Studded tires

[bmwterrien]

Anyone use carbide tire studs in their m/c tires? I thought about studding the GS. My buddy has a pneumatic stud gun; I figure it I bury them deep enough by pre-drilling a hole for the stud, I'll be OK. Any thoughts about this?

Steve

[kbasa]

Didn't VV used to ice race? I bet he knows.

[BMWRich58]

Actually,on asphalt you'll be slipping all over the place! Best used on snow or ice. Years ago,ice racers would cover their tires with blankets while waiting to go out and race. Everyone had their own pattern idea for the screws in the tires and it was considered a big BIG SECRET!!! Seconds before line up,the blankets came off the tires/bikes and the riders would hurry up to the starting line. As they approached the gate,snow would fill the gaps on the knobby's and you couldn't see their "screw pattern" in their tires. After the race, the bikes were immediately covered. Still today considered a "Trade Secret" at the races. Even special screws/studs are manufactured just for Ice Racing.

[Cliffy777]

If anyone gets a chance to watch bikes race on ice - go do it. It is a hoot.
(There now, bet they don't race on the ice in Hawaii or in Marin By God County....)

[manicmechanic]

When we stud up tires for the ice, we usually put in a very thick tube and use new knobbies. Also done by some folks is to find/acquire a worn-out narrow street tire, trim the sidewalls off, and make it fit inside the tire. Then comes the fun part of getting all that and the tube back on the rim. The purpose, of course, is to prevent the tips of the sheet metal screws/studs from puncturing the tube. Besides sheet metal screws, there are also screws that have carbide embedded in the heads, for more bite. Don't use them on pavement, as mentioned, because you will go slip-slidin' away. But on ice they handle like on rails.

As far as the other type of studs, check out Trelleborg tires, some of which come with studs.