Studs for winter.

[Blue2Orange]

Cold front blew in. Reminder of what is coming.

Went to the iGrip stud site. Was consider the SS-08 model. Measured the depth of ribs on the R4s. Not the thickest. SS-08 are shouldered to reduce the chance of pushing in to deep when driving over rocky, gravel surface and have the same size head as the next size up the SS-11. Which should be fine on the rear tires. But decided on just the SS-08s for all 4 tires. Went to the cart. They don't ship to my USA address.

Next choice, maybe??? Kold Kutter #8s the 3/8" size. Opinions on this brand? Significantly less per stud than iGrip. Tend to pay for what you get up to a point. iGrips IIRC are stainless steel. Kold Kutter just note Black Oxide finish. Not driving on concrete except into the garage. Gravel road and dirt trails.

Another option. GripStuds, the Italian company. Considering the 1100 model. Priced similar to iGrip. Like their design. The wider flat auger like threads that should function similar to the iGrip thread and shoulder design. Also, tungsten steel core in the stud noted.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Put heavy rubber mats in the garage!

 

[Blue2Orange]

Put heavy rubber mats in the garage!

Thanks for a good idea to save the concrete.

 

[mikester]

Amazon stocks various brands

 

[Sawdust&Shavings]

You can also find “stall mats” at Tractor Supply, Agri-Supply, Southern States, rural Ace Hardware.

 

[Blue2Orange]

Amazon stocks various brands

Checked Amazon after not being able to get the iGrips. Where I found the KK brand. Inexpensive. Guessing not the best quality metal since they didn't mention anything regarding the steel used. The more expensive studs from iGrip and GripStuds seem to be made of a higher quality metal. Design of their threads might be better in terms of resisting push in and pull out. Even at their higher prices relative to tractor stuff it is not bad. Willing to pay for a more durable and effective stud.

One problem I've had with Amazon are too many "fake" or poor quality products. Milwaukee Tools will not back any Amazon purchase. Purchased some counterfeit Dewalt, Bosch cobalt, and Milwaukee drill bits over the last couple years. I guess I'm an idiot that didn't learn. Dewalt 5/16" snapped half way through a pine 2x4. Bosch barely dented some stainless steel rivets I tried to drill out. Went to Ace and purchased a real Milwaukee cobalt bit. Same cutting oil. Fast drill out. I do buy lots of things from AMZ. Just nothing where quality is important.

 

[Jsjac]

I put studs in the tires on my tractor.
They worked great until the tires spin and pull out the studs.
I went with chains last winter. They are way better than studs. Kind of expensive but well worth it.

 

[mikester]

Checked Amazon after not being able to get the iGrips. Where I found the KK brand. Inexpensive. Guessing not the best quality metal since they didn't mention anything regarding the steel used. The more expensive studs from iGrip and GripStuds seem to be made of a higher quality metal. Design of their threads might be better in terms of resisting push in and pull out. Even at their higher prices relative to tractor stuff it is not bad. Willing to pay for a more durable and effective stud.

One problem I've had with Amazon are too many "fake" or poor quality products. Milwaukee Tools will not back any Amazon purchase. Purchased some counterfeit Dewalt, Bosch cobalt, and Milwaukee drill bits over the last couple years. I guess I'm an idiot that didn't learn. Dewalt 5/16" snapped half way through a pine 2x4. Bosch barely dented some stainless steel rivets I tried to drill out. Went to Ace and purchased a real Milwaukee cobalt bit. Same cutting oil. Fast drill out. I do buy lots of things from AMZ. Just nothing where quality is important.

Amazon.ca

Marrkey

I've been using these for several years now. Started with a single row, added a second row on my R4's after a few years of wear. Non have pulled out. Are helpful on ice and hard pack. Help in up to a foot of snow.

I have chains but prefer the studs for snowblowing. Chains are better traction in deep snow over a foot deep.

 

[skeets]

A set of chains isnt cheap, but they will out last you and the tractor and you can take them off and not worry about the flood in the garage for the rest of the year,, an old carpet will do inthe winter to keep the chains from maring up the floor

 

[Blue2Orange]

"down the rabbit hole" watching and reading various online reviews. Seems like the people spinning out their studs are using the inexpensive "KoldKutter" style studs. The ones that look like a wood or sheet metal screw with a stud head. People using the auger threaded style (Maxi, iGrip, and clones) noted no spin out loss. But, one review noted tire penetration from the stud being driven in deeper than the set position. Head flush with the tire surface. The additional couple mm was enough to penetrate through the tire. Make sure you measure the depth of your tire rib and not exceeding it should reduce the chance. He noted no shoulder on the head. Shoulder and/or the wide auger thread should help.

Might try a mix for this winter season. Studs on the rears and sipping on the fronts. If needed add studs on the front and sipping on the rear. From what I understand studs are fine for hard pack, ice surfaces. But relative to chains in deep snow. Not so great. Does sipping help in deep snow traction? Or just packed snow surfaces? The "good" is we don't experience many heavy Lake Effect snow dumps anymore. Heavy = >2ft/60cm. Bad news is. It seem to rain or mix rain, snow every month of the winter resulting in real hard slippery surfaces.

 

[mikester]

"down the rabbit hole" watching and reading various online reviews. Seems like the people spinning out their studs are using the inexpensive "KoldKutter" style studs. The ones that look like a wood or sheet metal screw with a stud head. People using the auger threaded style (Maxi, iGrip, and clones) noted no spin out loss. But, one review noted tire penetration from the stud being driven in deeper than the set position. Head flush with the tire surface. The additional couple mm was enough to penetrate through the tire. Make sure you measure the depth of your tire rib and not exceeding it should reduce the chance. He noted no shoulder on the head. Shoulder and/or the wide auger thread should help.

Might try a mix for this winter season. Studs on the rears and sipping on the fronts. If needed add studs on the front and sipping on the rear. From what I understand studs are fine for hard pack, ice surfaces. But relative to chains in deep snow. Not so great. Does sipping help in deep snow traction? Or just packed snow surfaces? The "good" is we don't experience many heavy Lake Effect snow dumps anymore. Heavy = >2ft/60cm. Bad news is. It seem to rain or mix rain, snow every month of the winter resulting in real hard slippery surfaces.

I'd try both studs and sipes on the front to help with steering on slopes.