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TIRE STUDS FROM NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST TIRE STUD SUPPLIER

Serving Distributors and Tire Dealers since 1972

Get in Touch

Canada

Bruno Wessel Ltd.

767 McKay Road, Unit 7

Pickering, ON L1W 3H1 Canada

Tel: 905-427-9025
Toll Free: 1-877-452-1935

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USA

Bruno Wessel Inc.

33 North Bedford Road, Ste 129A

Mt Kisco, NY 10549

Tel: (914) 909-5282
Toll Free: (800) 869-1908

Send us your name and number and we'll call to discuss your Tire Stud & Equipment needs for the season.

Thank you! We'll call shortly.

What is a Tire Stud?

A tire stud is a traction device that is installed into the tread of rubber tires. It consists of an outer jacket of steel or aluminum and a tungsten carbide pin that provides the traction. On passenger tire studs, this tungsten pin is 1mm in diameter and protrudes approximately 1mm from the top of the stud.

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Do Studs Work?

Extensive testing by the tire and automotive industry as well as various government agencies have proven that tire studs can improve traffic safety in icy winter driving conditions. Tire studs increase tire friction on icy surfaces enabling drivers to stop sooner, accelerate quicker and maintain control on turns.

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Are Tire Studs Legal?

Tire studs are legal to use in many states and all provinces except southern Ontario. Most highway departments have regulations that prohibit tire stud use during summer months. Please refer to our Stud Law/ Seasons section or contact your state or provincial highway department.

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How Do I Get Studs Installed?

Tire studs are usually installed at a tire service center using specialized equipment. Many brands of winter tires have pre-molded holes designed to accept tire studs. We recommend that only new tires be studded as previously driven tires have stud holes that are plugged with dirt and can not be studded properly.

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How many studs are in a tire?

Each passenger tire is designed to accept from 80 – 120 tire studs depending on the tire diameter and hole pattern. Larger diameter truck tires generally require more studs.

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What size studs do I need?

In North America, tire studs are sized by a TSMI number. Winter tires have pre-molded holes specifically designed to accommodate a certain size stud. Passenger tires and light truck tires use either TSMI #11, TSMI #12, TSMI #13, TSMI #15, TSMI #16 or TSMI #17 size studs. Many tire manufacturers indicate on the tire sidewall the correct TSMI number stud to use. If it is not indicated, then the service center must measure the stud hole depth and match it to the body length to determine the correct stud for that tire.

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How far do studs protrude?

A correctly installed tire stud will have only the 1mm tungsten carbide pin protruding from the tire tread. A maximum of 1mm of the body may also protrude as the stud will seat correctly in this condition. Certain specialty studs and Rally racing studs have much more prominent protrusion. However, these rally type studs should not be driven on bare pavement.

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Do studs ruin roads or fly out?

Extensive testing by highway departments throughout the world have concluded that modern winter tires and tire studs do much less damage to roads than the studs used 40 years ago. The use of radial tires, better road compounds and lighter weight studs have all contributed to significantly reduce road wear and rutting.

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A properly installed tire stud has little chance of coming out of the tire during driving. The rubber of the tire compresses very strongly around the base flange of the stud and the rotational speed of the tire is not strong enough to dislodge the stud.

How to Stud a Tire

Never operate tire studding or other equipment without proper safety equipment. Shop approved safety glasses and work gloves should always be used for your own protection.

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  • Place the tire to be studded over the mandrel (aluminum shoe) of the K-5 stand.

  • Unless the tire stud size is already identified, follow the following general guideline:

  • Measure the depth of the hole to be studded with a tire tread depth gauge. If the measurement is 12/32″, then the proper size tire stud is the TSMI #12. If the measurement is 13/32″, then the proper size is the TSMI #13, etc.

  • Lubricate the hole with water to allow for easier installation and longer equipment life.

  • Align the tip of the stud gun (three external finger 0084) with the hole.

  • Press the stud gun assembly firmly downward inserting gun tip into hole.

  • Depress the stud gun trigger while maintaining downward pressure, release the trigger and relieve the downward pressure.

 

The stud gun will automatically return to the start position leaving the tire stud in the tire. The timing of steps 4, 5 and 6 are important and take some time to learn.

 

Helpful Hints and Recommendations

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  • Operate the TSIT Insertion Tool between 95 and 110 PSI for maximum life of the gun and internal parts.

  • Lubricate the tool daily with a few drops of air tool oil inserted directly into the air input port.

  • Always inspect the common wear parts of the gun and feeder for excess wear prior to beginning the studding procedure. Only trained personnel should service this equipment. The steel head assembly of the stud guns is spring loaded. Use extreme caution when disassembling.

  • A properly installed stud should appear to be nearly flush with the tire surface. Only the carbide pin and about 1/32″ of the stud body should be visible. Also, be sure that the stud is inserted straight into the hole. A leaning stud will not properly seat into the tire and will cause premature failure.

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Studded tires require a break-in period. Drive normally (try to avoid hard cornering, acceleration and braking) for a few days or so (approx. 50-100 miles) to allow for proper tire stud seating.

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Tire Stud Seasons (Regulations) per State and Province

Please be advised that laws governing the use of tire studs can vary from state to state and can change at any time.

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Consult your local highway transportation department for the most current legislation pertaining to the use of tire studs.

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CANADA

  • Alberta       Permitted

  • Manitoba       October 1st and April 30th

  • New Brunswick     October 15 to May 1

  • Newfoundland     November 1 to April 30

  • Northwest Territories       Permitted

  • Nova Scotia     October 15 to May 31

  • Nunavut       Permitted

  • Ontario (Northern Ontario) September 1st and May 31st

  • Ontario (Southern Ontario) Not permitted

  • PEI       October 1 to May 15

  • Quebec        October 15 to May 1

  • Saskatchewan       Permitted

  • Yukon       Permitted

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USA

  • Alabama        Rubber studs permitted; metal illegal

  • Alaska        Permitted Sept. 16th to April 30th North of 60 degrees; Permitted Oct 1st to April 15th South of 60 degrees

  • Arizona        Permitted Oct. 1 to May 1

  • Arkansas    Permitted Nov. 15 to Apr. 15

  • California    Permitted Nov 1st to Apr 30th.

  • Colorado    Permitted year round

  • Connecticut    Permitted from Nov. 15 to Apr. 30

  • Delaware    Permitted Oct. 15 TO Apr. 15

  • District Of Columbia    Permitted Oct 15th to Mar 15th.

  • Florida        Studs that do not damage highway are permitted

  • Georgia        Prohibited except for snow and ice driving conditions

  • Hawaii        Prohibited

  • Idaho        Permitted Oct 1st to Apr 30th. Emergency vehicles exempt.

  • Illinois    Prohibited. Rural mail carriers permitted Nov. 15th to Apr 1st.

  • Indiana        Permitted Oct. 1 to May 1

  • Iowa        Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 1

  • Kansas        Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 15

  • Kentucky    Permitted

  • Louisiana    Prohibited

  • Maine        Permitted Oct. 1 to May 1

  • Maryland    Prohibited except in western counties from Nov. 1 to March 31

  • Massachusetts    Permitted Nov. 2 to April 30

  • Michigan    Prohibited. Rubber studs permitted.

  • Minnesota    Prohibited. Rural mail carriers permitted Nov. 15th to Apr 15th

  • Mississippi    Prohibited

  • Missouri    Permitted Nov. 1 to mar 31

  • Montana        Permitted Oct. 1 to May 31

  • Nebraska    Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 1

  • Nevada        Permitted Oct 1st to Apr 30th

  • New Hampshire    Permitted

  • New Jersey    Permitted Nov. 15 to Apr. 1

  • New Mexico    Permitted

  • New York    Permitted Oct. 16th to Apr. 30th

  • North Carolina    Permitted

  • North Dakota    Permitted Oct. 15 to Apr. 15. School buses anytime

  • Ohio        Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 15

  • Oklahoma    Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 1

  • Oregon        Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 1

  • Pennsylvania    Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 15

  • Rhode Island    Permitted Nov. 15 to Apr. 1

  • South Carolina    Permitted if projection less than 1/16 when compressed

  • South Dakota    Permitted Oct. 1st to Apr. 30th. School vehicles and fire vehicles exempt.

  • Tennessee    Permitted Oct. 1 to Apr. 15

  • Texas        Only studs that do not damage highway are permitted

  • Utah        Permitted Oct. 15th to Mar. 31st

  • Vermont        Permitted

  • Virginia    Permitted Oct. 15 to Apr. 15

  • Washington    Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 1

  • West Virginia    Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 15

  • Wisconsin    Prohibited. Rural mail carriers, emergency vehicles and school vehicles permitted Nov. 15th to Apr. 1st

  • Wyoming        Permitted

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