I’ve driven up to 8” unplowed in both my B5.5 and both my ALH’s. 35 miles plus Telluride to Ridgway. I’ve passed 19 cars and 2 semis on 2-lane hwy black ice. I’ve been passed by a Subaru drifting the snow corners.
I drove the pass through Heber UT on my way to park city during a massive storm. I drove the unplowed passing lane, must have gone around 100 cars. A Ford tremor F-250 CC SB cut me off, so I went around him on the right. He could not keep up.
I regularly pass snowplows (I guess that’s illegal in some states, it was common in SD and rural CO) and I’ve gone around highway patrol. I’ve watched and counted 20+ cars go off the road on I-76 in eastern CO.
On snoqualmie pass I’ve been stopped by WHP next to a person who put chains on the turn tires of a 2wd budget rental truck instead of the drive tires.
I somehow made it up a hill in 14”+ at 10k’ of elevation where a new diesel crew cab with factory tires could not. He was pissed, I helped him and we made it up in 4-low. I would not let my wife and kids ride with me on that hill. I had to South Dakota that one.
Ive been in the ditch a few times over the years, but never with studs. I was stuck one time and started digging, my shovel hit the top of a steel fence post
. Long day.
They literally make white knuckle situations comfortable. And many here have more experience than me. I’ve driven winters every year for over 30 years.
YouTube had interviews with Nokian engineers. His response, if your state or country allow studs, you should absolutely use them. To save money, I run 1 year behind on their technology. They are on Hakka-10’s. I run the 9’s.
They do not work in deep slush!!
