Installing Snow Tire Studs

Tire studs can increase traction on slippery, icy roads.

Tire Stud

Tire studs are small metal studs with carbide tips. Before inserted into a snow tire, they resemble a small, thick nail. The head of the nail or stud is pushed into a predrilled hole into the tread of the tire. The carbide tip of the stud protrudes above the tire tread and gives the snow tire added traction on slippery, icy roads.

Snow Tire

Some snow tires are designed with predrilled stud holes. These snow tires can be used with or without studs as a radial-ply snow tire. Studding the snow tire gives the aggressive tread pattern more traction. Some states limit the use of or prohibit the use of tire studs because of the potential for damage on the roadways.

Installation

Certain equipment is necessary to insert tire studs correctly. In addition to a snow tire with pre-drilled holes for studs, you also need the correct size stud. The tire stud number size is located on the sidewall or on the tire label of the snow tire. Using a smaller stud than stated can result in an ineffective stud, and one that's too long can cause the stud to dislodge from the tire. A stud gun, a pneumatic device that resembles a hand gun, is used to insert the stud into the hole in the tread of the snow tire.

You load the studs into a detachable basket (unless you have an automatic stud feeder) and load the studs into the chamber of the gun by rotating the basket by hand. You'll have to reload every so often because the chamber holds only so many studs at one time. Supplying air to the pneumatic gun applies the pressure to the chamber. Insert the three adjoining prongs at the tip of the gun into the stud hole of the tire and squeeze the trigger. The three prongs spread the hole slightly and rapidly as the stud is shot out of the barrel and inserted into the tire.

Having the tire on a tire stand with a base beneath the inside of the tire bladder will help when trying to stud an unmounted tire. Otherwise, it may be just as easy to mount a tire and inflate it and stud it after that. You'll need resisting pressure from the tire to set the stud into the hole effectively. Any stud shot into the hole too deep, not deep enough or angled improperly should be dug out of the hole and studded properly.