snowblower-tire studs

fatlazyless · 01-05-2009, 11:09 AM

Recently upgraded to a big 8hp, old, Toro sno-blower for all of $130, used. It has large smooth tires pre-drilled for studs. Why can't I just screw stainless, hex head, sheet metal screws into the tire holes. Anyone know about these tires....like how deep are the pre-drilled holes? Obviously do not want to ruin the tires.

Sno-blower tire chains from www.tirechains.com are out of my price range!

ApS · 01-06-2009, 03:44 AM

When I had the problem of the truck not getting up our steep driveway after an April snowfall, my Dad suggested lacing short lengths of rope through the wheels.

I wouldn't use stainless screws because there's no benefit for the cost; but why introduce a metal object that will fall out eventually and possibly cause a tire problem for somebody else "down the road"?

There is an automobile ice-racing class that allows bolts that go right through the tire tread.

If you have tubes in those snowblower tires, that may be an inexpensive option for you—but there's no going back!

ITD · 01-06-2009, 07:39 AM

2" Roofing nails would be much cheaper.

Kamper · 01-06-2009, 08:57 AM

How about a set of chains?

brk-lnt · 01-06-2009, 11:47 AM

Are they inflatable tires, or solid rubber?

Seeker · 01-06-2009, 12:05 PM

If it's an old Toro they are probably solid. I know the 5hp ones were. If solid I would recommend use of the Tec screws you mentioned, or just reach under that mattress for $40 and buy some chains.

gtxrider · 01-07-2009, 03:57 PM

Since there are holes in the tire ask a good tire dealer if there are kits to stud snow tires available.

fatlazyless · 01-08-2009, 08:24 PM

It's something like a 1989 Toro, and the tires have tubes with air valves and lugs predrilled for studs. Turns out that hex head sheet metal screws are sharp enough to scratch up wood and smooth concrete so that was a bad move. What am I gonna do...how much longer till spring and ice-out...think I'll just chill....... and let global warming do the melting. Where's the beer?

dpg · 01-09-2009, 11:59 AM

"It's something like a 1989 Toro, and the tires have tubes with air valves and lugs predrilled for studs. Turns out that hex head sheet metal screws are sharp enough to scratch up wood and smooth concrete so that was a bad move. What am I gonna do...how much longer till spring and ice-out...think I'll just chill....... and let global warming do the melting. Where's the beer?"

The lake front owner can't afford half a hundred for chains???

fatlazyless · 01-09-2009, 06:26 PM

Like, so what if the screws get rusty....the whole snowblower is rusty....so will give plain old pan head sheet metal screws a shot at about $2.99/box 100. It's like the fine balance between improving traction and not scratching up the cement and pressure treated lumber with chains or hex head sm screws.

After seeing what hex heads do, I guess one could turn a dirt motorcycle into an ice motorcycle with about 100 screws or 50/tire. Have never seen a motorcycle out on the Winnipesaukee snow splattered lake ice but it's probably doable. Probably happens in Minnesota or Maine or somewhere?

ACutAbove · 01-12-2009, 06:21 PM

When I was alot younger I used to ride my old dirtbike out on a small lake in my hometown. We used to sted the tires with screws front and back. The front tire we would pull the tube out and stuff it with rags so it would sit flatter on the ice for better traction. If I had a bike I would try it out on the lake, but I dont have on so I can only dream about it...lol

ApS · 01-13-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

"...Recently upgraded to a big 8hp, old, Toro sno-blower for all of $130, used. It has large smooth tires pre-drilled for studs..."

If the rubber is thick enough, why not use a regroover to put some "grip" back into the tread? It's the tool that go-karts and 18-wheelers use to manually modify their tire treads.

As a driver, you may have a nearby (and free) source for a regroover.

fatlazyless · 01-13-2009, 09:23 AM

...hey, you know the Meredith PD has a Harley...so instead of using a snowmobile to patrol the islands..couldn't they just refit the tires with some stuffed newspapers and hex head sm screws...and be good to go...across the snow covered ice... and chase down the island burglars who need to pay for their drug habits or something?

How about those tire spikes on the race car on the other thread........those look like they could work getting up onto Mt Washingtion.

dpg · 01-13-2009, 11:48 AM

Years ago when I had a dirt bike in Moultonborough I brought it out on the lake. I fell almost instantly and it hurt.

That was my first and last try didn't have studs but did ride it in the winter alot, just not on shear ice.

dpg · 01-14-2009, 11:49 AM

"If the rubber is thick enough, why not use a regroover to put some "grip" back into the tread? It's the tool that go-karts and 18-wheelers use to manually modify their tire treads.

As a driver, you may have a nearby (and free) source for a regroover. "

That doesn't sound like a very safe thing to be doing to tires.

01-05-2009, 11:09 AM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,528 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 296 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	snowblower-tire studs Recently upgraded to a big 8hp, old, Toro sno-blower for all of $130, used. It has large smooth tires pre-drilled for studs. Why can't I just screw stainless, hex head, sheet metal screws into the tire holes. Anyone know about these tires....like how deep are the pre-drilled holes? Obviously do not want to ruin the tires. Sno-blower tire chains from www.tirechains.com are out of my price range! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

01-06-2009, 03:44 AM	#2
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,788 Thanks: 2,085 Thanked 742 Times in 532 Posts	Didn't try it, but... When I had the problem of the truck not getting up our steep driveway after an April snowfall, my Dad suggested lacing short lengths of rope through the wheels. I wouldn't use stainless screws because there's no benefit for the cost; but why introduce a metal object that will fall out eventually and possibly cause a tire problem for somebody else "down the road"? There is an automobile ice-racing class that allows bolts that go right through the tire tread. If you have tubes in those snowblower tires, that may be an inexpensive option for you—but there's no going back! __________________ Every MP who enters Winter Harbor will pass by my porch of 67 years...

01-06-2009, 11:47 AM	#5
brk-lnt Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Down Shores Posts: 1,938 Thanks: 533 Thanked 568 Times in 334 Posts	Are they inflatable tires, or solid rubber? __________________ [insert witty phrase here]

01-07-2009, 03:57 PM	#7
gtxrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Piscataway, NJ Posts: 1,030 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 24 Posts	tire dealer Since there are holes in the tire ask a good tire dealer if there are kits to stud snow tires available.

01-08-2009, 08:24 PM	#8
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,528 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 296 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	It's something like a 1989 Toro, and the tires have tubes with air valves and lugs predrilled for studs. Turns out that hex head sheet metal screws are sharp enough to scratch up wood and smooth concrete so that was a bad move. What am I gonna do...how much longer till spring and ice-out...think I'll just chill....... and let global warming do the melting. Where's the beer? __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

01-06-2009, 07:39 AM	#3
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,860 Thanks: 461 Thanked 666 Times in 366 Posts	2" Roofing nails would be much cheaper.

01-06-2009, 08:57 AM	#4
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,296 Thanks: 67 Thanked 166 Times in 126 Posts	How about a set of chains?

01-06-2009, 12:05 PM	#6
Seeker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Effingham Posts: 408 Thanks: 37 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	If it's an old Toro they are probably solid. I know the 5hp ones were. If solid I would recommend use of the Tec screws you mentioned, or just reach under that mattress for $40 and buy some chains.

01-09-2009, 11:59 AM	#9
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	"It's something like a 1989 Toro, and the tires have tubes with air valves and lugs predrilled for studs. Turns out that hex head sheet metal screws are sharp enough to scratch up wood and smooth concrete so that was a bad move. What am I gonna do...how much longer till spring and ice-out...think I'll just chill....... and let global warming do the melting. Where's the beer?" The lake front owner can't afford half a hundred for chains???

01-09-2009, 06:26 PM	#10
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,528 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 296 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	Like, so what if the screws get rusty....the whole snowblower is rusty....so will give plain old pan head sheet metal screws a shot at about $2.99/box 100. It's like the fine balance between improving traction and not scratching up the cement and pressure treated lumber with chains or hex head sm screws. After seeing what hex heads do, I guess one could turn a dirt motorcycle into an ice motorcycle with about 100 screws or 50/tire. Have never seen a motorcycle out on the Winnipesaukee snow splattered lake ice but it's probably doable. Probably happens in Minnesota or Maine or somewhere? __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

01-12-2009, 06:21 PM	#11
ACutAbove Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Holderness Posts: 219 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	When I was alot younger I used to ride my old dirtbike out on a small lake in my hometown. We used to sted the tires with screws front and back. The front tire we would pull the tube out and stuff it with rags so it would sit flatter on the ice for better traction. If I had a bike I would try it out on the lake, but I dont have on so I can only dream about it...lol

01-13-2009, 09:23 AM	#13
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,528 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 296 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	...hey, you know the Meredith PD has a Harley...so instead of using a snowmobile to patrol the islands..couldn't they just refit the tires with some stuffed newspapers and hex head sm screws...and be good to go...across the snow covered ice... and chase down the island burglars who need to pay for their drug habits or something? How about those tire spikes on the race car on the other thread........those look like they could work getting up onto Mt Washingtion. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

01-13-2009, 11:48 AM	#14
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Years ago when I had a dirt bike in Moultonborough I brought it out on the lake. I fell almost instantly and it hurt. That was my first and last try didn't have studs but did ride it in the winter alot, just not on shear ice.

01-14-2009, 11:49 AM	#15
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	"If the rubber is thick enough, why not use a regroover to put some "grip" back into the tread? It's the tool that go-karts and 18-wheelers use to manually modify their tire treads. As a driver, you may have a nearby (and free) source for a regroover. " That doesn't sound like a very safe thing to be doing to tires.