# What are studdable tires? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 20, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404 "2023-11-20T01:53:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/1 "2023-11-20T01:53:53Z")
Just saw an advert from OK Tire for “studdable tires” What are studdable tires? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/2 "2023-11-20T01:56:55Z")
Tires that you can put metal studs in. They really improve your car’s grip on the road in icy conditions. Think of the studs as cleats for your car tires. Some provinces don’t allow them. When I lived in Ontario, they were not allowed, but they seem to be here in Alberta. Likely Saskatchewan too, since you saw the commercial. But I doubt that commercial was shown to Ontario viewers. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/3 "2023-11-20T01:57:50Z")
Woudln’t that be rather tedious, to stud 4 tires? Why not just buy studs? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/4 "2023-11-20T02:05:01Z")
As I understand it (and I could be wrong), you can buy a set of pre-studded studdable tires, or you can buy the same set to which studs can be added later. I don’t know who would add the studs—the tire shop maybe? I don’t think I’d trust Joe Average to buy hundreds of studs and stud his own tires. When I was a child in Ontario, a neighbour had them on the family car. They bought the tires pre-studded, and so had to remove then for spring/summer/fall. Then Ontario disallowed them, because they tended to ruin the asphalt on the roads if there was no snow/ice, and too many people forgot to remove them in the good weather. The neighbour family did, and I remember their studded tires sitting in the garage in the spring/summer/fall. Where they stayed after Ontario disallowed them. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/5 "2023-11-20T02:16:26Z")
I was able to find this, which while it’s from a chain of tire shops, does answer a lot of questions about studded tires: > **[Are studded tires right for you? | Kal Tire](https://www.kaltire.com/en/are-studded-tires-right-for-you.html)** > > In which conditions can studded tires really make an impact? Find out if studded tires are right for your region & driving needs. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/6 "2023-11-20T02:21:24Z")
These are _not_ to be confused with tire-able studs. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/7 "2023-11-20T02:38:12Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Woudln’t that be rather tedious, to stud 4 tires? Why not just buy studs? Just a WAG here, but aren’t there some places where you’re prohibited from driving tires with studs? So, it’d be less tedious than changing the tires. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/8 "2023-11-20T02:45:59Z")
Tire shops have a pneumatic tool called a stud insertion tool to install studs in studdable tires. They are generally loathe to use it on tires that are not brand-new. The little holes the studs go in are prone to picking up tiny stones and other debris. If they try to use the tool on a hole that’s already filled with debris, they risk destroying the tool. As far as I know, only winter tires are studdable. Summer, all-season, and all-weather tires are not studdable. You don’t need to stud tires if they are studdable. Winter tires are made from a type of rubber that grips better in cold-weather conditions even without studs. Studs are helpful mostly for icy conditions. I have studdable winter tires on my truck but never got the studs. For the very rare occasions when I have to drive in icy conditions, I have tire chains but they are frankly a pain in the ass to put on. Because the studs damage the roadway, it’s illegal to drive with studded tires at all times of year in some jurisdictions and illegal to use them in summer in most other jurisdictions. You don’t remove the studs in spring and reapply them in the fall. You have one set of (optionally studded) winter tires for the cold months and another set of non-studded non-winter tires for summer. You don’t want to drive on winter tires in summer anyway, whether they’re studded or not. The type of rubber they’re made from is prone to disintegrate at high temperatures. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/9 "2023-11-20T03:32:25Z")
After a long career winning races, you can choose to stud your tires to hopefully make champion baby tires. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/10 "2023-11-20T18:10:50Z")
When I was a rallyist back in the 1970s we OVER studded our tires. You have to be careful and have a positive stop for your drill bit. We would drill in every available tread block. You need a drill bit with a flat end instead of pointed for the studs to seat well enough. All we ever had was the hand tool to insert them. Just a wooden handle with a steel tube sticking out. You placed the stud in the tool and twisted it into a lubricated hole. It went fairly quickly but I remember the callouses on my hand. You could get a pneumatic tool that had expanding fingers to open the hole and the stud was shot down the middle. They were expensive. These drilled holes were never as good as the factory molded holes and we periodically lost studs. You could hear them hit the body as they shot out. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/11 "2023-11-20T21:00:47Z")
A lot of winter tires can be studded. I have had studded winter tires for a two wheel drive truck I had. We get studded winter tires for our 3/4 ton vans at work. Makes a big difference on icy roads. Our mechanic studs the tires when they are new. Sounds tedious but they don’t complain, just another service they offer. I do not remember a significant additional cost. A couple hours of shop labour I guess. They can result in less traction on dry pavement and you are supposed to only use them in the winter in Alberta. The studs are not very aggressive, prety much pop rivets. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/12 "2023-11-20T21:13:40Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Just a WAG here, but aren’t there some places where you’re prohibited from driving tires with studs? In Canada, there are some provinces that only allow them during the winter months, and in Ontario, only in the northern part of the province. In the U.S., some states (mostly in the South) ban them outright, but most states allow them during winter months. [https://www.continental-tires.com/ca/en/b2c/tire-knowledge/winter-tire-laws-in-canada/](https://www.continental-tires.com/ca/en/b2c/tire-knowledge/winter-tire-laws-in-canada/) [https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/why-use-studded-tires-for-winter-driving](https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/why-use-studded-tires-for-winter-driving) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/13 "2023-11-20T21:36:37Z")
I always ran studded tires during the winter in Alaska. You just get used to having two complete sets of tires. When Breakup comes, the tires get changed. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/14 "2023-11-21T02:51:25Z")
I understand the concept of studded tires just fine. We used to be able to use them here. What was puzzling me was the idea of after-purchase installation of the studs. As far as I know, they were always just part of the studded tires we bought. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/15 "2023-11-21T11:35:50Z")
I have always used studded tires for app. six months of the year. I have never heard of studdable tires. But then, I don’t follow automotive trends, at all. It seems obvious to me only a certain subset of tires are capable of taking up studs, or are studdable. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/16 "2023-11-21T12:19:15Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Some provinces don’t allow them. I’ve never seen them here in the U.S. and have just assumed they are illegal across the board. Cursory research has proved me wrong, however. They are only completely illegal in 11 states. Perhaps I haven’t seen them because, even in Chicago, we just don’t get enough snow to make it worth it. First of all, plowing in this area is virtually instantaneous, so it is very hard to get that much of an accumulation of snow on the main roads. Secondly, even with snow on the roads from an overnight storm, I have to drive through that to work maybe 2 to 4 times a winter. Thirdly, even in states where they are legal, there are seasonal restrictions, so you would have to take your car in to have them put on and then take your car back in to have them taken off. Plus, where do you store the set of tires you are not using? That alone would discourage me even if I was considering it. I’ll just drive slower or, if necessary, take a personal day if things are really bad. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/17 "2023-11-21T12:27:21Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > so you would have to take your car in to have them put on and then take your car back in to have them taken off. Plus, where do you store the set of tires you are not using? I always have to do that any way. I have snow tires and summer tires, changed spring and fall. I’ve kept them in my back yard, but recently switched to storing the ones I’m not using at the dealer, where I get them changed. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/18 "2023-11-21T12:29:54Z")
What a great option! Does he charge you for storage? If I did need them, an option like that might make me change my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/19 "2023-11-21T12:32:09Z")
$80 bucks per half year so each time I change them. I just got tired of lugging them around, especially if I forgot to change them until the snow came and I had to trek through snowdrifts in my backyard to get the snow tires loaded. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404/20 "2023-11-21T13:59:49Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I’ve kept them in my back yard, but recently switched to storing the ones I’m not using at the dealer, where I get them changed. I’d be afraid of walking in for a change and hearing, “We can’t find them.” or “What tires?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-studdable-tires/993404.md?page=2)