Front tire studs

[harvey lee]

I have v bar chains on my wheeler's back tires and that really helps out.

When I am on glare ice, I do have a bit of a hard time turning.

I was thinking what I could do is take some sheet metal screws a bit shorter than the depth of my lugs on my front tires and run them into the lug. Maybe 2 dozen or so in each front tire to add in my turning. I would be using the screws with the hex head. Shoulkd give it some more bite without putting too much added pressure on the front end.

This 4 wheeler is used for ice fishing and deer hunting and never see much at all for pavement.

Any downside to the tires if I do this?

Thoughts

[mabr]

Harvey, Back when my boys were into racing dirt bikes we used to go on the ice all the time with both motor cycles and 4 whlrs. The screws work amazingly. For what your using it for no need to buy the ice screws they sell just for this. Just get the hex heads like you mentioned.

You will be amazed. It can be a little tough on the rubber though if your rough on the 4 whlr. Just putting around and not trying to be a kid again you'll be fine.

[jepik]

I have used them for the last 15 yrs.. found the easiest way to put them in..socket in the drill..

[harvey lee]

I am going to use my power drill.

[nobody05]

Yup being an HVAC guy by trade I dont even put chains on. Load all fours up with zip in screws. Works great get the cordless drill with a 1/4'' hex head and go to town!

[harvey lee]

I put 4 dozen in each front tire. Should be able to turn on a dime. Weel, a hex head screw I should say.

[LoonASea]

I used 3/8 in hex screws years back ,,,after 2 packs of noodle plugs to stop the leaks I put chains on all four tires and never looked back ,,,these were like new tires and i measured the tread but I came up with leaks

just my 2 cents

LAS

[harvey lee]

I have very deep lugs on these tires and used the shortest screws I could find.

I was and I am still concerned about a leak.

I guess time will tell.

The reason I did not put chains on ther front also I was concerned about locking the wheeler up too much and it being hard on the steering and other components. maybe I am worring about nothing.

[Dave S]

only my Tom, but chains on ice or snow wouldn't do much more than having it in 4x4 on hard ground/black dirt. I doubt your the type who pins the throttle until she grabs. Take it easy and let the chains do their job and you'll be fine. It's the knuckle heads who are spinning all 4 at full throttle when the front grabs something solid that will destroy the front diff.

[harvey lee]

Yes, when I am towing my portable, I go pretty slow, some may think maybe grandma slow.

I just wanted a bit more bite on the front end when steering.

I checked my tires air pressure this am and so far, no leaks. But I have not driven it yet but the tires seem to be holding air fine after putting the screws in place.

[MNice]

I have used 3/8" long screws for years in my old 2x4 polaris. Have logged quite a few miles over the years and I bet I have not lost 2 or 3 screws. Works very well on hard pack and especially glare ice.

[harvey lee]

How long or how much use will they take before they wear down.

I would guess one would have to take them out before the head is worn flat or it could be tough to get the actual screw out of the lug on the tire.

[Gissert]

Ive used them for years on my Sportsman. By spring, they are getting pretty well gone. Once I start gardening, they wear flush in short order and you can even see them anymore. Never had a flat tire yet.

[MNice]

Mine are still the original ( i would guess 8 years), but I rarely went on any paved surface.

[harvey lee]

After trying the studs out for the first time on Upper red this past weekend, I wish I would have done this a long time ago.

Studs held in great and no flats. I could turn on a dime.

[pureinsanity]

First off let me start by saying use real studs please. They last longer, they are less likely to get ripped out of your tire. Most of all if your tires are old get new ones so the studs grip better. Have a set of tires that have studs in them and a set of tires you use in the summer.

Be courteous to other anglers on the ice. Use real studs that are less likely to fall out and are designed for going into tires... Sheet metal screws are NOT.

Now you might ask, what do you mean PI about being courteous to other anglers? Well being I've seen how long sheet metal screws stay in tires, I also know what happens to said screws once they are flung from a tire.

I would hate to go to my favorite fishing hole and after a long nights fishing go out to my car and discover I have a flat tire because someone decided to use sheet metal screws instead of studs...

Yes studs can come out too, but they are LESS likely to come out compared to sheet metal screws.

[Macgyver55]

Maybe it would be an issue if it were a high performance application, but I'd question that an ice fisherman putting around on a lake is going to lose enough to be an issue for anyone. Other than cost, the main difference between actual ATV ice studs and hex head screws is the addition of carbide in the ends. Studs average $1.00 or more each while screws maybe 6 or 7 cents.

[harvey lee]

As slow as I go on the ice, I doubt that they could fly out. Yes I can see where a guy not driving with common sense might spit a few but at the slow speeds, not likely.

I did not lose one this past weekend.

My tires are like new and the studs are buried very deep. These will only ne used for the ice season also. The studs help alot with turning even with new tires on glare ice and that is why I decided to put them on.

[pureinsanity]

A man with an ATV...

No one ever just "putts" on the ice...I don't care HOW old you are. You are going to have some fun too and test out your studs.

I got a little different studs than you show. They have a much deeper bite and lasted longer in the tire. Anytime you hit tar. Loading and unloading the studs wear down. specifically the sheet metal screws.

I got enough studs to do my tires for under 30 bucks.

[harvey lee]

Well Pure, I can tell you I will not be testing out the studs on my tires.

No reason too.

[Macgyver55]

I got a little different studs than you show. They have a much deeper bite and lasted longer in the tire. Anytime you hit tar. Loading and unloading the studs wear down. specifically the sheet metal screws.

Aside from looking so similar to a hex head screw, I'd be interested in seeing what makes them stay in so much better.

[pureinsanity]

Harder, sharper and the heads are a lot bigger and sharper

[Macgyver55]

Wouldn't it stand to reason that more grip on the ice would produce more strain on the threads and cause it to want to pull out more so than one with less grip?

[pureinsanity]

At slow speeds nope. Let just say when a bike with studs was doing the same thing as a bike with sheet metal screws the studded bike stayed up right.

People will do what they want. All im suggesting is go with studs. They will work better, last way longer, and less likely to come out.

[pureinsanity]

The cost difference isn't that much, your grip will be better too..