What is driving an A on snow/ice like? Can you add studs to A tyres?

[M2M]

[Brian SATX]

I drove mine in high school in snow and ice in Oregon. About like any other car, think ahead.

[McMimmcs]

A little treacherous To say the least especially stopping and you can’t add studs.!

[Aok]

It's harder to stop and you have to worry about someone sliding into you ,that's why I moved to Texas.

[Oldbluoval]

They go well in snow due to gearing
Little does well in ice

[David R.]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Tire chains. Period correct also.

[David R.]

I haven’t driven one yet on snow and ice but imagine they would do well. Low power vehicles typically are more sure footed in those conditions because they don’t tend to break traction as easily as high power vehicles. The old 4 cylinder IHC Scout would outperform the Chevy V8 Blazer of the day in deep snow hands down. Dad had a 4 cylinder Ranger 2wd pickup that the tractor trailers would pass on hills but you couldn’t stop it in snow.

[WHN]

1963 winter in Connecticut was the last time I drove a Model A in the snow.

I don’t remember ever having a problem getting around. Things were a lot different back than. Sand on roads not salt, less traffic, no awd’s or fwd’s, 4wd’s we’re all jeeps from WWII. Cars had chains and almost everyone used snow tires. Remember re-caps?

Life was slower.

Enjoy.

[Big hammer]

My daily driver 50 years ago, the reason I went through the steering box. Leaving school on ice turned a corner and I couldn't turn the wheel back fast enough, I ended up stuck against a curb. Well now many cars wondering when they could get around me, I put it reverse and then got out and pushed it away from the curb, jump back in and went home. In snow it was fun to be a trail blazer, when moderns would get out in deep snow !

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Most likely people in the U.S can not answer this. I'm 66 and barely remember studded tires as a kid. Here in the U.S I believe studs were outlawed in the 1960s due to their damaging roads.

Front wheel drive gives enough improvement when compared to rear wheel drive and most can suffer through the Winter OK. Some pay the extra for AWD or 4WD.

For really bad conditions trucks chain up, but as you probably know that is a pain since running at higher speeds with chains is a problem. I do not know if running chains when not necessary is legal here in the U.S.

[Curtis in MA]

A lady here still uses studs on her car.
We used them into the 70's, just had to have them off by spring inspection.

[Kurt in NJ]

With bald tires not very good, with chains go most anywhere

[Jeff/Illinois]

The last time I drove in the snow was in April, 1972, with the Tudor.We had a big late spring snowstorm. around 12 inches. I took it out before they salted the roads, and got along OK in the snow, until I stopped at a stop sign that was at a slight increase. Then I was stuck. If I hadn't stopped would have been fine.

The guy with me had to get out and push to get us going again

[Brad in Germany]

The 1929 Roadster, to the left in this photo in Sweden, looks like it is ready for the drive in the snow, with chains on both the front and back wheels. Looks like the Volvo on the right is equally equipped:



....and to see how these cars perform on snow, one of the best examples to study is the 1933 Swedish Grand Prix RÄMENLOPPET where several of the cars are Model A's or V8's. Here's the link to a YouTube video of that race to see for yourselves: https://youtu.be/DrGZge_5MkE

Brad in Maryland

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Thanks for posting.

[77Birdman]

Originally Posted by David R.

I haven’t driven one yet on snow and ice but imagine they would do well. Low power vehicles typically are more sure footed in those conditions because they don’t tend to break traction as easily as high power vehicles. The old 4 cylinder IHC Scout would outperform the Chevy V8 Blazer of the day in deep snow hands down. Dad had a 4 cylinder Ranger 2wd pickup that the tractor trailers would pass on hills but you couldn’t stop it in snow.

I read an account of someone with an early car that said it actually handled very well in the snow due to the narrow tires. I would imagine the lack of HP would help a bit as well.

[77Birdman]

Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU

Most likely people in the U.S can not answer this. I'm 66 and barely remember studded tires as a kid. Here in the U.S I believe studs were outlawed in the 1960s due to their damaging roads.

Front wheel drive gives enough improvement when compared to rear wheel drive and most can suffer through the Winter OK. Some pay the extra for AWD or 4WD.

For really bad conditions trucks chain up, but as you probably know that is a pain since running at higher speeds with chains is a problem. I do not know if running chains when not necessary is legal here in the U.S.

Im 56 and remember pop putting them on the cars in the winter. I believe they were ok in the winter but maybe outlawed after a certain date? Had to be taken off by April maybe? In 1980 I would put them on my pickup for the winter taking my 'fat' street tires off.

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Originally Posted by 77Birdman

Im 56 and remember pop putting them on the cars in the winter. I believe they were ok in the winter but maybe outlawed after a certain date? Had to be taken off by April maybe? In 1980 I would put them on my pickup for the winter taking my 'fat' street tires off.

We are both correct, depends on which state you live in. Here in Illinois/WI they are banned. In MD they are legal with restrictions.


https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/...d-winter-tires
Scroll down and there is a map.



Maybe a couple of reasons in legal states is the expense of 2 sets of tires, and the bother of changing tires out 2 times a year.

[77Birdman]

30ccpu, Sorry if I came off as confrontational, just an observation that a younger guy (56,lol) does know what they are. Having said all of that, it has been at least 30 years since I have seen them, In fact I dont think I have even seen a 'snow' tire in the last 30years. All season tires are the norm around here. Of course we dont get the snow that you do either.

[ursus]

Does anybody remember walnut shell snow tires? Ground up walnut shells were mixed in with the rubber on the tread when the tires manufactured. We found some when cleaning out the garage back in the 1960's and my dad claimed they worked OK but wore out quickly on dry pavement.

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Originally Posted by 77Birdman

30ccpu, Sorry if I came off as confrontational, just an observation that a younger guy (56,lol) does know what they are. Having said all of that, it has been at least 30 years since I have seen them, In fact I dont think I have even seen a 'snow' tire in the last 30years. All season tires are the norm around here. Of course we dont get the snow that you do either.

I did not take it as confrontational, just part of the conversation. Your post did prompt me to investigate further. Which was great, learned that most states still allow studded tires, which really surprised me. Learned that my original post was narrow and confined to IL and WI.



I tired a few quick searches and got nowhere as to when IL and WI banned them, but could not find that info.

[oldforder]

I, being 77 years old, remember studded tires very well. I had them on my work car, and in my garage, I even had a studding gun, and studded other peoples tires. At one time I even had all 4 tires on my old work 63 chevy car studded. Handled great on slick roads.

[30 Closed Cab PU]

So did we answer the Posters original question? Can they be added to the Model A tire without causing problems?


I think we went off topic some, but still a lot of good/interesting info.

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by David R.

I haven’t driven one yet on snow and ice but imagine they would do well. Low power vehicles typically are more sure footed in those conditions because they don’t tend to break traction as easily as high power vehicles. The old 4 cylinder IHC Scout would outperform the Chevy V8 Blazer of the day in deep snow hands down. Dad had a 4 cylinder Ranger 2wd pickup that the tractor trailers would pass on hills but you couldn’t stop it in snow.

^This^

Had a Cutlass with 350/4-barrel - too much power, front heavy, rear light and having posi-traction didn't help. It would slide if someone spit on the street. Also had a 4-cylinder Fiero - enough but not too much power, light, and better weight distribution biased to drive wheels. Best car I ever drove on snow/ice.

I've driven Model A in winter on dry road but don't recall driving on snow/ice. I do rememer one time I was home from college and it got below zero. Neither of my parents' modern cars would turn over enough to start. Neither would my A but I got it going by cranking it - used it to jump Dad's. Probably put a strain on the 6V system but didn't seem to do any damage and was just enough extra juice to get him going.

[ryanheacox]

Studs I'm not sure about but I'm pretty sure Johnathan Klinger, www.365daysofa.com, had his tires siped for winter driving. On snow, siping would be more useful anyway.


I drove mine around the driveway and up and down our snow covered dirt road over the winter just to see how it would do. It was good, probably the best RWD vehicle I've driven in the snow.

[Big hammer]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU

So did we answer the Posters original question? Can they be added to the Model A tire without causing problems?


I think we went off topic some, but still a lot of good/interesting info.

Back to the op's ? Thinking back some tires where stud able, they had holes in the tread for studs. I've seen pictures of people drilling holes in tires and installing bolts sharpened to a point for racing on ice!

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Originally Posted by Big hammer

Back to the op's ? Thinking back some tires where stud able, they had holes in the tread for studs. I've seen pictures of people drilling holes in tires and installing bolts sharpened to a point for racing on ice!

I was wondering if the studs went all the way through. and if inner tubes would they cause issues with the inner tubes. And are the Model A tires constructed well enough that they could be run with a bunch of holes drilled in them?

[Big hammer]

As I remember the studs didn't go though the tires only into a cavity, they would come out of the tire with a bang. Maybe counter sunk screws with the head inside the tire would work and a nut outside? I know if it's that bad, now I'am staying home lol

[M2M]

https://brunowessel.com/resources/how-to-stud-a-tire/
How to Stud a Tire

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Thanks, looks like they only go into the tread, not through the tire.

[M2M]

I sure do like the idea of overtaking modern cars on icy Interstates with these studs !

[McMimmcs]

No the original tires are not fit for studs no matter what anyone says.

[KGBnut]

I think you would have a hard time finding a shop that would still install studs. You can only safely (and legally) stud a brand new tire. You never stud a tire that has wear. Around here, in southern Connecticut, they pretreat the roads and plow really quick. It is hard to get to the snow before the road is clear. I drive my Model A year round, and she is fine in the snow. I do have chains for it but have only mounted them once or twice.

Ken

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Originally Posted by McMimmcs

No the original tires are not fit for studs no matter what anyone says.

Care to explain why?

[McMimmcs]

Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU

Care to explain why?

Because the tires are not manufactured to accept the stud.

[30 Closed Cab PU]

A point i must have missed. Did not know you could not stud a standard tire. - Thanks

[M2M]

Originally Posted by McMimmcs

Because the tires are not manufactured to accept the stud.

That may or may not be true but it doesn't necessary mean adding studs to say a 19" Firestone will not work or be unsafe. You shouldn't drive at 61mph in a 60 zone but people do and police don't normally book them nor do they normally get killed because of speeding by 1 mph.

[McMimmcs]

Originally Posted by M2M

That may or may not be true but it doesn't necessary mean adding studs to say a 19" Firestone will not work or be unsafe. You shouldn't drive at 61mph in a 60 zone but people do and police don't normally book them nor do they normally get killed because of speeding by 1 mph.

And just how would you propose to add the stud?

[shew01]

Here is an interesting article about studs, but it doesn’t mention Model As. I was surprised to see the technology is still evolving. I haven’t seen a studded tire in years and (incorrectly) assumed they were no longer available.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.whe...ded-tires/amp/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M2M]

Originally Posted by McMimmcs

And just how would you propose to add the stud?

Firstly, you DO NOT have to buy a $400 stud gun like this loser did in the video below (I'd like to punch this guy in the face and smash his glasses):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNyxIiRclNU

This way is for real Model A and T guys like us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4-Y8Qr77ZA
Buy from Italy:
https://www.best-grip.com/en/
Or buy from USA store:
https://www.gripstuds.com/customercornercars.php

I tried the 1500s in my Hummer this last time, and they worked very well. I drove up a steep, icy hill last winter, and was able to come to a full stop without sliding, even though several cars including a police car, had slid off into a ditch. Then I was able to accelerate right up the hill!
Steve V. - Kelowna, BC Canada - October, 2015

These were used in the Fast & Furious movie.

[M2M]

So your winter drive to Alaska is possible! I suggest Nokia 5.50x19 bias ply tyres for the studs.

https://www.lucasclassictires.com/55...kwall-299p.htm

[M2M]

[shew01]

Originally Posted by M2M

Firstly, you DO NOT have to buy a $400 stud gun like this loser did in the video below (I'd like to punch this guy in the face and smash his glasses):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNyxIiRclNU

This way is for real Model A and T guys like us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4-Y8Qr77ZA
Buy from Italy:
https://www.best-grip.com/en/
Or buy from USA store:
https://www.gripstuds.com/customercornercars.php

I tried the 1500s in my Hummer this last time, and they worked very well. I drove up a steep, icy hill last winter, and was able to come to a full stop without sliding, even though several cars including a police car, had slid off into a ditch. Then I was able to accelerate right up the hill!
Steve V. - Kelowna, BC Canada - October, 2015

These were used in the Fast & Furious movie.

Wow. That’s a cool way to stud “non-studdable” tires! I’ve never seen anything like that. Thanks for sharing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Brad in Germany]

If you are worried about traction on the snow and ice, the best bet is to get one of these:



Brad in Maryland

[old31]

When I was younger many years ago we use to stud our dirt bikes with hex headed screws. It was amazing how they bit into the ice.

The thought of racing a dirt bike on ice now sounds painful.