There are tire studs designed specifically for heavy equipment like skid steer loaders. Previously, operators would make a home-made tire stud out of screws, or use a racing-type tire stud, but the results could only charitably be described as "mixed."Plus, screws inevitably wear out, and when the head wears off, they are stuck in the tire with no way to remove them. After that, they can work deep into the tread andĀ stainless steel case burst the tire. Racing-type tire studs are designed with much less carbide than is needed to support a skid loader for a reasonable number of hours, and they wear out sooner.
Considering that racing studs cost as much as regular skid steer tire studs, it is easy to see that regular skid steer tire studs are the better value.But proper skid steer tire studs have a screw-in design with a hex head that extends down past the carbide. Each stud can be installed and removed with the provided tool, even if the carbide (after as much as 600 hours of work) has worn out.
As a result, a skid steer operator may be able to use their skid steer tire studs for more than one or two seasons.To install skid steer tire studs, the only tools needed are a powered screw driver or cordless drill that has been set to the slow setting, and the supplied installation tool. Follow the directions, and install them at the proper spacing and traction.Removing the studs is just as easy as putting them in — just hit reverse, and pull them out.
And because they are completely reusable, be sure to save them somewhere they can easily be found again for the following winter.A stud should have 3 mm of the stud above the tire surface for optimal traction, and the installation tool can be adjusted to provide the 3 mm projection, so be sure to measure the tread depth correctly. Make sure to count the number of contact patches on the tire and plan out the number of studs and where they need to be placed.TheĀ pressure gauge cases standard length of the eTerra skid steer tire studs is 30 mm (1.18 inches), which allows for 1 inch of tread penetration. So it is important to insure there is enough tread to accept tire studs this long.