Retractable Stud Winter Tires on the Way

We’ve heard rumblings about tires with retractable studs for winter driving, but it’s always been in a “one day” context. Now it seems that day is coming. Q Tires, a startup company — based in South Carolina, of all places — is launching the Q Celsius tire, which deploys studs from between the tire treads when the weather calls for it.

Using a wireless signal, a driver can deploy and retract the studs. The tires have two different air chambers, and drivers will have to monitor their pressure more than normal tires, but company officials say the studs can be used 30 times before a noticeable loss of tire pressure will occur.

One problem with launching the tires is that many states have laws against using studded winter tires in non-winter driving. However, the company has already gotten Maine to pass a law allowing technology like this to hit the streets.

Testing hasn’t been completed yet, but the company hopes to have the Q Celsius on the roads in northern states next winter. Projected costs would be about 30% more than normal winter tires.

Company tests new retractable-stud snow tires (Detroit News)

Comments

[George]

An answer to a question no one was asking.

TireRack has done tests, the best winter tires provide better traction on ice than studded winter tires. So lightly studded all-season probably won't even be close.
This sounds like the Twin-Tire from a decade ago.

and if you weren't expecting snow/ice, that is why AutoSock was developed.
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/autosock/autosock.jsp

[Dave T.]

George,
I think the points you make are valid except that you don't have to get out and do anything to these tires like the Auto Sock and you'd have to think Tire Rack has a biased reason to say that snow tires are oh so great since they make their money selling them. I'm not saying they're not right I'm just saying there could be a bias there.

[George]

True. But they do have really good prices (and service)

And TireRack has done their objective testing on that ice hockey rink.
The newest Blizzak (WS-60 or Revo) tires are exceptional on ice. (at least for the first half of the tread depth)
Though the 'sporty' winter tires, are only as good as the best all-seasons on ice.

I'd rather just have the higher traction (in clear/dry conditions) that winter tires provide over all-seasons. (due to cold temperature optimized tread compounds)