Have any of you used tyre studs before?

"4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30" (4muddyfeet) 11/26/2014 at 18:12 • Filed to: slipnslide

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Considering using Tunsten Carbide studs for my tyres this winter, but have zero experience with them. UPDATE: SORTED, SNOW CHAINS IT IS !

I can get 400 for £200 and my tyres are ready for them. Any pros and cons I should be aware of, apart from the obvious installation time? Would they be absolutely ruined if I went from icy roads to clear roads? Bare in mind this is specifically for icy roads rather than snow, would winter tyres be a better option? My tyres are super shitty on slick surfaces.

dogisbadob > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:15

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Only use studs on brand new tires designed to accommodate them in the first place. Studs are noisy and cause rapid wear on the roads when used on non-icy surface. They my be restricted or illegal. They do have non-studded winter tires.

BlurpleToyotaDishwasher > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:19

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it doesn't sound like your current tyres are designed for studs.

Tohru > dogisbadob 11/26/2014 at 18:20

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OP's in the UK (buying things with pounds and spelling tires with a Y), so they're legal there as far as I know.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > dogisbadob 11/26/2014 at 18:21

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Do winter tyres actually perform well on ice? I'm not expecting miracles, just something more confidence inspiring. For reference my tyres have 500 miles on them and have the holes ready for studs, still a no go?

BlurpleToyotaDishwasher > Tohru 11/26/2014 at 18:22

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Studded tyres are legal in the UK for as long as you drive over ice or snow. The moment they touch the road surface, then you can get a ticket. So basically, for everything except 3 days in the winter they're illegal.

Tohru > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:23

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I don't have experience with studded tires (illegal for road use in Wisconsin), but I do have experience with studded snowmobile tracks. The studs will get blunt if driven for extended time on dry pavement, and they'll lose their effectiveness. The studs get blunt because they're chewing up the road - the studs are harder than the road surface.

Tire chains might be an option to consider, but you have to keep taking them on and off.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > BlurpleToyotaDishwasher 11/26/2014 at 18:24

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They've got the holes ready for studs around the outer diameter on both sides of the treads

BlurpleToyotaDishwasher > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:24

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What are your current tyres then? I've never heard of a non-winter tyre being able to have studs fitted.

BlurpleToyotaDishwasher > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:26

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oh, are they some sort of mud tyre then?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > BlurpleToyotaDishwasher 11/26/2014 at 18:27

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Nexen Roadian M/T's, semi off-road tyres

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Tohru 11/26/2014 at 18:28

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Taking chains on and off is something I could deal with. Certainly less time than than removing all of the studs again! Thanks, I hadn't thought of chains, are they good on ice?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > BlurpleToyotaDishwasher 11/26/2014 at 18:30

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Well that pretty much seals the deal then. There's no way I'm not going to find a section of non-iced road on a journey. They're not exactly quick to remove either :/

davedave1111 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:32

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If you're buying in £s, are you in the UK? As far as I know studded tyres are nigh-on illegal on public roads here. Anything which causes damage to the roadway is an illegal tyre, so any time you don't have really thick ice protecting the road from your studs, they'd be likely to get you pulled-over and fined. Certainly, driving on clear roads with them is a recipe for being pulled-over and having your car towed away.

Similar rules apply to using snow-chains on non-snowy/icy roads, hence why snow socks are becoming quite popular.

If you haven't yet put winter tyres on, you'll be amazed at the difference it makes.

dogisbadob > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:36

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Yes, the 500 miles is a no go. Studs can only be installed on brand new tires. As soon as they're driven, dirt and shit gets in the holes making it difficult to install the studs so that they fit properly. Studs installed on brand new tires are designed to wear at the same rate as the tires themselves.

Tohru > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:36

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I haven't personally tried tire chains or tire cables (again, illegal for road use in Wisconsin [except for city, county, and state vehicles; i.e. snow plows and cop cars]), but I've heard they're fairly effective.

The cables are quieter and a bit easier to deal with. The chains give better traction at the expense of noise and affecting the ride quality.

dogisbadob > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:36

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Easy solution. Use chains :)

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > davedave1111 11/26/2014 at 18:38

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That pretty much answers my question then! Will have a look at snow socks, but chains would be fine too. I don't mind pulling over for 5 minutes to remove them once I'm past the worst of the ice. According to reviews my tyres are rock solid in the snow, so no worries there.

George McNally > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:39

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I used studded snow tires in the late 70's and 80's on several rear wheel drive cars. Studded tires are awesome on ice and snow and pretty shitty on everything else. I used to work at my dad's tire shop when I was in high school and have studded a couple hundred tires. Properly installed studs *barely* protrude from the surface of the tire.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > dogisbadob 11/26/2014 at 18:39

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Yup, chains it is! Thanks for the input.

davedave1111 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:41

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I've never used snow socks, but by reputation they're not as good as chains, but have the advantage that you don't need to stop and take them off when the road is patchy with snow - you can't legally use chains unless the surface is thickly covered.

Not sure 'rock solid' is the best choice of words. That's the problem with summer tyres in winter: they go hard as rock, hence the lack of grip.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Tohru 11/26/2014 at 18:41

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It's for a LandRover Defender so I'm not sure the ride can get much worse. Chains it is :)

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > George McNally 11/26/2014 at 18:43

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Yeh so I've seen from some pictures. I think I'm set on chains now as I'll get an insta-ticket for using studs on clear road rather than ice. Can't exactly take them all out in a hurry as soon as I hit the asphalt!

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > davedave1111 11/26/2014 at 18:46

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They perform well, rather :) I think I'm set on some chains. Just need to find some the right size

Arben72 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:53

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Chains are amazing on ice. I've used them in Eastern European roads and mountains, never had an issue on my Honda pilot (4wd locking dif)

Tohru > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 18:54

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You didn't say it was for a Defender! Now's a Choose Your Adventure time!

1) "Why are you buying tire chains for a vehicle that doesn't run?" Turn to page 37.

2) "Just chain up some old engine blocks to each bumper to improve traction. It's not like you can make it any uglier." Turn to page 51.

3) *The aforementioned vehicle suddenly bursts into flames in your driveway from an electrical fault.* Turn to page 70.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Tohru 11/26/2014 at 19:02

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I don't know whether to smile or cry...? Fun fact: I already carry 3x thermoplastic Heras feet across the rear axle when I'm off-roading for moar tractions and a better ride!

davedave1111 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/26/2014 at 20:47

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Just checking :)