from my experience walnut reinforced tires are only good for gaining extra traction in a freezer applications where the floors are unusually wet and slick. Those tires are extremely expensive and are a softer compound than normal tires. The walnut shells impregnated inside the tire are made to come out of the tire and create a hole for a suction-like effect, therefore creating extra traction. Since he is having a wear issue i doubt this tire was even considered in the process of choosing a good tire for wear. If the ice is tearing up normal tires what do you think the ice will do to this softer compound tire?