Thought the guys in my riding group were crazy about track studs until I hit glare ice on my 2018 Renegade near Lake Placid last weekend

I always ran stock tracks, figured it was fine. Last Saturday I came around a corner on a frozen-over stretch and went sliding sideways toward a snowbank. Barely missed it. Stopped at the gas station after and two of the guys had their stud kits with them. Talked me into putting a set on right there in the parking lot. Night and day difference on the way back. Has anyone else had a close call that made you change your setup? What stud pattern do you run for mixed trail conditions?

2 comments

2 Comments

benlewis4h ago

Kinda feel like some guys overreact about this. I've run stock tracks on my sled for years through all kinds of nasty stuff up north and never had a problem, just take it slower on the corners. That said, if you're hitting real glare ice and not just packed snow, maybe studs help but it's not like your sled becomes invincible.

keithbennett19h ago

Dude, that "glare ice" comment hits SO close to home. I had basically the same thing happen up near Old Forge a few years back on my 2016 Renegade. Came over a rise and the trail was just a sheet. I ended up in a ditch. After that, I swapped to a 1x3 pattern with the woodys gold studs. It's simple but it works great for the mixed stuff we get around here. One tip: don't go too aggressive on the center studs if you ride a lot of hardpack, it gets chattery. Just the outside lugs and a few in the middle is all you need.