe stop even in extreme winter conditions. Modern studded tires are designed for ABS brakes and function perfectly even with fewer studs.

We also recommend planning your purchase before the season begins. This way you will have more time to make a decision and to receive your tires on time.

Read more about the advantages of all-season tires in winter.

What should you know when buying studded tires?

Is a studded tire more expensive than an all-season tire?

There is a common perception that a studded tire is more expensive than an all-season tire. Here, it is important to differentiate between Northern and Central European all-season tires. The latter are, indeed, significantly cheaper than studded tires, but they are also designed for the roads of Central Europe. The main reason behind the cheaper price is the fact that the market, where snow and ice is not a factor, are large and the price per tire can therefore be reduced. For our weather conditions a studded tire or a Northern European all-season tire is the perfect choice. Their price difference is almost non-existent.

How many studs should be in a tire in our climate?

As mentioned before, people are often intimidated by the noise coming from studded tires. It’s no wonder, if you have 200 or more studs in a tire. All large tire manufacturers produce such tires, and they are the ones to win the tests. With our weather conditions, a tire can have much less studs. This will guarantee the desired result – less noisy driving experience. Also, a car with fewer studs in tires is more easily handled on dry and wet asphalt. A tire with fewer studs is perfect for our conditions.

How long is the lifespan of a tire?

As a general rule, an all-season tire lasts for at least two, a studded tire for at least three winters. A lot will depend on how often you drive your car and what is your driving style. We had a client who had bought a new powerful car but already needed tire change after only 2,000 kilometres. A driver should also know his/her car and notice the traction getting worse – this is the ideal time to come to Rehvid Pluss for new tires.