General consensus for the really really fast 4wd cars is 145 or 165. Given that the maximum stud count is 130 per tire to meet DOT regulations the narrower the better for cutting through the fresh snow. The narrower the studded tire the better the grip in icy corners, stops too much slide ways action.
The studs should meet DOT specs so what ever you can get at a tire store for road vehicles?
In any case CARS issued Bulletin-2016-01 on the 12th January 2016 stating that studs can protrude no more than 3.5mm from the tire face and no more than 2.5mm in diameter, therefore only TMI 12-13-15-16 studs are allowed.
Yes, it's a Ranger.
Xr4Ti, it is rwd and was made in Germany.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2016 10:01AM by MattP.