DIY rubber spikes: description, features and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Winter has always been a difficult period for motorists. Car owners begin to prepare for frost and ice already in the fall in order to meet the cold fully armed. And the main concern is, of course, the replacement of summer tires with special winter tires.

Velcro rubber

When it's time to change tires, the car owner faces a difficult question: what type of winter tires to choose so that the car is as stable as possible on ice. And the choice of many falls on the so-called Velcro.

"Velcro" is the household name for tires that, thanks to their special composition, interact perfectly with complex substances such as snow and ice. To the ignorant, it may seem that the "Velcro" only sticks to the snow. But it's not. The correct name for such products is winter friction tires.

The principle of their work is based on friction. The special pattern on the surface of the tires effectively removes a small water film on the road, thereby improving the grip of the wheels on the road. These tires have several significant drawbacks. First, poor grip on icy roads. Secondly,increased braking distance, especially during periods of thaw, as only the top layer of snow melts. This deprives the car of maneuverability.

Studded tires

Studded tires have been and remain the most popular choice. Such tires are perfect for residents of snowy regions, when increased cross-country ability is required from a car. The essence of studded tires is that, thanks to special metal alloy elements built into the tread, the wheels have a much stronger grip on a snowy road. Pros:

• quick speed up, even in adverse weather conditions;
• quick braking;
• good rut grip;
• sustainability;
• reducing the risk of skidding.

With all the advantages of studded tires, there are also disadvantages. The car owner will have to face such inconveniences as increased noise, increased fuel consumption, as well as unpleasant dropping of spikes during long-term use.

The price of rubber studs in different regions of our country ranges from 15 to 25 rubles for inserting one stud. In Moscow, the price is kept within 20 rubles.

Velcro or spikes?

There is no single answer to the question of which rubber is better - Velcro or spikes. Both those and others have a certain set of qualities that allows you to safely drive a car in difficult winter conditions.

When buying winter tires, you should mainly start from weatherconditions of the region in which the vehicle is operated. Residents of small towns and villages, where not only roads, but also yards can be swept up in snow, should opt for studded tires. This will allow you to go to the rolled track without much effort. The decisive benefit for many car owners is, of course, improved safety performance.

If you live in a metropolis, then you should think about buying Velcro. Almost every day, roads in large cities are treated with special reagents that prevent the formation of ice. Under these conditions, Velcro will show their qualities to the maximum and last for a long time.

How to choose the right tires

It's no secret that rubber studding is made exclusively on winter class models. Rubber on such wheels is denser than on summer ones, and holds foreign materials like metal spikes well. When buying, it is best to pay attention to tires with ready-made holes for mounting spikes, since the manufacturer initially distributes the sockets in the correct sequence. It is worth remembering that the studding of winter tires should be made exclusively on new specimens. This eliminates the possibility of hitting a thin, worn part of the tire where the studs will not hold.

It is possible to make studs on ordinary rubber, but only under the personal responsibility of the car owner, since by introducing studs into a product not intended for this, you can damage the wheel up to its complete unsuitability.

Self Studding

Many drivers prefer to stud their tires with their own hands, considering this option less expensive. However, there are several ways to install spikes, and not all of them are budget.

The first option is to install the spikes manually. This will require a hammer, screwdriver and a special key. You will save money, but spend a lot of time on studding. This is the only downside to manual installation.

Semi-automatic rubber studding is faster. But here you should pay great attention to the position of each individual metal element.

Fully automatic rubber studding has a number of advantages: high speed, excellent fixation of elements and strength of the overall structure. The elements are driven into the rubber under high pressure. The only negative is the availability of special equipment, the cost of which is ten times higher than the price of winter tires.

How to prepare the wheel

First you need to clean the wheel of debris and dirt that could get into the openings of the rubber. To do this, use a soap solution and a regular sponge for washing dishes. If you have a pneumatic sprayer on hand, it is better to use it, as it allows the soap solution to evenly penetrate into all openings.

Then the studded rubber wheel must be installed and secured. Poor fixation of the tire can lead to uneven entry of metal elements. If you accidentally break the nest, then insert the spikeit is no longer needed. After a few kilometers, it will still be lost due to incorrect installation.

Installation features

Do-it-yourself rubber spikes require certain knowledge. Since studs are not included with winter tires, choosing the right studs for your needs is of paramount importance.

The region where the car is used plays a special role. For low-quality roads, spikes should be selected, in the alloy of which there is iron. Avoid aluminum parts, as this metal is soft and can be deformed on the first bump or pit. It is undesirable to install such spikes on a car operated in rural areas.

When installing items, remember that in some countries this method is prohibited. Metal parts in rubber cause damage to the road surface and have an increased noise level, which in an urban environment can bring discomfort not only to pedestrians, but also to the driver and his passengers. In addition, frequent driving on asph alt can increase tire wear.

Not all car owners prefer self-studded tires. Reviews about this are very different. For example, some car owners are not happy with the fact that the additional pressure that the treads experience negatively affects the sides. Tires crack and wear out quickly.

DIY stud repair

After you have studded the rubber, you should run it in to checkthe quality of the work done. To do this, it is necessary to drive the tires for about 50 kilometers, avoiding sudden maneuvers and quick starts. Observe the speed limit. After running in, check all metal elements. If a few pieces are lost during operation - it does not matter. This is a normal percentage of error and will not cause serious damage to security.

All skewed inserts should be removed with pliers. The protruding tips must be driven into the rubber. To do this, special metal plates are used that evenly distribute the impact force and allow the spikes to strengthen at the right angle.

Judging by the reviews of car owners, the price of rubber studding in this way is low. However, it requires a lot of time and sometimes outside help, since not every person can independently cope with fixing the wheel. At service stations, a special "paw" is used for this.

When repairing, you should be aware of the negative reviews of rubber studs. Car owners who are faced with repeated studding are not advised to do this, because after the factory elements, installed independently, fall out, they will not last long and cause damage not only to winter tires, but also to the car owner’s wallet.