Studded tires...

"Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow" (chriskf) 02/09/2015 at 10:56 • Filed to: None

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I need your help Oppo!

So I went and did a rallycross event on a frozen lake yesterday, and it was awesome!

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However, my competition was pretty much limited to my friends in my car club, most of whom have little to no racing experience of any kind. So obviously I want a bigger challenge, there just aren't many people up there running RWR (rear wheel drive rubber tires).

The guys with studded tires were insanely fast, and there were a lot more RWD cars in that class. So now, I obviously want some studded tires. As opposed to buying a used set, I kind of want to build my own, and would appreciate any input from Opponauts experience in this area.

There's really only one question I have. Is there a specific type of tire (like all-seasons or winters) that I should use, or can I stud my extra set of stock FR-S summer tires and do alright?

That may be the only question I have right now, but any and all help is appreciated!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 10:59

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If you are looking to stud your own, do NOT use some dinky all seasons or summer rubber. "Studdable" tires are the only ones you should attempt to stud on your own. Or better still - buy pre-studded tires for your first go round.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/09/2015 at 11:01

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I've never seen "studdable" tires. What's the difference, and where can I find them?

Justin Hughes > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:02

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Starred for total 86 domination!

Studs, spikes, bolts, etc. will definitely help you dig into the ice a lot better - but ONLY the ice. If there's snow cover at the same time, they won't help so much with that. Still, after the first lap/run, the snow all gets swept to the outside of the turns anyway, and you can aim for the ice instead of the snow.

What are the hot methods these days of making these tires actually hold air? Slime was popular when a bunch of people did this for the local BMW club events in NH. That's where my ice experience comes from. And I'm SO looking forward to taking my BRZ out to play, once event dates and my availability match up! Oh yes, there will be photos, and there will be an article.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:04

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Studdable tires are tires designed to have spikes and studs punched through them. "Studding" just any old tire won't work, I promise you.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/09/2015 at 11:04

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THIS.. SO MUCH THIS. I've seen my fair share of studded summer tyres.. the studs fly everywhere in no time at all.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Justin Hughes 02/09/2015 at 11:05

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Awesome!

I have no idea on any of this. I'm an Arizonian born and raised, who moved to the Midwest for a job at the beginning of 2014. This was my first experience racing on the ice, and it was awesome. I really want to go the route of actually making the tires myself, as I want to document the process for a new series I will be writing. I just am trying to figure out where to start.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 02/09/2015 at 11:05

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Yep. Turns out the tire engineers who designed a tire around not having spikes punched through the tread.....did NOT design the tire for having spikes punched in the tread!

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/09/2015 at 11:07

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Wonder why :P That said, I may be biased, I drive on studded tyres on my DD from october to march/april (not rally studs though).

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:07

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Warning: I have no experience with studded tires whatsoever.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/09/2015 at 11:07

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Haha that certainly makes sense.

Where would be the best resource to find studdable tires? Tirerack?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:09

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Here is a studdable tire for your stock wheel.

Note the construction as a "studdable" tire. These are the ONLY type of tires you should stud. I know other people stud their own tires of other types.......just don't do it. They will never quite work as well and/or it takes a level of skill you do not have and I doubt they do either.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Snuze: Needs another Swede 02/09/2015 at 11:10

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BRILLIANT!

$kaycog > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:13

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Make sure your state doesn't prohibit the use of studded tires.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/09/2015 at 11:13

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Very helpful! Thank you!!!

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:13

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Are you looking for rally studs (Ice spikes) or just some normal studded tyres?

nokian hakkapeliitta 8 are GREAT in you want normal studs.

if you're looking for something like this

Both Pirelli sottozero Ice and Michelin X-ice North are great, but they are not cheap.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > $kaycog 02/09/2015 at 11:16

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These would be purely for rallycross, never driven on the road.

$kaycog > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:17

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Good. I didn't know if this was a DD or not.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 02/09/2015 at 11:18

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I'm looking to build my own set of studded tires for ice racing (specifically rallycross). I'm not looking to spend a ton, because I won't end up using them all that much.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:24

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OK. I'll be honest with you now, if you're going to drive on PURE ice you can probably buy some studdable tyres from tirerack as the ones themanwithsauce linked. But, I have a strong suspicion it'll be cheaper and better to buy some used proper rally tyres, they have much better grip on snow, and are made for the abuse you'll give them.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 02/09/2015 at 11:26

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I figured that would likely be the cheaper option. I was hoping to buy some that weren't studded yet though, because I want to make the whole ordeal into a video/article feature; including making the tires.

Brian Silvestro > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:28

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In ice racing they class the fwd and rwd together.

If you put studs on will that ruin all the drift fun??

deekster_caddy > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:32

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You basically need to get winter "studdable" tires. They have small holes pre-drilled where you can put the studs. You will also want to invest in a stud installer which is basically a special rivet gun for installing the studs. You can probably get them from tire rack pre-studded but it's also possible that you will lose a few studs or want to replace them someday.

And have fun!!!

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:34

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Ahh.. I see. The thing is, you don't want the pattern normal winter tyres have when driving on snow and ice (in a rallycross that is), that's one problem, the other problem is, you don't want 17" rims and 215/45s.. you want 15" and 185s or something. If I were you I'd ask some of the guys running studded tyres where they got them from :)

Not trying to be mean here, just want to make sure you don't do something that puts you in danger or you ending up spending money on something useless.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Brian Silvestro 02/09/2015 at 11:34

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In the rallycross event I did they had FWR, AWR, RWR, FWS, AWS, and RWS.

There was an FC RX7 there that was ripping through the turns sideways at very high speeds.

deekster_caddy > Justin Hughes 02/09/2015 at 11:35

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Studdable tires have holes pre-drilled to a certain depth in the tread. To my knowledge you shouldn't need to add slime or anything else, they should hold air like a normal tire. Studs install kind of like rivets into the pre-drilled holes, not like screws going all the way through.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 02/09/2015 at 11:36

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Not mean at all! I'm a complete n00b to this, so I'm looking for any information I can get.

Are there specific studdable rally tires too, or can most rally tires be studded? I ask because I may have access to a donor set of fairly used rally tires.

44444444444 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:37

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Yes indeed.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:41

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I've never seen studdable rally tyres, but that does not = that they don't exist. Oh and I spotted an error in my last answer.. I wrote 185s I meant 165s.

What you want is something like this.

But if someone are willing to GIVE you some rally tyres, just go for it and stud them. If they are free they are free right ;)

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 02/09/2015 at 11:42

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Haha they would be donated on behalf of me publishing a write up of the build and us making a video for my friend's brand/webpage.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:45

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Then there's no harm in trying. But, it depends on what sort of tyres they are. Summer tyres gets REALLY stiff/brittle in cold conditions, and may ending up spewing studs everywhere.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 02/09/2015 at 11:46

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I'm trying to get some more info on the tires. He's run Sno*Drift and other events like that, so I think they might be winter rally tires. I hope they are! haha

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:50

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If they are they probably have a decent pattern, they might not be the best for studding, but still.. Oh, and when/if you are getting studs.. I'd say you should find studs that are 4.5 to 6.5mm long (that's the length they protrude from the tyre), any longer than that is just stupid. On snowy tracks you wan't the longer ones, if it's mostly ice you'll wan't the shorter ones.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 02/09/2015 at 11:53

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There was a bit of a layer of snow on the ice, but they try not to run when there's too much snow.

I'll have to get more info on the rally tires and see if I can make this happen.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 11:57

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Do that :) Have a video of a GT86 on ice ;)

Oh and if you have any further questions you can find me on facebook if you'd like (just skip the laird part and you'll find me).

Dusty Ventures > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 12:55

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If you really want to terrify/terrorize the competition...

EDIT: Forgot to mention you can get these without the studs so you can add them yourself with the length/pattern you desire.

Brian Silvestro > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 12:56

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I also had one of those at my event yesterday. I don't think he did very well.

Meatcoma > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 02/09/2015 at 13:09

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I'd definitely check your local dot to see if studded tires are legal on roads too. Some states they are illegal on the roads because of how much dmg they do. If you are autox'ng on a frozen lake, the possibility of them being illegal is probably low.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Dusty Ventures 02/09/2015 at 14:13

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I wish I had the money for a set of DMACKS!

Unfortunately, I'm more invested in my autox racing and need some ZII Star Specs for this season first. I am hoping to put together these studded tires on the cheap. Sort of doing a how to write-up/video for other grassroots guys like me, who just want to go out and tear it up on the ice for fun every now and then.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Meatcoma 02/09/2015 at 14:14

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Studded aren't legal on roads here, but these would be for rallyx only. I have Blizzak WS-80s as my daily winter tires, and currently my rallyx tires too. haha