Studding Tires

The riding season is short, but with studded wheels you can extend it. For motocross bikes such wheels are sold ready-made; for a stunt bike you have to make them yourself. The studding method depends on how the motorcycle will be used. For riding on snow and off-road, sparse long studs firmly fixed in the tread are suitable. Tricks are best done on clean ice, on tires with dense, short studs.

• The experience of pro riders and amateurs has shown that for a stunt bike, densely screwed-in flat-head construction self-tapping screws protruding 1–1.5 cm work well. How firmly the studs hold depends on the cord type and tread thickness. Using worn tires with this studding method is not recommended.
• A standard set of tires (120 front and 180 rear) took us about 10,000 screws. Screwing them in is tiring, but at a leisurely pace it can be done in a few days. The tires got much heavier and stiffer.
• Wheel rims have a recess for the valve on the inside. To keep the tube valve from rubbing against the edges, it is best to add a spacer or rubber washer, which can be made from an old valve.
• 17-inch tubes of the right thickness can be found in shops selling parts for Chinese motorcycles.
• To protect the tube from the screw heads, you need a protective layer. Fire hose material, which resists abrasion, is usually used for this. We applied reinforced tape, and nothing happened over several rides!
• Fitting studded wheels requires removing the front fender and hugger.

The article will be updated as we use this set. We will try to determine the optimal riding mode, surface requirements and stud wear rate.

The video shows the simple studding process and the results. We hope the information was useful!