Homemade Studded Tires

[bikingchef]

This question may have already been asked .....

Has anyone had any luck making your own studded tires?
I have seen a "recipe" for making a set on another web site using stainless steel screws which are snipped off.
If so what would be a good liner to put between the screwheads and the innertube should a screw slip off?

Thanks Buds

Not sure how to properly attach a quote but here is my favorite:

"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allen Poe

[Juha]

Hello, Chef, and welcome to the Forums.

If you do a search for "studded" you'll find several threads on this subject. Here's one, for example:

Snow Riding Website (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18783&highlight=studded)

Personally I don't think DIY studded tyres are worth the trouble, but I know people make them and enjoy the ride (which is the only thing that matters). I ride almost all my mileage on road and I would not expect a homemade tyre to last long on the mixed conditions (hard snow, soft snow, ice and plain pavement) or offer a comfortable ride. Off-road may be a different story. Anyways, I use Nokian Hakkapeliittas and I've heard Schwalbe makes a good studded tyre for commuting purposes, too.

--J

[D*Alex]

The problem with the homemade studded tyres is that the studs are not hardened. They will wear down quickly. If you want to do this, don't waste a new tyre on the project.

[bikingchef]

OK - thanks fellow riders for your feedback. You have convinced me that it probably isn't worth the effort. It also came to mind that if we don't support the companies that make specialty products like studded tires then they may not be around in the future. Thanks

[knobbymojo]

I have had good success with my homemade studded tires, but as mentioned above they will wear fast if ridden on the wrong surfaces. I would have bought some but I am a broke college student, so I went with the much cheaper option.

[Middi-zon]

check out moabrider's tires
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=171453#post171453

[mtbkanata]

I've made many spiked tires.. not for road use, trail only. The wear down REALLY fast on the road.. here are some photos:

http://www.mtbkanata.com/unlinked/images/mount_spike_14.jpg

http://www.mtbkanata.com/unlinked/images/mount_spike_17.jpg

Joe

[Gojohnnygo.]

:thumbdn: Those are some mean looking studs, Tell me how you made them.(nice pics)

[TravisJPed]

just go to some store like rock junction down here in canda were they sell spiked bracelets and dog collars ect.... then buy like there whole inventory of option studs go home take your mountain bike tire assuming it is very knobby.... then using plyers or somehting twist them into the tire were the knobs or whatever are!

its that simply

but it take s a lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggg time!

i liek to do it when watching a movie hehe

[Shannon-UT]

My husband made some studded tires. He bought a cheap pair of slicks at Walmart, some small wood screws and cut up his old neoprene waders. He screwed in the screws (not as many as that picture above), and lined the tire with 1.5" strips of neoprene.

He rides all winter, on trails and fire roads.

[digger]

I make my own studded tires using a mtb tire and 3/8" #6 woodscrews.

It is important that you stud the tires so that the screws point out slightly, NOT straight up and down. The first time you take a turn you'll find out why. :-) Also they don't wear as fast because they are not digging into the pavement as much.

However, they do not last long - on pavement. Expect to change the studs at least once during the winter (that's based on my commuting distance of 10km per day round trip 5 days a week).

Since I do not commute anymore in winter, I ride off road with them now. I am on my second winter with the same screws.

I would recommend that you buy prestudded tires for on road. Make yer own for off road.

Digger

[Buzzbomb]

I make my own studded tires as well. I think the key is using screws just long enough to penetrate through the tire lug 1/8 of an inch or so. I've found through trial and error that any longer than that and they tend to fold the lug over when you ride on them. I use a cordless drill and predrill the lugs from the outside first so the studs penetrate where I want them to. Than I use philips head #6 sheet metal screws, put a bit into my cordless, and drive the screws into the inside of the tire. I take on old tube, cut the valve out and slice it around the inside, lay it into the tire, then put my tube in. You don't need a ton of studs, too many makes a really heavy tire, and this type of studding is good for offroad only.

[bikingchef]

I cook for a living and that - BuzzBomb - sounds like a great recipe for studded tires. I'm going to give it a try. Thanks all from around the world for your feedback.
(This is such a cool site!)

Bikingchef

[Gary D.]

I just posted this on another thread.

Tire sizes are very limited for studs. If you have a tire where studs aren't available check out this site. They are easy to make.

I have been making them for years before I came accross this site. Use "self drilling sheet metal screws". They are hardened and last a long time.

http://www.ecmtb.com/howto/stud.shtml

Gary D.