So you’re looking to learn a bit more about studded tires for your dirt bike / MX bike?
Well I’m glad to tell you that in this article we’ll discuss different types of studded dirt bike tires. We also include information on the benefits and drawbacks of using studded tires in comparison to their non-studded counterparts.
If you live and ride in areas where the winter months are cold, and you find your favorite trails covered in snow and ice? Studded tires for your bike is more or less a must-have.
No one is interested in letting the bike sit in the garage a couple of months every year right?
Ok, lets get to it then!
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article (table of contents)
- What are Studded Dirt Bike Tires?
- Are they just normal tires with studs in them?
- Where to buy?
- Can I make my own studded tires?
- How do you put studded tires on a dirt bike?
- How is it to ride with them?
- When they don’t work as good?
- What about wear?
- FAQ
What are Studded Dirt Bike Tires?
Studded dirt bike tires are defined as off-road dirt bike tires with small metal studs protruding from the surface of the tire.
Are they just normal tires with studs in them?
They often use a standard motocross carcass but also a special compound that remains flexible and elastic in temperatures down to 5 °F.
Where to buy?
Our best suggestion is your local dealer. They might not have them in stock but most of them should be able to order in.
Online is of course another way to go. Most of the larger online dealers have studded tires in their product lineup.
Can I make my own studded tires?
Actually you can. It’s not easy but it is certainly possible.
Your riding conditions play a big roll here though. If the plan is to only ride on ice, like on a frozen lake, you need bigger studs.
But don’t sweat it, we got you covered there as well.
You have basically three options:
- Grip studs. They are pretty expensive studs, it’s also labor-intensive plus you have to buy tires. What’s positive is that you can take good studs out and reuse them on the next tires you build.
- Buy a Stud gun and stud your own tires. This is also labor-intensive but once you own a stud gun the studs are relatively cheap in comparison to other studs. This is a smart option if you have some buddies you can split the gun with.
- The ultimate hack. Use whatever screws you can get a hold of, and you think might work. For example, tapcon screws.
How do you put studded tires on a dirt bike?
Mounting can be a little more difficult than with a standard tire because the sidewalls is stiffer.
You also have to be careful not to tear yourself up on the studs. Even with gloves you can expect a few scratches.
Here’s a good video you can follow:
How is it to ride with them?
To put it short, it’s a lot of fun!
They grip soggy ground better than any standard tire with fresh knobs on any perfect day.
In places where you normally have to be careful with the throttle, to not spin out. You can without a problem blast through like riding on rails.
You’ll also notice a big difference on hill climbs, especially those that otherwise require a run in. Now you can actually stop and start again without spinning the wheel.
Another area that can be treacherous are logs, the ones that have the bark stripped off. They can be nearly impossible to ride over when they are wet but with studded tires that are often no problem at all.
They of course excel on frozen ground and packed snow, but also on melted and refrozen snow.
When do they don’t work (or at least perform worse than a normal tire)?
One place they don’t work very well is on big, embedded slabs of rock. There they can slide unexpectedly, especially under braking. They also kick more than standard tires when impacting a stone of decent size.
Asphalt is another surface you need to be careful. Going straight is no problem, but turning can be a bit sketchy.
What about wear?
They are not cheap to buy, and you want to get your moneys worth.
We are in fact very impressed with how well they wear. Ours have over 100 miles on them, in snow, ice, rocks, mud and some on asphalt, but they hold up very well. Not even a rounded knob.
We do know that with time we will have some studs pulling out and others might buckle, but overall they are very durable.
Faq
Studded tires provide remarkable traction on snow and ice. In perfect winter conditions you can actually get better traction with studded tires than you get with normal tires on snow fee ground. However, riding for example on a really hard surface like asphalt is no fun at all.
Recommended – 0.8 bar.
The tire pressure you choose to run on has a huge impact on the life of your tires. Too much pressure and the rubber lugs are unable to adapt to the surface, often the studs then break through the rubber heal.
Of course, you can, it’s actually very fun. Studded/spike tires work well in nearly all snow conditions, but they can feel “sketchy” on bare, frozen dirt.
Summary
Let’s hope you now have a good understanding of what studded, or spiked, dirt bike winter tires are. Maybe you’ll get your self a pair, either you buy them or make your own.
Riding dirt bikes on snow and ice is super fun and absolutely something you must try.
Time to get a pair of tires and go riding!
