BikePGH Message Board Archive

Grind in period, strategy for diy studded tires?

Have studded the front tire now because I already had a slip on the ice (in my defense, I have a VERY steep driveway). Had the mental image of going down with kids aboard during the http://localhost/mb/topic/chanukah-parade/ (also see the official announcement: http://localhost/2014/11/27/pittsburgh-chanukah-ride-2014-mon-dec-21/) Thing is, the screws protrude quite a bit. Not more than the pictures you see online of people doing the same, but still. I imagine traction will be much better when they protrude less, but as is, I'm not sure it's ridable down the driveway in it's current state, it needs some ice to have something to "bite". My question for others who've done this is, is, how, if at all, did you change your riding with studded tires, especially if they were diy and the studs were too long when new (I bought the shortest screws I could fine, 1/2in)? You can safely grind things in while the road is still clear, right?

byogman

2014-11-28 14:39:32

Just go buy a cheap 4 1/2" angle grinder at Home Depot and trim them down to about 1/8" of protrusion. Also, if you post a photo of what you have done, you stand a better chance of getting sound advice.

jmccrea

2014-11-30 10:42:17

I have no advice for you, but I almost shit myself this past week when I saw that the jail trail was salted. I can't ever remember that happening in a timely fashion. It was Monday or Wednesday. I can't recall which day, but it was after a daytime snowfall. So awesome.

stefb

2014-11-30 11:13:15

From some of the comments I've read on other forums about DIY studs is the fact that they DO grind down. Screws are relatively soft so they end up being rounded and smooth. This is ok on soft trails but not so good on pavement. The OEM studs material is usually hardened steel or even carbide which would give you much more bite on hard surfaces. And you should be able to buy much smaller screws than your 1/2 inch ones at any hardware store. I don't think you'll find small screws in Grades (A, B, C), but stainless steel ones may be a harder than non-stainless but I'm not sure.

marko82

2014-11-30 11:29:06

Out of curiosity, how long did it take to stud a tire? I can only imagine the process, but I don't think I would have the patience for it. I would lose my mind.

edmonds59

2014-12-02 07:20:16

I wasn't timing it, but as diy projects go it's about as easy and fast as they get. I did do only one tire and didn't go nuts on the number of studs (64 total). Process was just to count target knobs, pick a pattern, drill pilot holes, flip the tire inside out, put in the screws, flip right side out, add old tube inside and then the usual tire changing time.

byogman

2014-12-02 10:43:25