Self-repair of spikes on winter tires- This is one of the most discussed topics among experienced drivers. Some car owners are sure that this type of work cannot be done by hand. Others, on the contrary, argue that there is nothing complicated in studding. Which of them is right - let's figure it out together.
1 What are the advantages of self-studded rubber?
Wise people always say, "Get your sled ready in the summer," and this popular phrase speaks volumes about the importance of having quality winter tires. Not having "at hand" ready for use car tires, the driver finds himself a huge headache. Indeed, many of us begin to think about the need to re-"change shoes" of the car already when ice appears on the roads, and there are huge queues of the same motorists at service stations.
As a result, the possibility of getting into an unpleasant situation on the road is significantly increased. That is why the principles and implementation of do-it-yourself rubber studding need to be known to every motorist. In addition to saving time, a person who knows how to spike also wins in the fact that he saves a decent amount of money. Judge for yourself - with the growth in demand for studding, the cost of this service at the service station increases significantly. The driver has no choice but to overpay. And if you calculate how much you have to pay for studding in subsequent seasons, then the savings are 6–9 thousand rubles. becomes more than obvious.
It is worth noting that many drivers are categorically against wheel studding, as they are sure that they will have to refine the arch along with it: make it a little larger and install, which cost a lot of money. This position of some motorists is not entirely clear. The fact is that if you insert a wheel spike, it will remain sticking out above the tread, but its height will be very small. This will not affect operation in any way. winter tires after studding.
As you can see, do-it-yourself rubber studding gives us obvious advantages. Therefore, we will consider the features of installing wheel spikes in more detail.
2 Features of mounting spikes
As practice shows, tires that already have holes for installing wheel studs are considered the most suitable for studding. You can find out about the presence of these holes from. In addition, the holes are clearly visible visually, they are large, so that beginners will not be able to damage the rubber.
For studding and re-studding of wheels, you will need to stock up on an air gun. With it, wheel studding will be quick and efficient. In the process of studding, it is worth paying attention to how much the stud itself protrudes from the surface of the wheel. It is best if the tip of the latter does not stick out higher than 1.5 mm from the tread. Otherwise, the spike will fly out of the hole very quickly. After you have found the gun, you need to decide on the terrain in which you drive.
If you drive on a relatively flat road most of your time, then single-flange type studs are suitable for replacement. If you use a car in a mountainous area, then the best option will be the installation of two-flange wheel studs.
Whether you're studding wheels for the first time or doing it again, you'll need a solution of soap and water. The water must be necessarily warm - this will greatly facilitate the passage of the spike into the rubber. The principle is as follows: before studding, the outer side of the tire is wetted with a solution, after which the spikes must be inserted into the holes of the tire. Particular attention should be paid to working with a pistol. Before studding, the separator of the pneumatic device is filled with studs. After that, we get to work. In this case, the position of the gun itself is very important - it must be held strictly vertically in relation to the surface of the tire.
When installing spikes, you need to be extremely careful. After they enter the tire, they must be measured. If the stud has entered the wheel, but more than 1.5 mm of the entire body of the stud remains above the tread, then you need to take a small piece of aluminum sheet, put it on a self-tapping screw and hit the metal with a hammer. If after that the spike did not enter the tire, then you will have to perform a studding, that is, install a new element again. In this case, the old spike must be thrown away, since it will no longer be suitable for work.
3 Studding on your own - tools and algorithm
Before proceeding with do-it-yourself wheel studding, you will need to prepare inventory. In addition to an air gun and a soap solution, we will also need:
- a set of identical screws;
- sandpaper No. 2 or No. 3;
- several medical plasters;
- awl;
- corrector or chalk.
After preparing the tools, you can stud the wheels. First, with a corrector or chalk, we mark on the tire the places where it is necessary to insert the wheel spikes. Then we fill the spikes into the separator of the gun, and mount a self-tapping screw in its muzzle. After that, we clean the marked place on the rubber with sandpaper. We make a hole in the tread with an awl, after which we need to wet the rubber. After that, we proceed to the main stage of studding - the installation of spikes. Be very vigilant and try to check the height of the spike sticking out above the tread as often as possible.
It is worth being extremely careful even after studding the wheels. It is strongly not recommended to immediately use treated rubber! It is best to wait a few days for the tires to dry completely. The first week of operation should not be driven at a speed of more than 60 km / h. During this time, the spikes should finally stand in the holes allotted for them. We advise you to avoid sharp jerks - it is at these moments that the risk of the stud coming out of the wheel is the greatest.
As you can see, do-it-yourself studding of car wheels is not a difficult job and almost everyone can do it. The main thing is to be careful and not rush, otherwise you will not be able to hiss the wheels.
Studded winter tires is a popular choice among drivers. Tires have rightly received such trust for their high grip on ice and packed snow. However, being a two piece product, studded tires invariably lose quality as the studs fail. Driving on asphalt, use in the warm season (winters have recently become milder), harsh driving, active use of chemicals to combat ice - all this increasesthe chances that the tire will deprivefor various reasons, a significant part of the spikes. At the same time, the tire can have a fairly deep, and therefore workable, tread.
Such an order of affairs could not but give rise to an additional service that is rapidly gaining popularity in recent years. It will be about tire studding that have partially or completely lost their metal claws.
First, you need to highlight the problems that studded tires may experience due to operation:
Loss of thorns
This is the most common problem faced by drivers using studded tires.
In the course of their work, the spikes are subjected to significant loads (including heating) and, as a result, fall out. When broken holes remain in place of the once securely fixed spikes, the grip properties are significantly reduced.
Thorn Depletion
Before falling out, the spike usually loses a significant amount of its weight and volume, and the hole around it grows. Continued use may result in loss. But, even being in its place, a spike of a smaller diameter cannot be securely fixed. This instability of the stud position leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of traction on ice. And the more worn out the tire, the more studs will have an exhausted look.
Destruction of the carbide insert
This is damage to the strongest element of the stud responsible for traction, and of course it also results in reduced performance on ice.
If the listed problems were found, then it is worth contacting the studding service. Summer is the best time for this.
Currently, there are three types of tire stud retreading:
1. Formation of new holes and for new spikes
For this method, next to the existing holes for the studs, which the manufacturer originally made on the tire, new holes are formed with the subsequent installation of single-flange studs there. This is a very simple, inexpensive operation.
However, it has a number of negative points:
possible damage to the tire due to the use of a drill, which can violate the integrity of the internal structure of the tire, as well as tread blocks;
poor fixation of the stud, since the single-flange stud design used is inferior in the reliability of fastening to the studs used for tire studding in the factory.
2. Screwing in threaded studs
In this case, the risk of damaging the tires is similar to the previous method of studding rubber. Only the stud itself, which has a thread at the base, can act as a tire-destroying element. The complex structure of the spike significantly increases the cost of such a service.
3. Use of repair spikes
This solution has appeared on the market relatively recently. Specially designed for the studding procedure repair spike has a larger shape with a significant diameter, and also differs from standard spikes in the presence of a plastic shell. To install the repair spike, old mounting holes are used, and the larger diameter allows them to be installed even in badly damaged holes.
Among positive sides application of this method of re-studding distinguish:
increase life cycle tires until they are almost completely worn out;
secure fixation;
resistance to corrosion and chemicals.
However, this service should be ordered exclusively at professional tire centers, as it requires the training of tire studding specialists, as well as special equipment.
The following services are currently provided tire centers TYREPLUS:
Express tire fitting ( Moscow, Bakuninskaya st., 94, building 2)
Winter tires are a durable purchase. The rubber of these tires is durable enough to withstand several seasons of heavy use. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about spikes. They usually fly out of their nests much earlier than the winter tires themselves have time to become unusable.
But buying new winter tires is not the only solution to this annoying problem. The studs can be restored, thereby extending the life of your car's winter boots. At the same time, the recovery algorithm is not difficult; it is quite possible to cope with this task on its own without any particular risk for winter tires.
In professional language, this operation is called re-studding or re-studding of winter tires. Spikes for this procedure are also used a special type - repair. The difference in their design is not so big, their “hat” is slightly wider than ordinary spikes. This gives additional warranty for secure fastening of the stud in the tread socket. Due to its design, the repair stud will not stand out against the background of "native" studs of winter tires, and the solid material of manufacture ensures long-term service, taking into account correct operation. These facts are confirmed by test tests on domestic roads. Buy a set of spikes for self repair tires can be found in a car shop or on a specialized Internet resource.
The replacement algorithm is quite simple: you must fix the inflated tire in one position. After that, evaluate her condition, that is, decide whether it makes sense to stud her again. After that, you need to clean the tread slots from dirt, dust and old spikes. Please note that the residual height of the tread must be at least seven millimeters, this is necessary for the success of the procedure. After that, moisten the tire with warm soapy water and install the spikes directly. For installation, you can use special equipment, a screwdriver or pliers. Of course, installation with a stud gun will be much easier, but if you adapt, you can do it with no less efficiency with a screwdriver.
After installation, you need to let the tires dry and avoid aggressive driving for a while. Harsh starts and braking can cause stud loss. If this happens, the repeated procedure will most likely not give you anything. In this case, it is better to immediately contact the service center.
Self-restoration of studs on winter tires is one of the most discussed topics among experienced drivers. Some car owners are sure that this type of work cannot be done by hand. Others, on the contrary, argue that there is nothing complicated in studding. Which of them is right - let's figure it out together.
1 What are the advantages of self-studded rubber?
Wise people always say, “Get your sled ready in the summer,” and this popular phrase speaks volumes about the importance of having quality winter tires. Without having “at hand” ready-to-use car tires, the driver finds himself a huge headache. Indeed, many of us begin to think about the need to re-"change shoes" of the car already when ice appears on the roads, and there are huge queues of the same motorists at service stations.
As a result, the possibility of getting into an unpleasant situation on the road is significantly increased. That is why the principles and implementation of do-it-yourself rubber studding need to be known to every motorist. In addition to saving time, a person who knows how to spike also wins in the fact that he saves a decent amount of money. Judge for yourself - with the growth in demand for studding, the cost of this service at the service station increases significantly. The driver has no choice but to overpay. And if you calculate how much you have to pay for studding in subsequent seasons, then the savings are 6–9 thousand rubles. becomes more than obvious.
Do-it-yourself rubber studding It is worth noting that many drivers are categorically against wheel studding, as they are sure that they will have to refine the arch along with it: make it a little larger and install universal arch extensions, which cost a lot of money. This position of some motorists is not entirely clear. The fact is that if you insert a wheel spike, it will remain sticking out above the tread, but its height will be very small. This will not affect the operation of winter tires after studding.
As you can see, do-it-yourself rubber studding gives us obvious advantages. Therefore, we will consider the features of installing wheel spikes in more detail.
2 Features of mounting spikes
As practice shows, tires that already have holes for installing wheel studs are considered the most suitable for studding. The presence of these holes can be found on the tire markings. passenger cars. In addition, the holes are clearly visible visually, they are large, so that beginners will not be able to damage the rubber.
For studding and re-studding of wheels, you will need to stock up on an air gun. With it, wheel studding will be quick and efficient. In the process of studding, it is worth paying attention to how much the stud itself protrudes from the surface of the wheel. It is best if the tip of the latter does not stick out higher than 1.5 mm from the tread. Otherwise, the spike will fly out of the hole very quickly. After you have found the gun, you need to decide on the terrain in which you drive.
Pneumatic gun for studding
If you drive on a relatively flat road most of your time, then single-flange type studs are suitable for replacement. If you drive in mountainous terrain, then the best option would be to install double-flange wheel studs.
Whether you're studding wheels for the first time or doing it again, you'll need a solution of soap and water. The water must be necessarily warm - this will greatly facilitate the passage of the spike into the rubber. The principle is as follows: before studding, the outer side of the tire is wetted with a solution, after which the spikes must be inserted into the holes of the tire. Particular attention should be paid to working with a pistol. Before studding, the separator of the pneumatic device is filled with studs. After that, we get to work. In this case, the position of the gun itself is very important - it must be held strictly vertically in relation to the surface of the tire.
When installing spikes, you need to be extremely careful. After they enter the tire, they must be measured. If the stud has entered the wheel, but more than 1.5 mm of the entire body of the stud remains above the tread, then you need to take a small piece of aluminum sheet, put it on a self-tapping screw and hit the metal with a hammer. If after that the spike did not enter the tire, then you will have to perform a studding, that is, install a new element again. In this case, the old spike must be thrown away, since it will no longer be suitable for work.
3 Studding on your own - tools and algorithm
Before proceeding with do-it-yourself wheel studding, you will need to prepare inventory. In addition to an air gun and a soap solution, we will also need:
- a set of identical screws;
- sandpaper No. 2 or No. 3;
- several medical plasters;
- awl;
- corrector or chalk.
Wheel studding After preparing the tools, you can stud the wheels. First, with a corrector or chalk, we mark on the tire the places where it is necessary to insert the wheel spikes. Then we fill the spikes into the separator of the gun, and mount a self-tapping screw in its muzzle. After that, we clean the marked place on the rubber with sandpaper. We make a hole in the tread with an awl, after which we need to wet the rubber. After that, we proceed to the main stage of studding - the installation of spikes. Be very vigilant and try to check the height of the spike sticking out above the tread as often as possible.
It is worth being extremely careful even after studding the wheels. It is strongly not recommended to immediately use treated rubber! It is best to wait a few days for the tires to dry completely. The first week of operation should not be driven at a speed of more than 60 km / h. During this time, the spikes should finally stand in the holes allotted for them. We advise you to avoid sharp jerks - it is at these moments that the risk of the stud coming out of the wheel is the greatest.
As you can see, do-it-yourself studding of car wheels is not a difficult job and almost everyone can do it. The main thing is to be careful and not rush, otherwise you will not be able to hiss the wheels.