Studded Tires

Studded tires – how to choose the right tire for the Estonian winter?

The main advantage of a studded tire shows in the toughest winter conditions – above all on icy roads and packed snow. The studs help create mechanical grip on the surface in situations where the rubber compound and tread pattern alone may not be enough.

That makes a studded tire a good choice for drivers who drive a lot on smaller roads, early in the morning or in areas where roads can stay icy for long periods. It’s also worth considering the advantage of a studded tire if you need to drive regardless of the road and weather conditions at the time.

In the city and on well-maintained main roads, a quality Nordic studless winter tire can be a very good alternative. The choice between studded and studless tires depends mainly on where and in what conditions you drive.

Studded or studless tire?

The greatest strength of a studded tire is grip on ice. The difference is especially noticeable in changeable conditions, where the road surface may have packed snow, ice or slippery stretches.

A Nordic studless tire is quieter and generally offers a more comfortable ride on dry asphalt. A good Nordic studless tire also performs very well on snow and in cold weather, but on bare ice a studded tire has a physical advantage.

If you drive mainly in the city and on maintained main roads, a Nordic studless tire can be a perfectly suitable choice. If you drive a lot on back roads or have to get around in all weathers, a studded tire gives you a bigger grip margin in tougher winter conditions.

Can a cheaper studded tire be good?

Yes, but it’s not worth choosing a studded tire on price alone.

Studded tires differ in rubber compound, tread pattern, the number and placement of studs, stud technology, noise level, handling and wear resistance. As a result, even tires of the same size and at a similar price can behave quite differently in winter conditions.

A premium tire may offer a better balance between grip on ice and snow, handling, noise level and wear resistance, but that doesn’t mean every driver necessarily has to buy the most expensive tire.

Likewise, a lower price doesn’t automatically mean a bad tire. Today there are very good studded tires in the budget and mid-range price classes too. What matters is knowing what you get for your money and in what conditions you’ll be using the tire.

That’s why, for common tire sizes, we also highlight FS Recommends picks in different price classes. We choose them ourselves based on our experience, the tire’s characteristics, price and the offers currently available.

What to look for when choosing a studded tire?

First, choose the right tire size, load index and speed index for your car. With the FS.ee tire search, you can find suitable tires by your car’s registration number or by tire size.

Next, it’s worth comparing specific tire models. With a studded tire, don’t look only at the number of studs – how the tire actually performs depends on how the studs, rubber compound and tread pattern work together.

Also bear in mind that a studded tire is generally noisier on dry asphalt than a studless tire. If most of your winter driving is on cleared city streets and main roads, this can be a strong argument in favour of a studless tire. But if your priority is the best possible grip in icy conditions, a studded tire has a clear advantage.

When can studded tires be used in Estonia?

Studded tires may be used in Estonia during a set period, and in wintry road and weather conditions the permitted period of use may be longer than usual.

As dates and requirements may change, it’s worth checking the current rules in the information published by the Estonian Transport Administration before the season starts.

The obligation to use winter tires and the permitted period for studded tires are not the same thing, so it’s best not to confuse these two requirements.

How to find the right studded tires?

With the FS.ee tire search, you can find studded tires by your car’s registration number or by tire size. You can then compare suitable tires by price, manufacturer and other features.

If your car uses different tire sizes at the front and rear, our tire search finds suitable front and rear tires and helps put together a mixed-size set automatically. You don’t need to search for front and rear axle tires separately.

If you don’t want to choose between dozens of models yourself, take a look at the tires marked FS Recommends. That’s where we highlight our own picks in different price classes.

Ordering and fitting studded tires

You can order studded tires from FS.ee anywhere in Estonia. Have the tires delivered to an address of your choice, or order them with fitting at the FS Teenused workshop in Tallinn or at one of our partner service centres elsewhere in Estonia.

If you want the tires fitted to your car right away, choose suitable studded tires in the online shop and see our tire change price list and book an appointment.