...(the Hakk 1's with studs), have, I believe, the highest speed rating of any strictly snow/ice tire. It's a T (118 mph). For sure they are rated higher than the Blizzaks, Arctic Alpins, and Yokohama's.
Clouds of snow-dust in your windshields and grills from my Maxima.
Happy and safe winter motoring

 

Or just move to a warmer climate and loose the snow shoes so you can drive 140!

 

I have a friend who put them on his RSX-S and he drives like crazy on them.... e-brake and everything

 

Give me California or Arizona ANY day..
anyone wannna trade?????
I spent 2 years at USF driving around in a 528e..thoe were the days

 

I had both the 10's and the Hakkapeliitta 1's studded on Volvos at all 4's. The 10's had far bigger studs and being able to get out of a parking space was a joke on ice--no prob. The 1's are more environmentally friendly and have tiny studs, and a less agressive tread than the originals (comfort). When they were both available I believe the 10's cost more (usually the newer costs more but not in this case). They don't last as long but I think were superior in traction. Then again, on a Maxima I wouldn't want studded tires, way too noisy. I'd go for a highly rated studless Artic Alpin which being a Michelin is never cheap. A Japanese snow tire is kinda an oxymoron imho. 118 on a studded tire is gonna build up some heat that I'd rather avoid, and it's dumb to drive in poor conditions at those speeds.

 

question

when there is no actual snow on the road, as the winters are here in NY are.... when you drive on winter tires, will the traction be really crappy and will they be really noisy??? I heard that they are very noisy when there is no snow on the road and you are driving on winter tires.

 

Mfgs try to satisfy 80% of the people all of the time. Hence, all-season tire!! Some of them are not cheap either.

Die-hards insist a "one size fits all solution" simply cannot exist. Voila, the snow tire! When you have an import, tire dealers are so snotty as to refuse to sell you only 2--you must buy 4. Pull in with a Crown Victoria and you can probably buy 1 if you want--you choose left or right-rear.

4 snows is a fashion statement 80% of the time. AWD with all-season beats FWD with studded snows on all 4 imho. But if you're from the Volvo or Saab camp, you'd never get caught without your Masters Degree or fakey Thule or Yakima, and 4 sticky Nokias or Gislaveds.

If you do get snow (not NYC, not anywhere there isn't a great lake effect or mountainous terrain) then yes, snow is no joke. Even 1984 Hyundais will usually be mounted with 4 snows in Montreal. The alternative is to ride STCUM (public transp).

The rubber is very soft on snows and wears very quickly. Studs are extremely noisy and do much damage to public roads.

 

It's actually not a snob-thing at all. If you have to go with snow's, it's quite dangerous to put one pair of tires on the front of your car which are totally different in design and handling characteristics than the rear tires. If you were buying say summer tires, would you buy an unmatched set of 4???? People trying to get away on the cheap by putting only two snow tires on their cars, are deluding themselves into thinking they are driving around with a safer vehicle. That sort of set up actually has the potential to become quite dangerous in emergency handling situations, cornering and braking.
As far as AWD goes, My former Outback with all seasons, did not perform as well in the winter as my Maxima now does with the Nokians.. Better acceleration, better cornering, and way better braking, and of course the braking, is the variable you want the most capabilites out of a tire for.
The snows are slighlty louder, so I just turn up the tunes a little louder.