I was debating with my friends on installing studs in my snowmobile tracks. Some of them said no, it is just a waste of money, and some said yeah! I should go for it. To solve this mystery, I did some research myself and found the answer on should one stud the tracks of their snowmobile? Here is my answer.
Yes, you must stud your snowmobile’s track because it adds more traction and control to your snowmobile. Without studs or carbides, it is hard to control a snowmobile, especially on corners. Moreover, a studded track gives you smooth acceleration and braking on snow and ice.
3 Main Reasons to stud your snowmobile track:
These are the three most valid and logical reasons that I have found out for studding your snowmobile’s track.
Safety
Safety alone is the biggest reason you should stud your snowmobile’s track. A studded tack is safer because it gives you more control of your snowmobile while riding. Without studs, a snowmobile is likely to become unbalanced on corners and lose a lot of traction on the ice. Studs provide required traction and grip and give you more control on your snowmobile. The difference is significant enough to consider installing studs on your track.
Traction
The snowy surface is never even, and this makes it hard to ride a snowmobile. Without a studded track, the handling is difficult due to a lack of traction. This makes it hard to steer a snowmobile in the right direction. You must have been in a situation where the snowmobile doesn’t turn right or the tracks spin without giving you much acceleration on the snow. It is due to little traction between the track and snow. It can be improved by simply installing studs on the snowmobile’s track. The snowmobile accelerates smoothly and does not drag like one without a studded-track does.
Acceleration and Braking
Here is a video by Wood’s Traction, where you can see the difference between a studded and a non-studded track.
The studded-track is more smooth to accelerate, while the non-studded one goes rough and uneven. On snow, the difference is not much noticeable. But on ice, a studded track completely dominates the non-studded one.
On snow, the studded track grips the surface and stops quickly, whereas the non-studded one slides a few more meters. Only a studded-track provides the required traction while accelerating or braking.
How much does it cost to stud your snowmobile?
Usually, it takes about $60 to $100 to install studs on a track. This cost varies depending on the length of the track, how many studs you are going to install, and what type of studs you are going to install. If you have a powerful snowmobile (600cc or above), you must consider carbide tip studs, which will cost about $150 to $200.
To measure the length of your snowmobile’s track, read this article and follow the simple steps.
One other thing to look for is the quality of the studs you are going to install. Cheap studs can easily bend, and they can even break the track if you cross a road on your snowmobile. I would recommend you to get some decent quality studs and carbides, so they last a long time and do not damage the track.
In the end:
That is how I convinced my friend to install studs on the track of his snowmobile, and I hope I have convinced you too. They not only provide traction but also safety when riding your snowmobile. It does not take much time and probably is the best money spent on your snowmobile.
Lastly, the number of studs depends upon the riding and how hard you push the throttle. I prefer to choose the middle way: not too much and not too little.