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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Unless the tire stud size is already identified, follow the following general guideline:
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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.
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Lubricate the hole with water to allow for easier installation and longer equipment life.
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Align the tip of the stud gun (three external finger 0084) with the hole.
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Press the stud gun assembly firmly downward inserting gun tip into hole.
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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.
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Lubricate the tool daily with a few drops of air tool oil inserted directly into the air input port.
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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.
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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.
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.

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.
Consult your local highway transportation department for the most current legislation pertaining to the use of tire studs.
CANADA
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Alberta Permitted
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Manitoba October 1st and April 30th
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New Brunswick October 15 to May 1
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Newfoundland November 1 to April 30
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Northwest Territories Permitted
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Nova Scotia October 15 to May 31
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Nunavut Permitted
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Ontario (Northern Ontario) September 1st and May 31st
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Ontario (Southern Ontario) Not permitted
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PEI October 1 to May 15
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Quebec October 15 to May 1
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Saskatchewan Permitted
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Yukon Permitted
USA
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Alabama Rubber studs permitted; metal illegal
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Alaska Permitted Sept. 16th to April 30th North of 60 degrees; Permitted Oct 1st to April 15th South of 60 degrees
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Arizona Permitted Oct. 1 to May 1
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Arkansas Permitted Nov. 15 to Apr. 15
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California Permitted Nov 1st to Apr 30th.
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Colorado Permitted year round
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Connecticut Permitted from Nov. 15 to Apr. 30
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Delaware Permitted Oct. 15 TO Apr. 15
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District Of Columbia Permitted Oct 15th to Mar 15th.
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Florida Studs that do not damage highway are permitted
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Georgia Prohibited except for snow and ice driving conditions
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Hawaii Prohibited
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Idaho Permitted Oct 1st to Apr 30th. Emergency vehicles exempt.
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Illinois Prohibited. Rural mail carriers permitted Nov. 15th to Apr 1st.
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Indiana Permitted Oct. 1 to May 1
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Iowa Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 1
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Kansas Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 15
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Kentucky Permitted
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Louisiana Prohibited
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Maine Permitted Oct. 1 to May 1
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Maryland Prohibited except in western counties from Nov. 1 to March 31
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Massachusetts Permitted Nov. 2 to April 30
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Michigan Prohibited. Rubber studs permitted.
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Minnesota Prohibited. Rural mail carriers permitted Nov. 15th to Apr 15th
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Mississippi Prohibited
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Missouri Permitted Nov. 1 to mar 31
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Montana Permitted Oct. 1 to May 31
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Nebraska Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 1
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Nevada Permitted Oct 1st to Apr 30th
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New Hampshire Permitted
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New Jersey Permitted Nov. 15 to Apr. 1
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New Mexico Permitted
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New York Permitted Oct. 16th to Apr. 30th
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North Carolina Permitted
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North Dakota Permitted Oct. 15 to Apr. 15. School buses anytime
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Ohio Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 15
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Oklahoma Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 1
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Oregon Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 1
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Pennsylvania Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 15
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Rhode Island Permitted Nov. 15 to Apr. 1
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South Carolina Permitted if projection less than 1/16 when compressed
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South Dakota Permitted Oct. 1st to Apr. 30th. School vehicles and fire vehicles exempt.
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Tennessee Permitted Oct. 1 to Apr. 15
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Texas Only studs that do not damage highway are permitted
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Utah Permitted Oct. 15th to Mar. 31st
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Vermont Permitted
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Virginia Permitted Oct. 15 to Apr. 15
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Washington Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 1
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West Virginia Permitted Nov. 1 to Apr. 15
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Wisconsin Prohibited. Rural mail carriers, emergency vehicles and school vehicles permitted Nov. 15th to Apr. 1st
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Wyoming Permitted