Studded tires are tires whose studs do most of their work on ice. A spike is an element consisting of two main components. The first - the body of the spike, consists of light alloys; its purpose is to hold the stud in the tread rubber. Currently, there are a huge number of different options for stud shapes. It is this shape that the buyer sees when he pays attention to the studs installed in the tire.
However, a much more important part of the spike is its core, made of very high strength metals . It is the core of the stud that provides “biting” into the surface of ice or compacted snow, providing traction for the tire as a whole. Tire manufacturers also modify the type of carbide insert, giving it different shapes. But it is worth considering that the weight of the stud is limited, so there cannot be a significant difference in the useful area of the carbide insert (both in the longitudinal and cross sections).
Content:
- What are spikes and why are they needed?
- Purpose of studs on winter tires
- How many studs are there on winter tires from different manufacturers?
- How many studs are there on winter tires of different sizes?
- Conclusion
When choosing winter tires for the next year, drivers actively study ratings, expert reviews, and reviews from other motorists. In each of these materials you can find a division into studded and non-studded tires. In the first case, special attention is paid to the wear resistance of metal inserts. To make it easier to choose the right tires and control the level of strength, attentive drivers sometimes ask the question: “How many studs are there on winter tires, and what does this parameter affect?” In this article we will try to understand the features of modern studding, but it is worth mentioning right away that the exact number of inserts depends on the manufacturer and the specific model.
What are spikes and why are they needed?
Studs are found exclusively on winter tires and are not permitted for use in every region. Metal inserts can spoil the road surface, and therefore in countries with warm winters they are completely prohibited. A spike is a metal element consisting of two parts.
- The core of the inclusion or the so-called body. This is the part of the stud that is visible during a visual inspection of the tires. The rod is responsible for holding the metal structure in winter tires. This part of the stud is made of light alloys and may have additional serrations that reduce the risk of flying out.
- The core of the thorn. This protruding part is most important, as it provides traction on ice and packed snow.
Winter tire manufacturers are redesigning the carbide insert and body to provide better wear resistance and traction. However, the weight of the spike is limited. In Russia, this parameter should not exceed 1.6 g. For tires produced in Finland, a more stringent limit applies - 1.1 g.
The result of the test of studded tires 205/55 R16 “Behind the wheel” 2015
873 points. + Better longitudinal grip on snow. + High lateral grip on ice. + Economical at any speed. + Satisfactory ride quality and directional stability on asphalt. — Difficult directional stability on snowy roads and handling. — Low level of cross-country ability. - Noisy. How many studs: 169. Protrusion of studs before tests: 1.2...1.7 mm. Protrusion of spikes after tests: 1.4…1.7 mm.
For any winter roads. Helps save fuel.
Studded tires are winter tires equipped with metal inserts (studs). They provide rubber grip on ice or snowy roads. Car studs have two components:
- An interspersed rod responsible for reliable fastening of a metal insert to a car tire. The more serrations the rod has, the less risk it will fly out of the wheel.
- The core of the insert, which consists of an alloy of the most durable metals to ensure high-quality adhesion of the tire to the road surface. The core, as the main part of the inclusion, protruding from the rubber, is its main part, because it clings to ice or compacted snow.
Standards for the number of studs in a car wheel
The number of spikes until 2013 was determined as follows:
- For tires with diameters R13 and R14 – up to 90 metal inserts per wheel.
- For tires with a diameter of R15 – up to 110 studs per tire.
- And wheels with a diameter of R16 could have up to 130 inserts.
The Scandinavian countries made changes to these values in 2013. The permitted volume of studs per tire was changed due to the need to reduce the negative impact of metal inclusions on the quality of the road surface. The second reason for the adjustments was the harm caused to the health of citizens due to dust flying from the sites of road destruction. The editorial addressed the following points:
- Reducing the volume of metal inserts on a tire to 50 pieces per linear meter.
- Test resolution proving that the density of metal inserts, higher than the previous recommendation, does not harm the road surface.
Source
Purpose of studs on winter tires
The tasks of tires used in winter boil down to the need to cope with slush and mud, provide cross-country ability in deep snow and effective braking, and rapid acceleration on ice. To perform the latter function, spikes are used. They work on ice and compacted snow, literally biting into the surface. Obviously, the greater the number of metal inserts in studded tires, the more effective braking and acceleration. However, with the use of new technologies, some manufacturers have managed to achieve good performance even with a small number of studs. The car is confidently controlled on slippery roads due to lamellas and grip blocks on the tires, and an improved rubber compound.
Tire test result 205/55 R16 Autoreview 2015
Overall rating: 8.45. + Grip properties on ice and snow. + Cross-country ability. + Grip properties on wet asphalt. — Grip properties on dry asphalt. — Insufficient level of comfort. Number of studs: 170. Stud protrusion: 1.1 mm.
The number of “curly” studs was increased to 170, and at the same time, control over the quality of studs was strengthened (it is made in Russia, in isolation from the main production in Korea).
When braking on ice - second result! Only leader tires are better. Good grip properties on snow. All that remains is to improve the handling: both on ice and snow, the reactions lack clarity, especially when entering a turn.
Hankook tires do not shine on asphalt: there are complaints about both noise and smoothness, but the main puncture is weak deceleration during emergency braking on a dry surface.
For snow and ice it’s what you need, but for city driving it’s not the best option.
How many studs are there on winter tires from different manufacturers?
As mentioned above, the number of metal inserts is regulated differently in different countries. The inclusion of studs in the tire design is permitted only in Scandinavian and European countries. Asian regions do not encourage the use of metal hooks, but some manufacturers from Japan, Korea and China make similar models for import to countries with cold climates. A striking example of such brands is Bridgestone and Yokohama. In various models from Asian factories, you cannot notice a large number of spikes. As a rule, the number of metal inserts does not exceed 130 pieces per tire. In Scandinavian countries, since 2009, there has been a regulation prohibiting the installation of spikes in quantities of more than 50 pieces per linear meter. However, this regulation has a caveat. A manufacturer can make more studs on its tires if it proves that it does not harm asphalt and other road surfaces. Finnish brands hold the record for the number of hooks. In some models their number can reach 180 units. Domestic manufacturers have no restrictions on the number of studs on their tires. Therefore, in models of Russian brands you can find from 130 to 160 metal inserts.
Which company should you choose?
Winter tires are an important component of the car, which is responsible for driving safety on the road. Therefore, their choice must be approached responsibly.
Here is a list of the most reliable R15 tire manufacturers in 2022:
- Bridgestone, Yokohama, Toyo Tire (Japan);
- BFGoodrich, Michelin (France);
- Viatti, Continental (Germany);
- Gislaved (Sweden);
- Nokian (Finland);
- Triangle (China);
- Cordiant (Russian Federation).
How many studs are there on different sizes of winter tires?
The number of metal inserts ranges from 90 to 190 pieces. The exact quantity is an individual parameter, which is influenced by design features and technologies used.
How many studs are there on R13 tires?
This size is very common among budget cars. On winter tires Nokian Nordman 5 size R13 we managed to count 110 studs. It is worth noting here that, according to generally accepted standards, the number of metal inserts on rubber of this diameter should be up to 90 pieces per wheel, but some manufacturers exceed this figure if it does not harm the road surface.
How many studs are there on R14 tires?
New domestically produced cars (Granta, Priora and others) are already equipped with R14 wheels, so this standard size is gradually replacing the 13th diameter. We also managed to count 110 studs on Nokian Nordman 4 and 5 winter tires. Cordiant Polar has similar performance. Gislaved Nord Frost - 90 rubber has fewer studs, as it should have according to established standards. The leader in the number of metal inserts was the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 - 165 tires.
How many studs are there on R15 tires?
If you take the same Nokian Nordman 5, you will notice that the number of studs on the rubber does not change with increasing diameter. On the R15, which is used in budget foreign cars and fully equipped domestic cars, there are still the same 110 units. A tendency to maintain the same number of studs was also noticed in Cordiant, Bridgestone, Gislaved, KAMA.
How many studs are there on R16 tires?
This diameter is common among foreign cars of class C. Chinese Nexens with a diameter of R16 have 108 studs installed. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 has a record number of 172, but Nokian Nordman 4 and Pirelli Ice Zero each have 130 pieces.
How many studs are there on R17 tires?
This tire is suitable for luxury cars and crossovers. In its UltraGrip Ice Arctic model, Goodyear equipped 17-diameter tires with 130 studs.
How many studs are there on R18 tires?
This large size winter tire is used on SUVs and some SUVs. The number of spikes often exceeds 130 pieces. However, there are also models with a limited number. For example, Toyo Tires managed to count 100 studs.
Bottom line
The average number of studs for rubber of different diameters can be found in this table.
| Wheel size | Number of spikes (pcs.) |
| R13 | 90-110 |
| R14 | 90-110 |
| R15 | 110 |
| R16 | 100-180 |
| R17 | 130 |
| R18 | 100-160 |
As can be seen from the review of some popular models, the tire size has virtually no effect on the number of studs.
conclusions
Thus, the wheel size has virtually no effect on the total volume of studs in the tread. Even in tires of sizes r17 and r18 there are not much more of them. Much more important is the quality of installation, their shape, as well as the properties of the rubber itself.
It’s no secret that over time (and often after the first season) they begin to fall out, and by the end of their service life no more than a quarter of the original amount remains. Of course, this will happen much earlier than the wheels turn into bald tires, but, firstly, the tread can be re-cut, and secondly, new studs can be installed to replace the lost ones. And we should not forget about comfort while driving.
A larger volume of studs always leads to increased noise while riding. Therefore, no matter what results winter tires show on ice and snow, the increased noise factor will remain in any case. And when choosing specific tires for your car, you should be guided by all aspects and performance indicators of the product.
