During the winter, it is a safety feature to apply tire studs to your tires to help in the prevention of losing tire grip in icy areas. Check with local law enforcement agencies to make sure that there are no restrictions in your area that prohibit the use of tire studs. Also, check your tire label to make sure that your tires can be studded. Never re-stud your tires as this can prove to have dangerous results of blow outs.
Measure your tread depth prior to purchasing your studs for your tire to make sure that you have the correct size needed. Use a tread depth gauge to do this task. Tread depth gauges typically read in 32nds of an inch and in millimeters, according to Gampler's. Check the tire center and outer grooves equally around the entire tire. According to Bruno Wessel, if your tire tread reading equals 12/32 then you will need to purchase a tire stud that is a #12 size to correctly match your tire, a #13 tire stud will need to be purchased if you get the reading of 13/32 and so forth.
Tire stud stands come from different manufacturers but the sole purpose of this equipment is to give the operator stability and accessibility to items needed during the stud installation process. Tire stud stands typically come with a cup holder for water, a shelf to place the stud packaging, a gun holder and an aluminum shelf to set your tire on. Water is used in the installation process to help in lubrication of the insertion area where the tire stud will be placed into the tire.
There are various types and styles of stud installation guns that range in pricing from expensive to economical. Stud installation guns are easy to use and all should come with instructions. Some guns such as the L-15 push rod stud installation gun are designed specifically for the size #15 tire stud. Other guns such as the model TSIT-9 are designed for tire stud sizes of #11 to #17. There is even a semi-automatic stud installation gun available that can insert up to 225 tire studs per minute called the Satsim.
