Do-it-yourself tire studding for winter

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

The problem of road safety is most relevant in winter. To solve this problem, special tires with spikes are used, which provide safe and comfortable movement. But sometimes the rubber quickly fails, losing a large number of spikes. In this case, it is best to purchase new tires, but in the absence of such an opportunity, tire studding will help.

Reviews about this method of updating tires are varied. Some drivers consider it a quite convenient and economical solution, others are sure that its use is irrational. This procedure is carried out by any suitable method in several stages.

How studding is done

Studding of tires is possible only under certain conditions, products with holes will be the best option. Usually they are of sufficient size, so that an inexperienced car owner will not have any difficulties when working.

Preparing the air pistol. Henecessary for high-quality, fast and accurate work. It should be noted that the location of the device with a charged separator must be strictly vertical.

The tip of the installed spikes should protrude 1.5 mm above the surface. If necessary, their height can be corrected with a steel sheet and a hammer. This will prevent the stud from falling out and prolong the service life.

Materials are selected depending on what road surface the car will mainly drive on. Single flange products are suitable for a flat road. Double-flange studs provide comfortable driving on hilly and mountainous terrain.

Studding winter tires will be noticeably simplified by using a warm soapy solution. It processes the entire outer part of the tires, so the spikes will be inserted into the holes much faster.

Work order

To work, you will need a corrector or a white wax pencil for marking on dark rubber, an awl, adhesive plaster, sandpaper and a set of spikes of the same size. It is worth noting that the procedure requires care and accuracy.

First you need to mark the wheels. With the help of a corrector, the points where the spikes will stand are marked and cleaned with sandpaper. Rubber is pierced with an awl and wetted with soapy water.

After charging the air gun and installing the self-tapping screw, you can begin to install the spikes. In this case, it is necessary to check the height of the mounted elements.

The resultdepends not only on how the tires are studded, but also on the quality of the tires. Suitable tires must be designed for winter operation. It is also recommended to use rubber with holes, as self-drilling deteriorates the final quality of the work.

Using old tires

Special attention should be paid to tires that have been in use. The holes should not be worn or frayed, this is necessary for tight and reliable fastening of the spikes. The mounting technology requires thorough cleaning of the holes from dust and small debris, and on worn tires, high-quality cleaning is almost impossible. In addition, they must meet the following requirements:

• no damage and tears in the seats;
• no more than 4 years have passed since the date of manufacture of the tire;
• residual tread height is within 7-8mm;
• tires came from the factory already studded.

Features

Do-it-yourself studding of winter tires is also possible on tires that do not have holes. They can be cut with a drill, the revolutions of which are at least 30 thousand. In order for the spikes to be at the same level and not fall through, the holes must have the same width and depth.

The stud pattern is pre-calculated. The best option would be the arrangement in the form of vertical stripes, this will provide high-quality braking and fastspeed set. The head of the spike should be several times smaller than the area of the lamella. There are also other nuances of mounting studs, especially when working with supported wheels. Such tires have a small tread height, which is why shortened products are selected. If you install studs designed for new tires, they will make noise while driving and fall out quickly.

What you need to know

After the do-it-yourself tire studding is carried out, you must wait at least two to three days in order to test them in action. After this time, completely dry wheels can be installed on the machine. In this case, you should be careful and drive for a while at low speed. In the first time after the installation of the spikes, there is a high probability of their falling out. You also need to avoid sharp jerks and turns. It is worth observing the speed limit for the first week after studding, during which time the products will be securely fixed in place.

Tire studding: choice of studs

The best option would be products made of iron-containing alloys, they are not subject to deformation and remain intact even after driving on a dirt road with many potholes and bumps. The shape of the tip can be different, the round version is quite common due to its attractive cost, but it has low efficiency. Residents of the northern regions, which are characterized by a harsh climate, should pay attention to the multifaceted spikes that confidently hold the car even on bare ice.

Also existdiamond spikes, which acquired their name due to the crystalline multifaceted structure. Studded tires with such products provide reliable traction, but they are subject to rapid wear. Tetrahedral, cruciform and triangular elements have similar properties.

According to the number of flanges, the products are divided into two types. Single flanged studs are low cost and have minimal impact on the seat, but they provide poor ride efficiency. Double flange parts are ideal for high speed and maneuverability.

Reviews

Today, many car owners are aware of such an opportunity to upgrade wheels as winter tire studding. The reviews for this procedure are mostly positive, although you can also meet disappointed drivers who are faced with poor-quality installation of spikes. Many note the economic benefits, since studding is cheaper than purchasing new tires, as well as the possibility of independent work without the use of expensive tools. As for do-it-yourself studding, in this case, car owners are satisfied with the result, since there is no doubt about the quality of the work performed.