How to Put Studs in Cooper Tires

Putting winter studs in Cooper tires is not a difficult task with the proper equipment, but it is quite tedious. The benefit of studded snow tires far outweighs the task itself. The most important thing to obtain first is the proper-sized stud to fit in the tire. Most new Cooper tires that have stud holes in them, will promote the stud size on the tire label they place on the tread. Another place to look would be the stamped writing on the sidewall if the label is no longer on the tire. Studding used tires is never recommended.

Things You'll Need

• Tire stand Stud gun (pneumatic) Air compressor with air hose WD-40 Tire studs of proper size Long handled dikes

Instructions

How to Put Studs in Cooper Tires

1. Turn on the air compressor so it will build up air pressure.

2. Place the tire on a tire stand. You can bypass a tire stand if you do not have one, but it would be easier to stud the Cooper tire if it were mounted and inflated. The tire stand offers a backing behind the tread wall for the stud gun to brace against.

3. Spray the predrilled holes in the Cooper tire with a small amount of WD-40. This will lubricate the holes and make it easier for the stud to penetrate into the tire's rubber.

4. Remove the basket top of the stud gun by bending the lock wire slightly and resting it on the release catch and lifting it off. Cover the arbor hole of the basket and fill it full of the correct-sized studs for your Cooper tires. Bring the gun to the basket so you do not spill the studs. Release the lock wire on the basket to hold it in place.

5. Attach the air hose to the stud gun. Turn the basket (either way) to load the studs into the chamber of the stud gun.

6. Insert the tip of the stud gun into the predrilled hole of the Cooper tire. Press the trigger. Getting a feel for how to stud the tires may take a little bit of practice. You want the carbide tip of the stud just over the tread of the tire. You do not want it angled, and you do not want it only partly into the predrilled hole. You do not want it sunk into the predrilled hole. Any misses should be rectified immediately. Pull out the stud with a pair of dikes and retry.

7. Work your way on one side of the tire at a time to prevent missing stud holes. Flip the tire over on the tire stand if it makes it easier for you when you've completed one side. Empty the stud gun when you're finished, including the chamber. You never know who is going to use the gun after you and different sized studs go into different sized tires.

Tips & Warnings

• Once a stud has been inserted into a predrilled hole, it will stretch the hole out slightly. If you missed your angle or depth with the stud and had to remove it with the dikes, be careful how deep you set the gun when you insert the next stud into the same hole. It's easier to sink those studs too low because the tire's hole has been compromised. Stud guns are wonderful tools, but you'll have to keep turning the basket and reloading the studs into the chamber (unless you have an automatic stud loader). Take time for certain scenarios when the studs accidentally go into the chamber backwards and you'll have to unload it to correct it. There are also rebuild kits for stud guns and keeping them maintained properly will help keep them operating well.