View Single Post
      11-03-2011, 09:44 AM   #44
ScotchAndCigar
Banned
ScotchAndCigar's Avatar
United_States
19
Rep
817
Posts

Drives: 2011 128i space gray vert
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: New England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by KingOfJericho View Post
Experience tells me otherwise and I believe those tiny cuts are to "grab" the snow. There is nothing that can grab ice without stabbing into it like a stud would, otherwise what's the point of studs over snows?
Studs are clearly the best on ice, just as AWD is the best drive configuration, but that doesn't mean that tire design doesn't make a big difference, or that stability control isn't amazingly effective.

The tiny cuts are for ice, where (believe it or not) the coefficient of friction is not zero in most cases. The main tread pattern is for snow.

While only studs will work on glass-smooth wet ice, an icy surface is usually rough and bumpy on a small scale. Snow tires allow me to go right up to the limit on icy back roads, where the stability control keeps the car in check.
Appreciate 0