The cheap carbide tire studs I purchased from Amazon came in yesterday's mail. They are 12mm long and the hex head is only 4mm. Pretty small but they are the shortest ones that they had. The GripStuds that I used last year are 12.5mm long but 9mm in diameter. The GripStuds are the ones listed in the Aerostitch catalog and they worked well. Not a single one came out on their own.
Here is what they look like when they are installed in the front wheel. I guess I am a little concerned that they will push further into the tire as the tire wears. As it is, 12mm is right at the limit of the tread depth and they are so small that they are fairly difficult to install with an electric drill. I don't have a 4mm driver bit and the 4mm ¼" socket is almost too deep. Maybe if I can find a small magnet to install inside of the socket to take up some of the depth.
The only benefit to the cheap studs is that they are cheap. 35¢ each is easier to swallow than $1.08 each for the GripStuds. In this photo you can see the real advantage of the GripStuds.
So, you just screw them in, making up your own pattern as you go? How many do you put in a tire?
ReplyDeleteJust screw them in in whatever pattern that makes sense to you. I put them towards the edge for more "bite" when turning. Last year, 28 in the sidecar and double that in the front and 28 more in the pusher. So quite a few.
DeleteI've never used studs....if 12mm is almost too long, what is the minimum amount of "thread" that is required?
ReplyDeleteLuckily, we don't get the ice you guys get up there, here. I've snow chains for the pusher and SC but besides trying them out once, have never had to use them to get myself out of a "situation".
When the K37 were still new they had maybe 14mm of tread depth in the middle. I had ordered one set of 8 chains as they are much more effective than studs but it's not like you can "chain up" all the time. Studded tires are at best better than nothing.
DeleteWhat a great blog! I just stumbled upon this by accident and really like what I see. Looking forward to following this.
ReplyDeleteScott
Thanks Scott for stopping by.
DeleteI'm usually pulling screws out of my tire and not drilling them in. How many screws do you use?
ReplyDelete28 in the sidecar tire, 56 in the front and 84 in the rear. So far no flats caused by the screw in studs.
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