How to Add Studs to Winter Tires

Studded tires make driving on winter roads safer.

Winter driving in cold climates can be daunting. Snow and ice-covered roads offer far less traction than bare pavement; this lengthens stopping times and makes turns risky. Many drivers equip their vehicles with special winter tires that have treads designed for the snow; some versions of these tires have pre-drilled holes in their treads to allow the installation of metal jackets holding carbide pins. These are called "studs," and are not legal in all jurisdictions. If you will be driving in an area where studded tires are legal, they can be installed into specially designed tires with the right equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Stud-ready winter tires
• Stud gun
• Studs
• Pins
• Depth gauge
• Water
• Tire wrench
• Jack
• Tire stand

Instructions

1. Check to see if your winter tires have premade stud holes. If they do not, you will need to buy new winter tires that do; studs cannot be inserted into regular tires.

2. Jack up the car by placing a jack underneath the chassis next to the wheel and cranking it until the wheel is off the ground.

3. Remove the tire and hub by loosening and removing the lug nuts holding it with a tire wrench

4. Sit the tire on a tire stand, resting it over the stand's mandrel, which is a type of aluminum shoe.

5. Size the tire studs by measuring the depth of the stud holes with a tire depth gauge marked at 1/32-inch intervals. The number of 1/32-inch intervals in the hole is the stud size. For example, If the hole is 12/32 of an inch deep the studs need to be size 12. If the hole is 13/32 of an inch deep, the stud is size 13.

6. Add some water to the stud holes to provide lubrication.

7. Inspect the stud gun to check for blockages in the mechanism. Do so carefully, as it is spring-loaded.

8. Load studs into the stud gun and connect the gun to an air line from an air compressor pressured to whatever pressure your stud gun's manual indicates is optimal.

9. Press the tip of the stud gun firmly into a stud hole then squeeze the trigger of the gun while continuing to press the gun down. Release the trigger and pull the gun away.

10. Check the stud to ensure it is placed properly; only the carbide tip and a small 1/32-inch section of the metal stud body should be visible above the rubber of the tire. It should also be sitting straight up. If the stud is not situated this way, it will need to be pried out with a small screwdriver and a new stud inserted.

11. Repeat the procedure for each stud hole until all are filled with studs, then shut off the air line from the compressor and put away the stud gun.

Tips & Warnings

• Be very careful working with pneumatic equipment like stud guns. A misfired stud could be embedded in your body. Always wear safety gloves and goggles, and never overpressure the air line.

References

• Bruno Wessel Incorporated: Instructions for Studding a Tire